The largest ferry ever to sail under the British flag

Today, 19 October 2010, the Stena Britannica was christened in Harwich by Susan Hammond, wife of the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport. Mrs Hammond christened the North Sea Superferry, the largest UK-registered ferry ever, in the town’s international port at 13.30 hrs, following an address by Stena Line’s area director for the North Sea, Pim de Lange.

Celebrated by more than 400 guests, the occasion included a three-course champagne lunch and speeches by Stena AB chairman Dan Sten Olsson; Stena Line managing director Gunnar Blomdahl and Philip Hammond MP.

At just over 64.000 gross tonnage, the North Sea Superferry is larger than any other under the British flag, including Stena Line’s own Stena Adventurer. The Stena Britannica’s maximum length is 240m which dwarfs other British-registered ferries and is 2.4 times the height of the Big Ben clock tower.

Gunnar Blomdahl, Stena Line’s managing director, said, “We at Stena Line are delighted and honoured that Mrs Hammond has christened our new British-flagged Superferry. As well as being a multi-million pound outlay, the Stena Britannica represents a considerable investment of time, planning and long-term significance to UK travel and transport, so we feel particularly privileged to have such an appropriate and high-profile godmother for our new vessel.”

Despite her size Stena Britannica is also one of the most environmentally friendly ferries operating from the UK, thanks to catalytic converters; improved combustion engines; recycling systems for glass, cardboard and food and radiant heat-blocking solar film windows. The giant passenger-freight ferry is the second of Stena Line’s two newly-built Superferries and will join the Stena Hollandica, launched in May 2010, operating the most modern ferry route in the world between Harwich and Hook of Holland. Together the ships represent a combined investment of more than £375m and are the result of over three years’ construction.

To make a booking visit stenaline.co.uk,
call Stena Line on 08447 70 70 70, or visit your local travel agent

Notes to editors:
Fares start at £49 single for a car and driver, and £12 per additional adult or £6 per additional child (up to 15 yrs, under fours travel free).

In the UK alone, Stena Line offers two daily crossings on its Harwich to Hook of Holland route as well as over 30 daily crossings on its five different routes to Ireland (Stranraer to Belfast, Fleetwood to Larne, Holyhead to Dublin, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Fishguard to Rosslare) providing fast and efficient crossings with excellent onboard services and facilities.

For further press information please contact:
Richard Rigby, Susie Aust and Tom Bates, bgb
tel: 020 7902 2990 I email: initialandsurname@bgb.co.uk