Stena Line Experiences North Sea Coaching Upsurge

LONDON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Stena Line experienced a significant upsurge in coach travel on its North Sea route to Holland during the first half of 2010. The ferry operator carried 36.6 per cent more coaches on its route between Harwich and the Hook of Holland than during the first half of the previous year.

The second quarter of 2010 was particularly strong, with Stena Line transporting 38 per cent more coaches than during the second quarter of 2009. The growth in coach traffic between Harwich and the Hook of Holland has continued into the third quarter, with Stena Line reporting a 55.7 per cent year-on-year increase in coach crossings during the month of July.

Lars Olsson, Stena Line's commercial manager for travel on the North Sea, said: "2010 has been an exceptional year for Stena Line's coach traffic and we're looking forward to building on the growth that we've achieved so far.

"In April there was a hike in the number of coaches crossing and this was partly linked to the volcano-related restrictions on air travel from the UK at that time.  However we've sustained these high levels of year-on-year growth, which we feel reflects the rediscovery made by travellers of the convenience of travelling to Holland by coach and ferry.

"In May this year Stena Line introduced the first of our two brand new North Sea Superferries, the size and onboard comfort of which make them ideal for coach travel to Holland. We're also increasingly seeing Amsterdam considered as a major European hub for onward coach travel throughout Europe and we're hoping to capture more and more of this market."

Stena Line will be launching the second of its two new Superferries, the Stena Britannica in October 2010. The first is the Stena Hollandica which was launched on the 16th May 2010. The Stena Britannica ferry will carry 300 freight units and 230 cars, a capacity increase of about 36 per cent in comparison with its predecessor.

About Stena Line:

In the UK alone, Stena Line offers two daily crossings on its Harwich to Hook of Holland route as well as over 30 daily crossings on its five different routes to Ireland (Stranraer to Belfast, Fleetwood to Larne, Holyhead to Dublin, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Fishguard to Rosslare) providing fast and efficient crossings with excellent onboard services and facilities.

SOURCE Stena Line