VIDEO: Stena Estrid arrives in Holyhead

Stena Estrid prior to commencing delivery voyage (Image courtesy Stena)

Stena Estrid, the first of a new generation of Stena Lina E-flexer RoPax vessels has arrived in Holyhead, Wales, following its delivery voyage from the China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding Weihai Shipyard in China.

The ship is the first on a series of nine vessels, five for Stena Line and four that will be on long-term charter for other leading ferry operators.

Stena Estrid is 215 meters long and has 3,100 lane-meters of capacity.

CAT MARINE PROPULSION SOLUTION

She is equipped with two MaK 12 M 43 C main engines and twin-screw Cat Marine Propulsion drive trains with MPP 1410f propellers, shafts and packaged gearboxes.

Prior to delivery, Stena Estrid underwent rigorous sea trials to test the performance of the vessel including all the onboard systems such as the propulsion plans. On trials, she made significant speed on two shaft lines as well as on one shaft line with the other in feathering mode.

Per Wimby, Project Manager, Hydrodynamics at Stena Teknik, commented “We did 18.5 knots using only one engine which exceeded our expectations.”

Caterpillar Marine worked closely with Stena’s newbuilding team to supply main engines and propulsion packages for Stena Estrid and so far, six of her sisters in the new series.

It was determined that the MaK 12 M 43 C engine and feathering Cat Propulsion MPP 1410f propellers would be the perfect match for this vessel and the package was then further optimized in collaborative extensive simulations and model test work in order to push performance as high as possible.

Wimby calls the final product “the most efficient ship in Stenas history.”

Janne Uotila, Managing Director of Deltamarin Ltd., said: “One of the key principles of Deltamarin designs has always been energy efficiency. Nowadays, due to environmental reasons and stricter regulations even more so and this project is a good example of this. It is a result of close cooperation with Stena and Caterpillar in early stage of the development. All in all this is a great achievement and a benchmark for how close collaboration between all parties can lead to fantastic results.”

Mattias Hansson, Solutions Manager, Caterpillar Marine, said: “The open professional collaboration between all parties, from day 1 throughout the process, has been key to success.”

Caterpillar says that, with a maximum output range of 12,600 kW (17,136 mhp), the MaK 12 M 43 C engine provides reliable power and performance. Developed to meet the requirements of the cruise and ferry markets, this new engine series is the breakthrough into a new class of power. Coupled with the patented feathering Caterpillar controllable pitch propellers and the ability to optimize the whole package under one supplier it creates a very efficient solution for this vessel type.

Compared to other similar ferries, says Cat Marine, this vessel is very fuel-efficient and was, according to Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN). the best model ever tested in its class. The Cat Marine propulsion solution perfectly matches the engine characteristics, vessel design, and is optimized in the flexible speed ranges that Stena Estrid and her sisters are expected to operate.