Route Birkenhead-Belfast Length 186 m Builder Cantiere Navale Visentini | Yard number 213 Beam 26 m | |
 | ||
Name 2005–2010 Mersey Viking
2010–2011 Mersey Seaways
2011– Stena Mersey Owner 2005–2012 Levantina Trasporti Srl
2012– Stena Ropax Ltd Operator 2005–2006 Norse Merchant Ferries
2006–2010 Norfolkline
2010–2010 DFDS Seaways
Dec 2010– Stena Line Port of registry 2005–2008 Bari, Italy
2008–present Belfast, United Kingdom | ||
MS Stena Mersey is a RoPax ferry operated by Stena Line between Birkenhead and Belfast.
Contents
She was built in Italy by Cantiere Navale Visentini. She is 26,500GRT and can carry up to 980 passengers in her two lounges, and can sleep up to 480 in cabins. She has four vehicle decks and room for around 200 lorries. Her maximum speed is 27 knots, but usually sails at 23 knots maximum.
History
Stena Mersey was launched in December 2005 as Mersey Viking, entering service with Norse Merchant Ferries later the same month. A few months later, Norse Merchant Ferries was acquired by Norfolkline. Mersey Viking received Norfolkline lettering on her red hull but retained her Norse Merchant Ferries funnel for several years.
In July 2010 Norfolkline was acquired by DFDS. The vessel was renamed Mersey Seaways during her refit in August 2010. Later that same year, DFDS sold its Northern Irish operations to Stena Line. In August 2011, the vessel was renamed Stena Mersey
Early in 2012, Stena Mersey, along with her sister ship Stena Lagan, was given a complete interior and exterior refit and repaint at Harland and Wolff.
Route
Stena Mersey operates on the Birkenhead–Belfast route with her marginally older sister ship Stena Lagan. The total journey time on board the ship is 8 hours.
On board
The ship has several facilities on board such as restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema. There are four-bunk cabins for sleep on the overnight sailing and rest during the day. The truckers' restaurant is at the bow of the ship with views across the sea.