Birkenhead to Belfast ferry operator Stena Line says it has had a ‘huge’ response to its campaign to hire 60 new recruits for its Irish Sea operations. Tony McDonough reports

Ferry operator Stena Line says it has received more than 1,700 applications for 60 vacancies on its Irish Sea routes.

People from across the UK and Ireland responded to Stena’s A Life Less Ordinary recruitment campaign. It focused on the nature of life onboard its vessels, with 50% time-off providing the opportunity for a better work-life balance.

Two of the Swedish company’s newest vessels – Stena Edda and Stena Embla – operate up to two return sailings a day between the Twelve Quays terminal on the Mersey at Birkenhead and Belfast. Other Irish Sea routes include sailings between Holyhead in North Wales and Dublin.

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The positions available are part of the onboard sales and services (OSS) team, with vacancies for service assistants and chefs. With January being the traditional time of the year when many people look for a new career, Stena Line had hoped for a favourable response.

But even the most optimistic of predictions could not have expected it to be so over-subscribed. Successful applicants will work onboard for either a one or two-week shift and then spend equal time off.

Stena has now undertaken the initial stage of the selection process and, for the first-time, is hosting two open days for prospective candidates on Monday, February 14, where they will get a chance to meet members of Stena Line’s crews.

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They are taking place in Birkenhead and Belfast with the latter being held onboard Stena Edda, giving candidates a chance to get a first-hand taste of life onboard on the Irish Sea. Stephen Bryden, Stena Line’s head of OSS, said: “I am astonished by the public’s response to the A Life Less Ordinary recruitment campaign.

“We have never received so many applications. It really goes to show how many people are attracted to a life at sea with a company like Stena Line. Now our HR team has the challenge of how to sort and interview so many applicants, but that is a nice challenge to have. Thank you to every single person that has applied to work with us.”