The new cruiseferry of STENA LINE has been taken off the Holyhead-Dublin route for repairs and maintenance due to engine problems - just 4 months after entering service. The ship Stena Estrid (building cost EUR 185 million) started on the route in January 2020 after being built at China's AVIC Weihai Shipyard performing its maiden voyage as Storm Brendan raged.
However, now the vessel is set to be taken out of service for up to 6 weeks. It comes after problems with its Germany-built engines. On the route, Estrid will be replaced by the fleetmate Stena Nordica.
According to STENA LINE, from the beginning of May 2020, Stena Estrid will be taken out of service for 5 to 6 weeks "for maintenance and outfitting work." The ship will be berthed at STENA's ferry port in Cairnryan (Wigtownshire, Scotland), where the works will be undertaken by the company's engineers.
Stena Nordica was deployed on the Holyhead-Dublin route after finishing the charter contract with the UK's Department of Transport. Once Estrid is operational again, Nordica will move south to serve the Fishguard-Rosslare route, where she will replace Stena Europe for ~2 weeks (for Europe's annual drydock). After then, Stena Nordica will be relocated to Baltic Sea to serve as a 3rd ship on the Karlskrona-Gdynia route.