1. History

2. Design

3. References

The E-Flexer is a class of RORO ferries ordered by Stena Line for European line service. Six vessels of the class are on order, and upon delivery will be operated by Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, and DFDS Seaways.

History

Following about two years of design work, Stena ordered the first four vessels of the class from Chinese shipbuilder AVIC Weihai in April 2016, with options for four more ships.^[1] Stena originally planned to utilize the four ferries on Irish Sea services out of Belfast, but later agreed to charter the third ship in the series to Brittany Ferries.^[2] In February 2018, the keel was laid for the first ship, with her delivery scheduled for early 2020.^[3][2] Stena Line affiliate Stena RoRo ordered a fifth ship in April 2018, which will enter service with DFDS Seaways on a ten-year charter upon delivery.^[4] The following month, Stena RoRo ordered a sixth ship, to be placed with Brittany Ferries on a ten-year charter beginning in late 2021.^[5] Construction on the second ship in the class began in June 2018.^[6] In July, Stena Line ordered two more ships, accounting for all the options in the original 2016 order, while Stena RoRo announced that it had agreed to take new options for four more vessels.^[7]

Upon delivery in early 2020, the first ship will operate for Stena Line between Dublin, Ireland and Holyhead, Wales.^[2] The second and fourth ships will operate for Stena between Belfast and Birkenhead, England.^[2] Brittany Ferries will operate the third, sixth and seventh ships out of Portsmouth, England to Bilbao and Santander, Spain.^[8][9]

The first ship in the class, named Stena Estrid, was launched in January 2019.^[10]

Design

E-Flexer-class ships were designed by Deltamarin.^[2] The first six ships of the type measure {{GT|42,400}} and are {{convert|214.5|m|ft}} in length, with a beam of {{convert|27.8|m|ft}} and a draft of {{convert|6.4|m|ft}}.^[2] Their freight deck has a capacity of 3,100 lane meters, with additional space for about 120 cars.^[2] The seventh and eighth ships will be {{convert|240|m|ft}} long, with 3,600 lane meters of freight capacity.^[7] Passenger capacity is about 1,000 people, though the interior layout is built to the requirements of the operator.^[2]

The first five ships to be built are each powered by two MaK M43C diesel engines, with a total power output of {{convert|25,200|kW|hp}}, driving two propellers that give the ships a top speed of {{convert|22|kn|mph}}.^[2] Those engines are designed to be compatible with liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel after modifications, while the sixth ship in the series will be delivered with LNG propulsion.^[2]

References

• Walter Ross (politician)
• Walter Roth
• Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology
• Walter Rothschild Museum
• Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum, Tring
• Walter Rowley
• Walter R. Peterson
• Walter R. Peterson Jr.
• Walter R. Staples
• Walter R. Stiness
• Walter R. Stubbs
• Walter R. Tucker
• Walter R. Tucker Jr.
• Walter Rudin
• Walter ruether
• Walter Rummel
• Walter Runciman, 1st Baron Runciman
• Walter Runciman, 3rd Viscount Runciman of Doxford
• Walter Runciman (disambiguation)
• Walter Russell
• Walter Russell Hall
• Walter Russell Lambuth
• Walter Russell Mead
• Walter Russell Rea
• Walter Russell Rea, 1st Baron Rea