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A Stena Line ferry was involved in an incident at Holyhead port that resulted in the evacuation of over 150 passengers. The Stena Estrid, which was en route from Dublin to Anglesey, experienced a hull breach due to a collision with a turning fender at approximately 7.50am on January 7. The ferry was being guided by a tugboat when it struck the unprotected fender while manoeuvring before docking.
This collision caused about 500 tonnes of water to flood into the starboard engine room, with additional water entering an adjoining void space. The crew responded promptly by reinforcing the hull, pumping out the affected areas, and adjusting ballast to lift the damaged section above the waterline.
Once the situation was managed, the Stena Estrid proceeded to dock safely, allowing passengers to disembark and vehicles to be unloaded without significant disruption. Holyhead Port temporarily closed to ferry traffic following the incident and remained closed until later that evening. Upon relocation of the Stena Estrid to another berth, a structural assessment of the jetty was conducted, revealing no significant damage, which allowed terminal operations to resume.
Following temporary repairs onboard, the Stena Estrid made its way independently to a dry dock in Liverpool. An investigation was initiated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), and its findings have now been released. The report detailed previous ferry-related incidents at Holyhead Port, including collisions in May and December 2025.
In July 2025, Holyhead Port Authority issued a warning regarding the turning fender involved in the recent incident. Although the vessel’s master was aware of the need to avoid the fender, it approached the jetty more quickly than intended, likely due to strong westerly winds. The investigation noted conflicting communications between the ferry and the tugboat, which likely influenced the vessel’s positioning.
Additionally, an inspection revealed sharp protrusions on the turning fender, which the crew had not been informed about prior to the collision. In response to these incidents, Stena Line has re-evaluated and reduced operating parameters for ferries at Holyhead Port and requested repairs to be made to the damaged fendering.
A memo has also been issued to all deck officers to stress the importance of monitoring distances while at mooring stations. Stena Line Ports is restructuring its UK harbour authorities and has made several personnel changes. Improvement projects are also underway at Holyhead Port Terminal 5, with completion expected in October, which include installing new safety equipment and enhancing the resilience of both terminals. The MAIB investigation into the incident has now been closed, recognising the actions and planned improvements made by Stena Line.
