MS Stena Nautica
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Concept and construction
In September 1983 DSB ordered two relatively large ferries for service on the intra-Denmark Århus—Kalundborg route from the Nakskov Skipsværft in Nakskov, Denmark. Although ordered by the ferry division of the Danish State Railways, the ships did not have the facilities for transporting trains, but were constructed to transport road freight and passengers. Both ships were named after characters from the works of Ludvig Holberg, a Norwegian-born writer considered to be the father of modern Danish literature. First of the ships, delivered in 1985, was named MS Peder Paars after the poem Peder Paars. The second, delivered a year later, was named MS Niels Klim after the protagonist in Niels Klim's Underground Travels.
Early career
That year both ships were taken over by Stena Line. The Peder Paas was renamed MS Stena Invicta and served on the Dover - Calais route for most of the 90s. The Niels Klim was renamed MS Stena Nautica but spent most of 1991 laid up in Arhus. In 1992, she was chartered to B&I Line for use on their Irish Sea services and was renamed MS Isle Of Innisfree; Initially she served Pembroke Dock - Rosslare and later Holyhead - Dublin. However, her slow service speed of 17 knots frequently resulted in delays.
Current Operations
In 1995, she returned to Stena Line and operated on their Lion Ferry subsidiary between Varberg / Halmstad and Grenå. She has since remained on that route, despite occasional charters, the closure of the Halmstad leg and the incorporation of Lion Ferry into Stena Line.
In 2002, she was rebuilt in order to transport more freight. Her lower passenger deck was converted into another vehicle deck, and her passenger certification was subsequently reduced from 2000 to 653, while her freight capacity increased from 604 lane meters to 1235.
Collision
On February 16, 2004, MS Stena Nautica had a mid channel collision with the freight ship, MS Joanna, in heavy fog. The Nautica was holed just above the engine room and took on a significant amount of water. Fortunately, sea conditions were calm, which meant the event could have been much worse. All passengers were evacuated to MS Stena Germanica. The Nautica was eventually towed to Verberg, and later to Gothenburg and Gdansk for repairs. She reentered service four months later.
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
1986—1991: Niels Klim 1991—1992: Stena Nautica 1995-1996: Lion King 1996: Lion King II 1996-present: Stena Nautica |
| Owner: |
1986—1991: DSB Färjedivision 1991 onwards: Stena Line |
| Operator: |
1986—1991: DSB Färjedivision 1992-1995: B&I Line 1995-1996: Lion Ferry 1996: Trasmediterranea 1997: Dutch MoD 1997: UK MoD 1997-present: Stena Line |
| Port of registry: |
1985-1991: Århus File:Flag of Denmark.svg 1991-1995: Nassau 22x20px 1995-1996: Halmstad  1996-2001: Nassau 22x20px 2001-present: Göteborg |
| Route: | Varberg - Grenå |
| Builder: | Nakskov Skibsværft, Nakskov, Denmark |
| Yard number: | 234 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 8317954 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics (as built, 1986) | |
| Type: | Ropax ferry |
| Tonnage: | 11,602 GT (gross tonnage) |
| Displacement: | 2,813 metric tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Length: | 134.02 m (439 ft 8 in) |
| Beam: | 24.61 m (80 ft 9 in) |
| Draught: | 5.65 m (18 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power: |
2 × MAN B&W 8L45GB diesels combined 12480 kW |
| Propulsion: |
2 controllable pitch propellers 2 bow thrusters 1 stern thruster |
| Speed: | 19 kn (35.19 km/h; 21.86 mph) maximum |
| Capacity: |
2000 passengers 148 berths 330 cars |
| General characteristics (after 2002 rebuild) | |
| Tonnage: | 19,763 GT (gross tonnage) |
| Length: | 135.47 m (444 ft 5 in) |
| Beam: | 24.61 m (80 ft 9 in) |
| Draught: | 5.65 m (18 ft 6 in) |
| Capacity: |
663 passengers 148 berths 337 cars 1235 lane metres |
