Swedish ferry company Stena Line will deploy two new, large and modern ferries on its Ventspils-Nynashamn route. The first of them – Stena Scandica arrived at Nynashamn port on July 27, after departing on its maiden voyage from Ventspils, as reported by Stena Line Group.
The new ferry’s passenger compartment capacity is up by 70% when compared to existing vessels. Freight capacity is up by 30%.
The ferry is equipped with multiple sustainable functions and fuel consumption improvements, including hybrid scrubbers, ballast water filtration systems and other solutions to offer customers sustainable transport options across the Baltic Sea. Bigger capacity means lower emissions per transported unit. The interior of the ferry is restored and includes new cabin categories, stores with a wide selection of goods for purchase, leisure areas and multiple catering options, as well as a sunbathing terrace.
“For nearly ten years we’ve been carrying passengers and freights in the Baltic Sea region. Over the course of these years we have experienced strong growth. On top of that, when compared to 2012, we have expanded operations more than 2-fold – we started out with a single vessel and ten trips a week, and now we have 2 ships doing 24 trips a week,” said Johan Edelman, commercial director in the northern region of the Baltic Sea.
He says this expansion is largely thanks to customers’ growing demand for sea trips in the Baltic Sea and additional freight capacity.
“Now we can enhance our positions on the market and offer our clients two new, modern and large ferries that will provide 30% bigger freight capacity and a pleasant experience on all of our routes to and from Latvia,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer of Ventspils Freeport Andris Purmalis says: “It is a great pleasure for Ventspils Freeport to welcome the new Stena Scandica ferry. Without a doubt, this is spacious and modern ferry will help expand the opportunities between Latvia and Scandinavia, which is a welcome piece of news for Latvian and neighboring countries’ industrial sector. This modern passenger service will help Ventspils Freeport develop its role not only in the freight and industrial sector but the tourism sectors as well.”
Ventspils-Nynashamn is the shortest route connecting Baltic States and Scandinavia. Once Stena Scandica and Stena Baltica are deployed on this route, they will replace the existing ferries Stena Livia and Stena Flavia, which will be later diverted to Liepaja-Travemunde route. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
