MS Superfast VIII

History
MS Superfast VIII near Helsinki, June 2007.

Name:	Stena Superfast VIII
Owner:	2002–06: Superfast Ferries 2006 onwards: Tallink
Operator:	2002–06: Superfast Ferries 2006–11: Tallink 2011 onwards: Stena Line
Port of registry:	2002–06: Piraeus, Greece 2006–11: Paldiski, Estonia 2011 onwards: Belfast, United Kingdom
Route:	Belfast–Cairnryan
Builder:	HDW, Kiel, Germany
Yard number:	358
Launched:	28 November 2000
Acquired:	11 July 2001
Maiden voyage:	15 July 2001
In service:	15 July 2001
Identification:	IMO number: 9198953 Call sign: 2EZR4 MMSI number: 235089436
Status:	In service
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry
Tonnage:	30,285 GT
Displacement:	5,990 t (5,900 long tons) deadweight (DWT)
Length:	203.3 m (667 ft)
Beam:	25.42 m (83 ft 5 in)
Height:	40.00 m (131.23 ft)
Draught:	6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
Decks:	10
Ice class:	1 A Super
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S diesels combined 46,000 kW (62,000 shp)
Speed:	30.4 kn (56.3 km/h)
Capacity:	626 passengers 661 cars 1,920 lane meters
General characteristics (in Stena Service)
Class and type:	Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry
Length:	203.3 m (667 ft)
Beam:	25.42 m (83 ft 5 in)
Deck clearance:	4.7 m, 5.2 m on central 4 lanes of the upper vehicle deck
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S main engines producing 11,500 kW each(total 46,000 kW (62,000 shp)), coupled to 2 × 5.2 m KaMeWa propellers via 2 × Schelde dual input single output gearboxes 3 × MAN B&W 8L28/32H, producing a total of 1,848 kW each @ 510 rpm
Propulsion:	2 × 5.2 m KaMeWa propellers 3 × 925 kW KaMeWa bow thrusters 1 × 1,350 kW stern thruster
Speed:	20 kn (37.0 km/h) - 22 kn (40.7 km/h)
Capacity:	1,200 passengers 661 cars or 110 trailers (or a mix of both)
Notes:	Entered Stena service along with her sister Stena Superfast VII on 21/11/2011.

MS Stena Superfast VIII is a fast Ro-Pax ferry operated by Stena Line between Belfast and Cairnryan. The ship is owned by the Estonian ferry company Tallink and was built in 2001 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), Kiel, Germany for Attica Group's subsidiary Superfast Ferries. She was sold to her current owners in 2006.

In March 2006 Superfast sold its Baltic Sea operations to Tallink. Like her sisters, the Superfast VIII was moved from Finnish to Estonian registry, and her route changed to Hanko–Paldiski–Rostock from April 2006 onwards. The call at Paldiski proved to be impractical, and already in June of the same year the route reverted to Hanko–Rostock. Around this time the ship's hull markings were changed to "Superfast operated by Tallink". Although there were rumours that the ships would be moved under Silja Line's brand from January 2007 onwards, they were instead officially made a part of Tallink's fleet. At the same time their route changed to Tallinn–Helsinki–Rostock. Between 5 and 12 April 2007 the ship was used on the Helsinki–Tallinn route due to a delay in the delivery of the new MS Star. After this she joined her sisters in the Rostock service.

In March 2011, Stena Line announced it would be chartering the Superfast VIII and sister ship Superfast VII. The vessels now operate on crossings of the North Channel separating Ireland and Britain; between Belfast and Cairnryan, at a new facility built by Stena Line called Loch Ryan Port. in February 2014, Stena renewed the charter of these ships until Autumn 2019. Stena Superfast VIII has been voted the top ship in the entire Stena Line fleet by Stena customers for both 2013 and 2014.

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