Stena Line’s new freight-only ferry entered service on the Birkenhead to Belfast route on 2 November, making her maiden commercial arrival in Belfast the following day.
Stena Forwarder (ex Frijsenborg) has replaced Stena Foreteller on the Birkenhead ‘shoulder service’ carrying mainly unaccompanied freight between Northern Ireland and Merseyside.
Stena’s service is also served by the E-Flexer class sisterships Stena Edda and Stena Embla.
Stena Forwarder first arrived in Belfast on 23 October having left Ostend two days previously.
After berthing trials and a period tied up when the vessel’s name was repainted, Stena Forwarder left for Dublin on 29 October, but her call at the port the following day was cancelled.
The ship crossed the Irish Sea heading for Holyhead, but when she was approaching Anglesey changed course for Birkenhead.
Stena Forwarder has recently been operating on the Zeebrugge-Santander-Dublin service, having previously been chartered to GNV. The ship has been operated on a variety of routes over the last few years.
Report and photo by Scott Mackey
