Stena vessels linking the Mersey to Belfast and Dublin will be upgraded in a £14m investment by the Swedish ferry giant… including more space for pets. Tony McDonough reports
Swedish ferry operator Stena Line is to invest £14m upgrading its Irish Sea fleet.
Stena operates a number of routes across the Irish Sea including a twice-a-day passenger freight route between Birkenhead and Belfast and a freight-only service between Birkenhead and Dublin.
This latest investment will see cabin improvements across all vessels, increased number of pet-friendly cabins, enhanced Stena Plus lounges providing a premium travel experience and upgraded family entertainment areas.
There are two return sailings a day between the Twelve Quays terminal in Birkenhead, directly opposite Liverpool city centre, and Belfast, Tuesdays to Sundays, with one or two sailings on a Monday.
This route is operated by two recently introduced vessels, Stena Edda and Stena Embla. As well as freight the ships also carry passengers. The Birkenhead to Dublin route, also from the Twelve Quays, is freight-only.
Stena Line’s Irish Sea fleet comprises 11 vessels operating on popular crossings which also include Belfast to Cairnryan and Heysham, Dublin Holyhead as well as Rosslare to Fishguard.
Mark Scouler, Stena Line fleet manager, Irish Sea, said: “This investment demonstrates our dedication to delivering the highest standards of safety, efficiency, comfort and reliability for our customers.
“By upgrading and modernising our vessels, we ensure that Stena Line remains the leader for the Irish Sea freight and travel market. We continually seek to invest in our vessels and provide a premium sustainable service for all our customers.”
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In January LBN revealed more than 270,000 freight units were shipped by Stena vessels between Belfast and Birkenhead in 2025 – a record for the route.
Stena said demand for freight services to and from Belfast has been increasing steadily in recent years. Its Belfast to Heysham 2025 freight service also recorded its highest volumes in the last five years.