MS Stena Leader
Encyclopedia
MS Anna Marine is a ro-ro ferry
that operated on the Stena Line
service from Larne
, Northern Ireland to Fleetwood
, England.
The ship was built in 1975 for Pandoro Ltd
and was named Buffalo . In 1998 the ship was renamed European Leader in preparation for rebranding of Pandoro Ltd to P&O Irish Sea
the same year. In 2004 Stena Line
bought the route and the ship was renamed Stena Leader.
The ship takes 8 hours to travel between Larne and Fleetwood but can take up to 12 hours depending on the tide depths at Fleetwood.
Stena Leader is the longest out of the three ships that operate on the Larne to Fleetwood route.
The Larne to Fleetwood sailings were cancelled in December 2010 due to Stena Line losing money. There are no plans to relaunch the service.
She was re-named Anna Marine in June 2011, with all visual references to Stena Line removed.
and the Stena Seafarer
.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
that operated on the Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
service from Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, Northern Ireland to Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, England.
The ship was built in 1975 for Pandoro Ltd
P&O Irish Sea
P&O Irish Sea was the trading name of P&O Ferries in the Irish Sea from 1998 - 2010. It has now merged back to being P&O Ferries.-History:P&O Irish Sea was formed in 1998, following the merger of the Cairnryan-based service of P&O European Ferries Ltd and Pandoro...
and was named Buffalo . In 1998 the ship was renamed European Leader in preparation for rebranding of Pandoro Ltd to P&O Irish Sea
P&O Irish Sea
P&O Irish Sea was the trading name of P&O Ferries in the Irish Sea from 1998 - 2010. It has now merged back to being P&O Ferries.-History:P&O Irish Sea was formed in 1998, following the merger of the Cairnryan-based service of P&O European Ferries Ltd and Pandoro...
the same year. In 2004 Stena Line
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
bought the route and the ship was renamed Stena Leader.
The ship takes 8 hours to travel between Larne and Fleetwood but can take up to 12 hours depending on the tide depths at Fleetwood.
Stena Leader is the longest out of the three ships that operate on the Larne to Fleetwood route.
The Larne to Fleetwood sailings were cancelled in December 2010 due to Stena Line losing money. There are no plans to relaunch the service.
She was re-named Anna Marine in June 2011, with all visual references to Stena Line removed.
Sister ships
The Stena Leader is one of three vessels based on the same design. The other two vessels are the Stena PioneerMS Stena Pioneer
MS ANT 1 was a ro-ro ferry operated by Stena Line between Larne, Northern Ireland and Fleetwood, England. The ferry didn't carry passengers but it is mainly freight that is carried.-History:The Stena Pioneer was built in 1975 as the Bison...
and the Stena Seafarer
MS Stena Seafarer
MS Stena Seafarer is a ro-ro ferry that operates on the service between Larne, Northern Ireland and Fleetwood, England. The ship is different to Stena Leader and Stena Pioneer as this was built to carry passengers rather that freight...
.