Stena Line has announced its second major Irish Sea freight deal within days with an agreement to continue operating from Heysham for another 77 years.
The ferry and port operator has signed a deal with Peel Ports Group to operate from Heysham Port until 2100.
Swedish group Stena Line runs a twice-daily freight service between Belfast and Heysham, a crucial trade corridor between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Just last week Stena Line announced a new freight service between Dublin and Peel Ports’ 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead. That followed Stena’s agreement with Peel earlier this year for the 12 Quays terminal to continue operating until the end of the century.
Stena also announced this year that it was investing in the Belfast-Heysham route with two new-build state-of-the-art ‘NewMax’ ferries, boosting freight capacity by 80%. The first vessel will operate from 2025.
Peel Ports, working with Stena Line, now plans to invest in new terminal management systems at the port including a ‘smart gate’ automatic check-in system, and also plans to increase trailer parking capacity. The two firms will also work together to provide extra electrical capacity onshore “to facilitate the future goal of powering the new ships by green shore power”.
Stena Line operates up to 238 weekly sailings on the Irish Sea. They include combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, Rosslare to Fishguard, and Rosslare to Cherbourg. There is also the dedicated freight-only route from Belfast to Heysham and the new Dublin-Birkenhead route.
Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line, said: “Our business on our Belfast-Heysham route has thrived in recent years and is a vital connection for freight transport across the Irish Sea. With the upcoming introduction of our NewMax hybrid ships, this route represents a unique opportunity for Stena Line to offer our freight customers more sustainable transport between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and will be a key milestone in our sustainability journey.”
Carl-Johan Hellner, chief operating officer ports & terminals at Stena Line, said: “Following our signing of the Birkenhead 12 Quays deal earlier this year, this agreement reinforces our long-term commitment to Peel Ports Group and further strengthens our partnership. Heysham is an important hub for our Irish Sea business and we’ve been developing our operations here year on year. We’re excited for the future of the route and to building on its current success.”
David Huck, chief operating officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “We have been collaborating successfully with Stena Line for many years and it’s fantastic to establish another long-term agreement with the business.”
“This deal reaffirms our promise to continue developing and maintaining services across the Irish sea, while also showcasing our ongoing investment into our Heysham operation. We’re confident the route will continue to prove hugely successful for many decades to come.”
