# MS Stena Superfast VIII

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2000 ferry

MS Stena Superfast VIII at Cairnryan in August 2019 History Name 2002-2011: Superfast VIII 2011-present: Stena Superfast VIII Owner 2002–06: Superfast Ferries 2006–17: Tallink[1] 2017 onwards: Stena Line[1] Operator 2002 - 06: Superfast Ferries 2006 - 11: Tallink 2011 - onwards: Stena Line[1] Port of registry 2002–06: Piraeus, Greece 2006–11: Paldiski, Estonia 2011 onwards: Belfast, United Kingdom[1] Route Belfast–Cairnryan Builder HDW, Kiel, Germany Yard number 358[1][2] Launched 28 November 2000[1] Acquired 11 July 2001[1] Maiden voyage 15 July 2001[1] In service 15 July 2001[1] Identification IMO number: 9198953[1] Call sign: 2EZR4 MMSI number: 235089436 Status In service General characteristics (as built)[1] Class & type Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry Tonnage 30,285 GT Displacement 5,990 t (5,900 long tons) deadweight (DWT) Length 203.3 m (667 ft) Beam 25.42 m (83 ft 5 in) Height 40.00 m (131.23 ft) Draught 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in) Decks 10[3] Ice class 1 A Super[3] Installed power 4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S diesels combined 46,000 kW (62,000 shp) Propulsion 2 propellers 2 bow thrusters 1 stern thruster Speed 30.4 kn (56.3 km/h; 35.0 mph)[3] Capacity 626 passengers 661 cars 1,920 lane meters General characteristics (in Stena Service)[2] Class & type Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry Tonnage 10769 Net Tonnage 30285 Gross Tonnage Displacement 13315 tonnes (light) Length 203.3 m (667 ft) Beam 25 m (82 ft 0 in) Draught 6.6 m (21 ft 8 in) Depth 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) Deck clearance 4.7 m, 5.2 m on central 4 lanes of the upper vehicle deck Installed power 4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S main engines producing 11,500 kW each(total 46,000 kW (62,000 shp)), coupled to 2 × 5.2 m KaMeWa propellers via 2 × Schelde dual input single output gearboxes 3 × MAN B&W 8L28/32H, producing a total of 1,848 kW each @ 510 rpm Propulsion 2 × 5.2 m KaMeWa propellers 3 × 925 kW KaMeWa bow thrusters 1 × 1,350 kW stern thruster [2] Speed 20 kn (37.0 km/h; 23.0 mph) - 22 kn (40.7 km/h; 25.3 mph) [2] Consumption: 50 tonnes at slow speed (16 - 18 knots), 75 tonnes at eco speed (19 - 21 knots) Capacity 1,200 passengers 661 cars or 110 trailers (or a mix of both) 1924 lane metres 5920 Deadweight Crew 65 - 80 (dependent on service requirements) 18 (Minimum Safe Manning) Notes Entered Stena service along with her sister Stena Superfast VII on 21 November 2011.[2]

**MS *Stena Superfast VIII*** is a fast [Ro-Pax](/source/Ro-Pax) [ferry](/source/Ferry) owned and operated by [Stena Line](/source/Stena_Line) between [Belfast](/source/Belfast) and [Cairnryan](/source/Cairnryan). The ship was built in 2001 by [Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW)](/source/Howaldtswerke-Deutsche_Werft), [Kiel](/source/Kiel), [Germany](/source/Germany) for [Attica Group](/source/Attica_Group)'s subsidiary [Superfast Ferries](/source/Superfast_Ferries). She was sold to her current owners in 2017.[1]

MS *Superfast VIII* near Helsinki, June 2007

In March 2006 Superfast sold its [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea) operations to Tallink. Like her sisters, the *Superfast VIII* was moved from Finnish to Estonian registry, and her route changed to Hanko–[Paldiski](/source/Paldiski)–Rostock from April 2006 onwards. The call at Paldiski proved to be impractical, and already in June of the same year the route reverted to Hanko–Rostock. Around this time the ship's hull markings were changed to "Superfast operated by Tallink". Although there were rumours that the ships would be moved under Silja Line's brand from January 2007 onwards, they were instead officially made a part of Tallink's fleet. At the same time their route changed to Tallinn–Helsinki–Rostock. Between 5 and 12 April 2007 the ship was used on the Helsinki–Tallinn route due to a delay in the delivery of the new [MS *Star*](/source/MS_Star_(2006)). After this she joined her sisters in the Rostock service.

## Stena Line charter

In March 2011, [Stena Line](/source/Stena_Line) announced it would be chartering the *Superfast VIII* and sister ship [*Superfast VII*](/source/MS_Superfast_VII). The vessels now operate on crossings of the [North Channel](/source/North_Channel_(Great_Britain_and_Ireland)) separating Ireland and Britain; between [Belfast](/source/Belfast) and [Cairnryan](/source/Cairnryan), at a new facility built by Stena Line called Loch Ryan Port.[4] in February 2014, Stena renewed the charter of these ships until Autumn 2019. Stena Superfast VIII has been voted the top ship in the entire Stena Line fleet by Stena customers for both 2013 and 2014. More recently the ship has been voted top ship in both the Irish Sea fleet and the entire Stena fleet 2022.

## Conversion to day ferries

Source:[2]

Before the two sister ships entered service for Stena Line, an extensive refurbishment/conversion overseen by Stena Ro-Ro and Knud E Hansen was undertaken at the Remontowa Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland. This was rumoured at the time to have cost a total of €14M. As part of this conversion, the free height of the upper vehicle deck (deck 5) was raised to 5.05 m allowing Stena to carry full height freight. This included removing the passenger areas on deck 6, where there were areas such as a bar and a conference room. There still is a blue lift exit on deck 6, which only leads to the stairway. Both ships also received an additional bow thruster to improve manoeuvrability, taking their complement to 3 bow thrusters and 1 stern thruster.

As the new port in Scotland had a TTS automated mooring system installed, the ships were also adapted to work with this by adding three steel bollards on the starboard side bow. The conversion of the vessels and construction of the new port in Scotland were part of a £200m rolling investment in the route between Scotland and Northern Ireland. There were also 2 remote controlled arms installed at Belfast Victoria Terminal 4, which attach to the stern of each vessel.

## Refurbishment

During March 2015, some areas of *Stena Superfast VIII* were refurbished whilst the ship was dry docked at Harland and Wolff.[2] Along with the entire Irish sea fleet (1 ship at a time), Superfast VIII will enter dry dock in April 2023 for extensive work to both the exterior and to the passenger accommodation, this dock will take place in Liverpool.

## Other information

*Stena Superfast VIII* is managed by Stena Line as of March 2023. Stena Line purchased the vessel in December 2017.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-FoF_1-11) Asklander, Micke. ["M/S *Superfast VIII* (2001)"](http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_VIII_2001.htm). *Fakta om Fartyg* (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 April 2008.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-NIFS_2-6) ["Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII"](http://www.niferrysite.co.uk/?p=9). NI Ferry Site. 20 February 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Tallink_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Tallink_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Tallink_3-2) ["Tallink Superfast » Technical information"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080330233021/http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/superfast/technicalInformation/). Tallink official website. Archived from [the original](http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/superfast/technicalInformation/) on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["New ships for Scotland - NI service"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110723154314/http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/media/news/newships/). Stena Line. 7 March 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/media/news/newships/) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.

## External links

- [M/S Superfast VIII at Fakta om Fartyg](http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_VIII_2001.htm) (in Swedish)

- [Superfast VIII at marinetraffic.com](http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=235089436)

- [Stena Superfast VII and VIII at NIFerrysite.co.uk](http://www.niferrysite.co.uk/?p=9)

v t e Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Civilian ships Bungsberg (1924) Otto Hahn (1968) Tor Britannia (1975) Tor Scandinavia (1976) Bahamas Celebration (1981) Astor (1981) PFS Polarstern (1982) Astor (1987) Superfast VII (2001) Superfast VIII (2001) Superfast IX(2002) Superfast X (2002) Naval frigates SAS Isandlwana (F146) SAS Mendi (F148) Naval corvettes Braunschweig-class corvettes Naval submarines (U-boats) Type 205 Type 206 Type 209 Type 212 (212A, 212CD) Type 214 Type 216 Type 218 Dolphin II Naval gunboats USS Topeka (PG-35) People Wilhelm Bauer August Howaldt Subsidiaries Deutsche Werft Related Hellenic Shipyards Co. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems

v t e Superfast VII class fast ropax ferries Stena Superfast VII Stena Superfast VIII Stena Superfast X Superfast IX Stena Line Marine Atlantic

v t e Ferries of the Irish Sea Current ships Brittany Ferries MV Armorique MV Commodore Clipper MV Cotentin MV Galicia MS Norbay MV Pont-Aven MV Santona Irish Ferries HSC Dublin Swift MS Isle of Innisfree MS Isle of Inisheer MS James Joyce MS Ulysses MV W.B. Yeats Isle of Man Steam Packet Company MS Ben-my-Chree HSC Manannan MV Manxman P&O Ferries European Causeway European Highlander CLdN MS Seatruck Point MS Seatruck Panorama MS Seatruck Power MS Seatruck Progress MS Seatruck Performance MS Seatruck Precision Stena Line MS Stena Adventurer MS Stena Edda MS Stena Embla MS Stena Estrid MS Stena Nordica MS Stena Hibernia Stena Horizon MS Stena Scotia MS Stena Superfast VII MS Stena Superfast VIII Hibernia Line MS Akka MS St Patrick Ferry ports Belfast Harbour Cairnryan Harbour Port of Cork Douglas Harbour Dublin Port Fishguard Harbour Heysham Port Port of Holyhead Larne Harbour Port of Liverpool Pembroke Dock Rosslare Europort

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MS Stena Superfast VIII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Stena_Superfast_VIII) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Stena_Superfast_VIII?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.