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A portrait of Irish Sea success

[ January 29, 2024   //   ]

Belfast Harbour unveiled a portrait by local artist, Ken Hamilton of Stena Line owner and chairman, Dan Sten Olsson, at its Harbour Office in Corporation Square to celebrate the contribution the Swedish ferry operator has made over the last three decades.

Stena Line is marking a record year for freight volumes on its Belfast routes with approximately 587,000 units being transported in 2023. 

Stena Line moved to Belfast Harbour in 1995 and since then, the Company has invested significantly in developing and improving its Irish Sea operations. It operates three routes from Belfast Harbour with combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Belfast to Liverpool, as well as a dedicated freight only route from Belfast to Heysham. A total of seven Stena Line ships move in and out of Victoria Terminals 1/2 and 4 in Belfast Harbour every day with the port also serving as Stena Line’s Irish Sea headquarters.

Dan Sten Olsson, said: “I am honoured to be presented with a portrait by Belfast Harbour Commissioners. Over the years, Stena Line has developed a strong relationship and affinity with Belfast and the local community. Personally, I did my first business in Belfast over 50 years ago and have been committed to Northern Ireland ever since.

“Northern Ireland is a strategically important region for Stena Line and our solid partnership with Belfast Harbour has been instrumental in our construction of one of our largest passenger and freight hubs in our European network. We look forward to what the future brings for the routes and to working with the harbour to continuously improve our services for our customers.”

PICTURE OF SUCCESS: Belfast Harbour has unveiled a specially commissioned portrait of Stena Line owner and Chairman, Dan Sten Olsson, to celebrate the significant contribution the Swedish ferry operator has made to the Port and Region over the last three decades. The unveiling comes as Stena Line marks a record year for freight volumes on its Belfast routes with approximately 587,000 units being transported in 2023. Painted by local artist, Ken Hamilton, the portrait was commissioned by Belfast Harbour to acknowledge the impact that Dan Sten Olsson and the investment of Stena Line has made to the development of Belfast Harbour in recent years. Pictured at the unveiling of the portrait at the Belfast Harbour Office in Corporation Square are (l-r) Cpt Kevin Allen (Harbour Master), Belfast Harbour, Joe O’Neil (CEO), Belfast Harbour, Andy Kane (Regional Ports Operation Manager-Irish Sea North), Stena Line, Dan Sten Olsson, Dr Theresa Donaldson (Chair), Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Michael Robinson (Port Director), Belfast Harbour, Paul Grant (Trade Director), Stena Line, Niclas Martensson (CEO), Stena Line, and Maurice Bullick (Finance Director), Belfast Harbour.

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