FREIGHT and passenger vessel Stena Vinga – which has been part of DFDS’s fleet since the launch of its Jersey service last year – has been purchased by the Danish shipping firm after the ferry “performed well” while on charter.
The acquisition of the 125-meter-long vessel from Swedish ferry operator Stena Line was announced by DFDS yesterday and is due to be completed in November.
Stena Vinga can carry up to 400 passengers and 200 cars and has a freight capacity of 1,500 lane meters.
She will continue to operate routes between Jersey, the UK and France.
Mathieu Girardin, head of DFDS’s ferry division, said: “The addition of Stena Vinga further strengthens our fleet resilience.”
He continued: “The ferry has proven to be a good fit for Jersey and has performed well during the charter period.
“Bringing it into our owned fleet is a natural step which supports our long‑term operations and commitment to serving Jersey.
“We look forward to continuing to welcome customers on board and providing them with a reliable and comfortable experience.”
Stena Vinga was built in 2005 and is equipped with 40 cabins, a restaurant, a duty-free shop, a cinema and a recliner lounge.
She will be reflagged under the UK flag and renamed to fit with the existing DFDS fleet.
DFDS has also said it plans to “begin recruitment across all ranks” and expects to create 70 new positions, including cadets and apprentices, to “support the continued growth of the service”.
