Reviews & Ratings for the Stena-Germanica

On the evening of March 25, 2026, a serious medical situation unfolded aboard the 'Stena Germanica' as the vessel operated between Kiel and Gothenburg. An elderly passenger experienced a sudden health crisis, necessitating an urgent evacuation from the ship. The operation took place while the ship was navigating the Great Belt, near Korsør. Swiftly responding to the emergency, a helicopter from the Danish Air Force was dispatched to the scene. Medical staff onboard provided initial care before the passenger was prepared for imminent transport. With coordination from the Danish Navy's Maritime Rescue Service, the helicopter emerged from Roskilde at 10:35 p.m. The skilled crew successfully hoisted the afflicted passenger from the ship and ensured their safe flight to a hospital in Denmark for further treatment.

On September 18, 2025, the Stena Germanica docked in Kiel, arriving over an hour late at 10:30 AM after its journey from Gothenburg. Stena Line reported that the ferry encountered technical difficulties, limiting its operational capacity to just two of its four engines during the transit. One engine required urgent repairs, while another was in need of scheduled maintenance. Despite these challenges, the safety of the passengers onboard remained uncompromised. Travelers had been given prior notification about the delay on the evening of September 17. Stena Line has indicated that the necessary repairs on the Stena Germanica are expected to be finalized by September 19.

A thorough investigation by the National Accident Commission has revealed that electrical faults in the engine room of the 'Stena Germanica' likely led to the tragic death of a crew member while he was on duty. This incident occurred on June 27, 2022, while the ferry was navigating its route from Gothenburg to Kiel. Initial assumptions regarding the cause of death pointed towards natural causes; however, findings indicate that electrocution was the likely culprit. The deceased engineer was discovered unconscious beside a ballast pump after investigating a water leak. CPR was promptly administered to no avail, and his death was initially attributed to cardiac arrest. However, just weeks later, a similar situation unfolded on July 14, when a second engineer, also inspecting the ballast pump for leaks, received a severe electrical shock. Following these incidents, Stena sought the expertise of an electrical company to assess the electrical system aboard the vessel. In their report to authorities, they confirmed that the earlier incident leading to the first engineer's death could have resulted from electrical malfunctions. The second engineer's near-fatal experience involved a wet solenoid valve, which he touched while trying to ascertain the source of the leak, unaware that it was the same location where the first engineer had perished. The investigation identified multiple errors that had energized the component. Notably, a gasket was missing, and there was a critical lack of protective grounding. Additionally, changes made to the incoming cables to the solenoid meant it was live for the entire duration that the pump was operational—rendering it outside the ordinary fault isolation checks. Since the valve was functioning, no error notifications were triggered. The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority concluded that the second engineer's electric shock, which occurred as he came into contact with water, mirrored the circumstances leading to the earlier incident. As part of their recommendations, the report highlighted the importance of ensuring only qualified personnel with specific knowledge of maritime electrical systems work on these installations. It urged Stena to review their training protocols for emergency responses and shorten response times from alarm to action. Furthermore, it suggested developing communication procedures with shoreside medical services regarding electrical incidents on board any of their vessels.

On June 22, 2021, the 'Stena Germanica' made headlines by becoming the world's first ferry to operate on 'Blue Methanol,' a fuel sourced from recycled residual gases generated in steel production. This innovative step underscores Stena Line's commitment to sustainable maritime practices and moving closer to their ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality. The use of Blue Methanol significantly reduces the ferry's dependency on traditional diesel, further curbing its carbon emissions. The journey of the 'Stena Germanica' towards greener operations began in 2015 when the vessel's dual-fuel system was retrofitted to accommodate both methanol and diesel. Now operating on the Gothenburg – Kiel route, this revolutionary RoPax ferry exemplifies the strides being made in the maritime industry towards cleaner fuels. Collaborating with industry leaders such as Methanex, Wärtsilä, and the EU's Motorways of the Seas project, Stena Line has successfully established methanol as a legitimate marine fuel for the very first time. The environmental benefits of using methanol are notable, as it reduces sulfur and particulate emissions by up to 90% and nitrogen emissions by 60%. As two of the largest contributors to CO2 emissions globally, the steel and maritime industries are essential focus areas for sustainability. The FReSMe project, supported by the H2020 EU program, is set to showcase the transformative process of capturing CO2 from the steel sector to produce methanol fuel for maritime use, fortifying the future of eco-friendly ship transportation.

In a concerning incident on the morning of April 28, 2019, a truck driver in his 50s sustained serious burn injuries to his head after an explosion involving a gas stove inside the cabin of his truck on the 'Stena Germanica'. The event occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. on the car deck of Stena Line’s terminal in Gothenburg as vehicles were preparing to disembark following the ferry's arrival from Kiel. Emergency services quickly responded, with three ambulances arriving on the scene to provide immediate assistance to the injured driver, who was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment. Fortunately, his condition was reported as stable despite the severity of his injuries. Following the incident, the truck was removed from the ferry for technical assessment after all other vehicles had safely exited. Authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into what is being classified as a workplace accident, ruling out any suspicion of foul play.