Years of planning and investment in Scotland is on the verge of coming to fruition as Stena Line’s new port and terminal facility at Loch Ryan nears completion.
The £200million development of the 25 acre site seven miles north of Stranraer is due to open in November.
The opening of the new port will also herald the launch of a new route between Cairnryan and Belfast, and the introduction of two sister ships – Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII. These two ships will be the biggest ships to ever operate the route, and will reduce crossing time to around 2 hours 15 minutes.
With the assistance of a specialist cruise ship fit-out company Stena Line are investing in creating the most modern and comfortable ferries on the Irish Sea.
For freight drivers this means:
- Trucker’s restaurant and lounge
- Freight drivers quiet area
- Drivers’ showers, with separate female driver shower area
An increased deck height of 5.05m (up from 4.8m) also gives Stena Line the opportunity to be a valid competitor to P&O for those higher freight vehicles. Berthing and turnaround times will be reduced, with the aid of semi-automatic mooring systems and berthing stern in in Loch Ryan. The new ships and location are also expected to improve service and reliability, especially during periods of bad weather.
With the new Cairnryan – Belfast service expected to start on 21st November, followed by the grand opening by Dan Sten Olsen, CEO of Stena Line, and Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland on 25th November, the significant investment promises to further strengthen the transport links between Scotland and Northern Ireland. With a brand new port, modern facilities, comfortable ships designed with freight drivers needs in mind and increased levels of service the Cairnryan – Belfast route looks set to be popular as a viable alternative to travel to Northern Ireland.
Photo from Stenaline shipping intelligence September
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