Stena Line launches ferry traffic Sweden – Finland
Ferry company Stena Line has announced that they will open a new service from Nynäshamn in Sweden to Hanko in Finland in early 2022.
The new route starts on 1 February 2022, where URD operates one traffic every other day between Hangö and Nynäshamn, one of the Stockholm ports. A second vessel, STENA GOTHICA, will join the route on 1 May 2022. Hanko – Nynäshamn will then be operated with daily departures from both ports.
Stena promotes that with a crossing time of 12 hours, full-day treatments will ensure smooth loading and unloading. The stone line shipping page for the route is already live. But at the time of writing, although the timetable seems incomplete, it shows 1830 departure times.
It is reported in the Finnish press that passenger traffic starts in May, probably to coincide with the start of daily traffic.
Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, comments;
“With our new daily route between Hanko and Nynäshamn, we are greatly expanding and strengthening our position in the Baltic Sea. We are growing with our customers and investing in the new service to meet the growing demand from our shipping customers for seamless transport in the Baltic Sea and beyond. By expanding our network to Finland, we are further improving and expanding the most comprehensive, efficient and integrated ferry network in northern Europe. ”
https://www.stenaline.com/media/stories/stena-line-to-open-new-daily-route-to-finland
Very welcome port development
The Port of Hanko welcomes the new service, after losing DFDS passenger traffic to Paldiski in October 2020. Anders Ahlvik, CEO of the Port of Hanko said;
“It is a real pleasure to welcome Stena Line to Hanko. As a leading port for efficient transport routes and centrally located in southern Finland, we share Stena Line’s goal of building sustainable transport chains in the Baltic Sea. Hanko is a central hub for trade and industrial products, the automotive industry and the export of forest industry products. The new route expands our connections to important target markets in Sweden “
https://www.stenaline.com/media/stories/stena-line-to-open-new-daily-route-to-finland
Stena Line’s operations in Nynäshamn moved to the port of Norvik on 9 November 2020. The port has two ro-ro berths, perfect for Stena’s new two-way operation.
Johan Wallén, Marketing and Sales Manager at the Ports of Stockholm, celebrated the news of Stena’s expansion in Nynäshamn;
– Stena Line’s commitment to introduce another line from the Port of Stockholm Norvik underlines how important the newly built port is for a sustainable supply of goods to Sweden’s largest consumer area. The port has been open for less than two years and we are already growing with the introduction of a new route. This has exceeded our expectations and shows that it was the right decision to invest in building Stockholm Norvik. ”
Large investment program
The availability of 1,600 film URD and STENA GOTHICA is the result of a major investment in Stena Line’s fleet in the region.
The two vessels currently operate together with STENA LIVIA on the Travemünde route to Liepāja. When STENA FLAVIA is released from the intersection Nynäshamn – Ventspils by the extended STENA BALTICA (formerly STENA MERSEY), she will join her Visentini colleague on the Liepāja route. This will allow a daily service to be offered without the help of URD and STENA GOTHICA, which will release these vessels for the new Sweden-Finland route.
Meanwhile STENA BALTICA could be seen at Marinetraffic start after the reconstruction of sea paths today, December 7th. The vessel is expected to depart from the shipyard in Turkey no later than 19 December. After further work in Remontowa, Gdansk, she will start operating the section Nynäshamn – Ventspils around the beginning of February.
Also in 2022, Nynäshamn – Ventspils will have two newly built longer E-Flexers, which means that STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA can change to the section Karlskrona – Gdynia.
A nod to the past with a new opportunity
Stena runs 1981-URD and 1982-STENA GOTHICA and launches this new service in a way with very low risk. However, there are potentially great rewards at a time when cruise ferry operators such as Viking Line and Tallink Silja Line is under great pressure due to the effects of Covid-19.
This is not the first time that Stena Line has been active in the Sweden – Finland sector. From 1965 to 1974, Stena used ships such as POSEIDON and STENA GERMANICA on a seasonal traffic Stockholm – Mariehamn. A Stockholm – Turku route was also tested in 1965 and in the mid-2010s, a short-lived slot charter when STENA FORETELLER was chartered to Mann Lines, provides a ro-ro link Finland – Continent – UK.
Facts about Ships has a complete history of QUESTION and STENA GOTHICA.
