MS Stena Nautica

History
Name	1986–1991: Niels Klim 1991–1992: Stena Nautica 1992–1995: Isle of Innisfree 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 Færge 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 1991–1995: Nassau 1995–1996: Halmstad 1996–2001: Nassau 2001–present: Göteborg
Route	Halmstad – Grenå
Builder	Nakskov Skibsværft, Nakskov, Denmark
Yard number	234
Launched	29 May 1985
Identification	IMO number: 8317954
Status	In service
General characteristics (as built, 1986)
Type	Ropax ferry
Tonnage	11,602 GT 2,813 t 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
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

MS Stena Nautica is a ro-pax ferry currently in operation between Halmstad and Grenå for Stena Line. She was completed in 1986 as MS Niels Klim and served on the DSB Århus – Kalundborg along with her sister MS Peder Paars until 1991.

Concept and construction

In September 1983 DSB ordered two relatively large ferries for service on the intra-Denmark Århus–Kalundborg route from Nakskov Skibsværft 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

For other ships with the same name, see MS Isle of Innisfree.

That year both ships were taken over by Stena Line. The Peder Paars 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 Århus. 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 16 February 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 Varberg, and later to Gothenburg and Gdańsk for repairs. She reentered service four months later.

Fire

On 24 January 2013 the Swedish Baltic Sea ferry has broken out in the early morning as the fire rescue headquarters in Gothenburg. On board was at the time of the fire, 77 passengers and 40 crew members. The truck erupted in a fire on the car deck and it was fast under control. The fire was not able to spread. The ferry was in the Kattegat on the way from Danish Grenå to Varberg in Sweden.