During her normal weekend lay up Larne - Fleetwood vessel Stena Seafarer took a short side trip from Larne round to Belfast for berthing trials at Stena Line's Belfast terminal on Saturday 9th October.  The vessel fitted the conventional ferry berth at Ballast Quay perfectly and ship's master for the occasion, Captain Gerry Hughes, has kindly forwarded a few pictures of Stena Seafarer alongside at Belfast.

All photos (C) Captain Gerry Hughes click to enlarge

View from the port side bridge wing as Stena Seafarer is brought back towards Stena's two tier linkspan in Belfast	The head rope being secured.  This picture shows the tricky dog leg at the base of the HSS linkspan that has to be negotiated to get the vessel alongside the conventional ramp
Above left, right, below left & right: A few pictures taken from the base of the HSS linkspan of Stena Seafarer alongside at Belfast.
Looking down the linkspan into the open stern door - a perfect fit.	Fancy meeting you here?  Rapide inbound from Troon passes Stena Seafarer berthed in Belfast.

With these trials completed Stena Seafarer now fits the conventional ferry berths used by Stena at Stranraer and Belfast.  Although no concrete plans are made on future deployment it looks as though Stena Seafarer is now ready to undertake overhaul or emergency cover on Stena's Belfast - Stranraer route if needed.  Will she now become Stena's flexible friend after previously serving in that capacity during her P&O Irish Sea days as European Seafarer when she served on every one of their six ferry routes and also managed time to fit in charters carrying windfarm traffic out of Campbeltown.

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Updated: 10/10/04

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