Stena-Superfast-Viii

The 'Stena Superfast VIII', serving between Belfast and Cairnryan, has suffered an engine failure whilst alongside in the port of Belfast on the morning of July 17, 2025.. This has resulted in disruption also causing traffic congestion in Belfast. The ferry has since been towed to the ship repair quay at Harland & Wolff. The ferry 'European Causeway' continued to operate the route, but in a ‘freight only’ mode due to issues with the PA system. The ferries 'European Highlander' and 'Stena Superfast VII' were thus the only vessels on the north channel able to carry passengers. The issue at one stage led to traffic disruption in the Dargan Road area and on the M2 southbound heading into Belfast. The 7.30 p.m. sailing had a short delay, check in closed at 7 p.m., to minimise the delay. The 11.30 p.m. crossing was also delayed. check in close dat 11 p.m. to minimise the delay.

A body discovered on a beach in near Farmhill Road in Holywood, County Down, in the morning of Oct 17 has been confirmed as a passenger who fell from the 'Stena Superfast VIII' on Oct 29, the Belfast Harbour Police confirmed. On Oct 29, the Coastguard had conducted an overnight search of Belfast Lough after reports a man had entered the water from the ferry between Belfast and Cairnryan . The search was stood down on Oct 30.

A major SAR operation is underway in Northern Ireland over reports a person fell overboard from the 'Stena Sperfast VIII' on Oct 29, 2022. Emergency services rushed to the scene in the evening in the Lough area of Belfast and were still on scene the next morning. The incident occurred on the 9.30 p.m. service from Cairnryan to Belfast.Police have asked the public to avoid the area while the rescue operation continues. A Lagan Search & Rescue team was alerted, a Rescue 199 helicopter was tasked to help emergency services with the search. The HM Coastguard sent two RNLI lifeboats from Bangor, pilot launches from the harbour, the coastguard helicopter based at Prestwick and Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team in the search which also involves the ferry’s own fast rescue craft. They carried out an extensive search.

An unprecedented nine Stena Line ferries operating on the Irish Sea have received the prestigious Jones F. Devlin Award from the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA), acknowledging the skills and dedication of the men and women responsible for safe vessel operations, the company said in its press release. According to the CSA, the Jones F. Devlin Awards publicly recognise ‘outstanding achievement’, exemplifying ‘devotion to duty and to the principles of maritime safety, which is worthy of the highest commendation.” This year, eight Stena Line ferries on the Irish Sea, along with a ninth ship operating on the Gdynia to Karlskrona route have been recognised for operating between two and five consecutive years without a lost-time accident. The awarded ferries, including eight that operate on the Irish Sea are: Stena Superfast VIII on the Belfast to Cairnryan route Stena Precision, Stena Mersey, Stena Lagan and Stena Forerunner on the Belfast to Liverpool route Stena Performer on the Belfast to Heysham route Stena Adventurer on the Dublin to Holyhead route Stena Horizon on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route Stena Baltica on the Gdynia to Karlskrona route