Freight News, Sea


Somerset to acquire CLdN ship for Dublin/Liverpool route

[ October 15, 2026   //   ]

Stena Line is to acquire the ro ro vessel Somerset from CLdN and will operate it on the Dublin–Liverpool route from early December.

Delivery of Somerset is expected later in October and, after a period in dry dock for refurbishment and repainting, the vessel is expected to enter service on the Dublin–Liverpool route in December, renamed Stena Freighter. Somerset has previously operated within Stena Line’s network as a chartered vessel.

The move will allow Stena to deploy its own vessels on the Rotterdam–Harwich route which it currently operates with two chartered vessels – Mistral from Godby Shipping and Thuleland from Wallenius SOL. The charter agreements for these vessels will soon expire, and both vessels will be returned to their owners at the end of the year.

The Rotterdam–Harwich route will continue to be served by two vessels, with Stena Scotia and Stena Hibernia being redeployed from the Irish Sea and the Dublin–Liverpool route, replaced by the Stena Freighter (Somerset). The freight route between Dublin and Liverpool will return to being served by one vessel instead of two, as has been the case for most of 2026.

Head of network and business development at Stena Line, Magnus Lander, said: “It’s a vessel that fits well within our network and has the flexibility and capacity to operate on several of our routes. We know Somerset well from her previous service with us and know what she can deliver. With Somerset, we have an excellent option with significant capacity for the Dublin–Liverpool route.

“The acquisition also enables us to strengthen our presence on the Rotterdam–Harwich route by deploying our own two vessels, Stena Scotia and Stena Hibernia.”

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