FerriesGrandi Navi Veloci (GNV)Past and PresentSmyril LineStena LineStena RoRoVisemar Levante SRL

MV Stena Forwarder (ex Frijsenborg) – Past and Present

IMO Number: 9645396

MV Stena Forwarder

ex Frijsenborg, Spirit of Montoir, Frijsenborg

© Robbie Cox

© Robbie Cox (Dublin, 07/08/2023)

Steel twin screw “NAOS-P343 Design” motor vessel built in 2016 by Cantiere Navale Visentini, Porto Viro, Italy (Yard No 231) as a RoRo – Cargo ship for Visemar Levante SRL, Bari, Italy

Technical Data

  • Length: 179.46 m (overall) 169.85 m (between perpendiculars)
  • Breadth: 26.21 m
  • Depth: 17.60 m
  • Draught: 7.60 m
  • Tonnage: 21966 gross/6589 net/9100t deadweight
  • Engines: 2 x MAN 9L32/44 CR diesels
  • Power: 10800 kW/HP
  • Speed: 20.0 knots
  • Capacity: 2546 lane meters
  • Passengers: 12
  • Call Sign: IBLU, OUWT2
  • MMSI Number: 219559000
  • IMO Number: 9645396
  • DNV id: 40399
  • Port of Registry: Venice/Italy 🇮🇹, Copenhagen/Denmark 🇩🇰
  • Sister-Ship: Wedellsborg (226)


Current AIS Location


Please note that this specific vessels AIS position data may be over an hour old and that the vessels position will only be displayed when it is within range of the VesselFinder AIS system. The AIS transponder/ship position data featured on this page is intended for information purposes only and it is in no way related to the 'Safety of Navigation at Sea'. All the AIS ship position data featured within this article is provided by VesselFinder and we are therefore not responsible for its content or its accuracy.


History

June 3rd 2014: Contract date.

December 3rd 2014: Keel laid.

April 7th 2016: Launched.

April 13th 2016: Delivered to Visemar Levante SRL, Bari, Italy.

April 2016: Chartered to Nordana Lines.

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente

© Manuel Hernández Lafuente (Sagunto, 21/07/2016)

2017: Chartered to Alternative Transport.

2017: Chartered to Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and renamed SPIRIT OF MONTOIR.

© Marko Waite © Marko Waite

© Marko Waite (16/02/2019)

2020: Charter completed and renamed FRIJSENBORG.

December 2020: Chartered to Smyril Line.

December 30th 2020: Arrived Hirtshals.

January 9th 2021 – March 6th 2021: Services Hirtshals – Torshavn – Seydisfjördur.

March 6th 2021: Left Hirtshals for Harwich.

© Daniel Ferro

© Daniel Ferro (Gibraltar, 17/03/2021)

December 24th 2021: Suffered an engine room fire off Baja, Mexico. Extinguished by the crew.

December 30th 2021: Towed by tug DREW FOSS to Panama.

June 2022: Chartered to GNV for services Genoa – Palermo/ Termini Imerese.

© Prieto  © Prieto

© Prieto (Santander, 15/12/2022)

November 2022: Took up service Zeebrugge – Santander – Dublin.

September 20th 2023: Came off service at Zeebrugge.

September 22nd 2023: Arrived Ostend.

© Julien Carpentier  © Julien Carpentier

© Julien Carpentier (Ostend, 31/09/2023)

September 26th 2023: Possible sale and change of ownership.

“According to unconfirmed (but not denied) rumours, it seems destined to pass to the Swedish Stena RoRo which will rename it Stena Forwarder.”

October 18th 2023: Sale confirmed, renamed STENA FORWARDER under the Danish flag.

October 21st 2023: Left Ostend for Belfast.

October 23rd 2023: Arrived in Belfast.

© Luke Wilson (Belfast, 23/10/2023)

© Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd © Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd (Belfast, 23/10/2023)

October 29th 2010: Left Belfast for Dublin.

October 30th 2023: Changed course prior to Dublin and showing destination as Birkenhead.

October 30th 2023: Berthing trials Birkenhead.

© Robert Foy © Robert Foy © Robert Foy

© Robert Foy (Twelve Quays, Birkenhead, 31/10/2023)

© Ian Collard

© Ian Collard (Liverpool, 01/11/2023)

November 3rd 2023: Inaugural commercial sailing Birkenhead – Belfast.

© Trevor Kidd © Stephen Brown

© Trevor Kidd (Belfast, 27/11/2023) (Left) © Stephen Brown (Belfast, 04/12/2023) (Right)

December 24th 2023: Came off service at Belfast and shifted from VT1 to Harland and Wolff Ship Repair.

© Trevor Kidd

© Trevor Kidd (Belfast, 24/12/2023)

© Stephen Brown

© Stephen Brown (Belfast, 01/01/2024)

© George Holland © George Holland

🆕 © George Holland (15/02/2024)

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Stephen Brown, Ian Collard, Julien Carpentier, Ian Collard, Robbie Cox, Daniel Ferro, Robert Foy,  Fotoflite, George Holland, Trevor Kidd, Prieto, Manuel Hernández Lafuente, Marko Waite, Luke Wilson and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)

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