There are long-term shipping deals — and then there’s Stena Line.
The Swedish-owned ferry owner has taken a punt on the long-term viability of the human race by signing a deal to operate from Heysham port until 2100, a staggering term of 77 years.
The contract has been signed with Peel Ports Group and is described as “significant”.
Stena Line runs a twice-daily freight service to Belfast. No financial details have been revealed for the contract, which presumably has some form of inflation-proofing mechanism for the ports company.
“The collaborative agreement demonstrates the strong working partnership between the two organisations and seeks to further strengthen their long-term relationship,” the companies said.
But this is not the first super-long-term deal for the two sides.
Earlier in 2023, they agreed a contract for the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead until the end of the century.
Stena Line is investing in two new larger ferries for the Heysham to Belfast run, increasing freight capacity by 80%.
Due in 2025, the methanol-fuelled hybrid ships mark a key milestone towards sustainable shipping, the owner said.
Green shore power
Both companies aim to secure the shore infrastructure needed to provide additional green electrical capacity to power the vessels.
Niclas Martensson, chief executive of Stena Line, said: “Our business on our Belfast-Heysham route has thrived in recent years and is a vital connection for freight transport across the Irish Sea.”
“With the upcoming introduction of our NewMax hybrid ships, this route represents a unique opportunity for Stena Line to offer our freight customers more sustainable transport between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK,” he added.
David Huck, chief operating officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “We have been collaborating successfully with Stena Line for many years and it’s fantastic to establish another long-term agreement with the business.”
Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry companies, carrying 6.5m passengers annually on 39 vessels across 17 routes.
