The Stena Baltica has been the odds on favourite to replace the Stena Europe on the Southern corridor. Her additional freight space and refurbished passanger accomodation from her 2005 rebuild would indeed make her more suitable for the Fishguard service.

Recently the talk has been of the Stena Baltica replacing the Stena Nautica which in turn would replace the Stena Europe. The Stena Nautica also had a rebuild to increase its freight space in turn reducing her PC to around 700. The main concern with the Nautica would be her time keeping which was very poor during her B&I days at Pembroke Dock.

Now the Nordica with its PC of 405 would be too small at peak times especially if the Lynx III does not return in 2010. Of the three I would prefer the Europe's replacement to be the Baltica as it would be the most suitable of the three . . . . . Although the Stena Jutlandica has also been mentioned . . . . .


Irish Lifeboats