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Displaying items by tag: Northern 'Nordica'

#DryDockings - Belfast-Cairnryan sailings covered by Stena Nordica, as previously reported will remain to the end of this month, when North Channel Superfast sisters VII and VIII each take turns to dry-dock, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Following the overhauls taken place in Harland & Wolff, Nordica, recently replaced by Dublin-Holyhead newcomer Superfast X will be chartered to DFDS Seaways to take up service on the premier Dover-Calais route.

Before she heads south, the name Stena 'Nordica' also applied to a previous ferry in the late 1960's that Stena chartered to Sealink /British Rail's Larne-Stranraer route. This charter ended almost 44 years ago on the 27 March 1971 when a new vehicle car ramp was installed at Stranraer.

It is somewhat full circle given that the Swedish ferry giant is very much a player on the present day Belfast-Cairnryan service having switched Scottish port to a new custom built terminal at Loch Ryan Port in 2011. 

The ro-pax Nordica with capacity for 405 passengers has vehicle deck space for 375 cars / 122 trailers, was originally with P&O Ferries running on the Irish Sea as well as a weekend operated Dublin-Cherbourg service. She had spells in Scandinavia for Stena before returning to the Irish Sea to partner Stena Adventurer on the Dublin route. 

On this new career, she is to partner Calais Seaways to boost much needed capacity on the premier short-sea service. The newcomer will follow the route's previous second ship, Dieppe Seaways, (now Superfast X) which Stena had also chartered to DFDS until a two-year charter expired last year.

Calais Seaways is the stalwart of Strait of Dover. Originally she served Dover-Ostend service when launched as Prins Filip, the flagship of Belgian state operator RTM back in 1991.

 

Published in Ferry

About Safehaven Marine 

Safehaven Marine are designers and builders of FRP Pilot boats, Patrol boats, Crew transfer vessels, Hydrographic survey catamarans, Naval & Military craft and unique custom private motor yachts. All our vessels are built to the highest standards of strength & engineering and are renowned worldwide for their exceptional sea-keeping abilities, we set a new World long-range speed record in 2017 with our own vessel and crew. Established in 1996 we have built over 138 vessels supplied to 27 countries worldwide with over 40 pilot vessels in operation globally, and have become leaders in our field.

Based in Youghal, Co Cork Ireland, Safehaven manufacture our vessels from two modern factories, with all design work carried out in house, and built with our own experienced team of engineers, carpenters, electricians, shipwrights and laminators.

Always at the forefront of new technology and designs we continuously develop our range and push the frontiers of design: In 2020 we aim to set a UIM Transatlantic World record with our unique (patent applied for) new 22m high-speed vessel XSV20

Interceptor 42 pilot boat

The Pilot 42 model built by Safehaven Marine has been delivered to ports worldwide and has proved to be a superb sea boat performing admirably in pilotage operations with all owners extolling its virtues of seakeeping, strength and stability.

L.O.A. (Length overall) 13.2m

L.W.L. (Length along waterline) 11.5m

Length moulded (GRP hull only) 12.7

Beam Moulded (GRP only ex fender) 4.0m

Beam overall (Including fenders) 4.4m

Draft (Depth of hull below waterline) 1.35m

Displacement Lightship 14,500kg

Fully loaded 16,000kg

Fuel capacity 1600 litres

Water capacity 110 litres

Crew capacity 5 persons

Engines Volvo D9 425hp

Gearboxes ZF325

Subdivision 4 x separate watertight compartments

Crew capacity 1-2 crew plus 3- 4 pilots

Classification PRS

Speed 23.5kts fully loaded