Stena Line has announced a major £17 million investment in the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead, aimed at increasing freight parking capacity, enhancing traffic flow, and futureproofing operations in response to rising demand.
The investment comes as the terminal experiences record-breaking freight volumes, with over 315,000 freight units moved through in 2024—a 20% year-on-year increase. The sharp rise follows the February 2024 launch of a freight-only Liverpool–Dublin service, solidifying the terminal’s status as a strategic hub for Stena Line’s Irish Sea operations.
Key Developments
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200 new freight parking spaces have already been completed, expanding capacity for unaccompanied trailers by nearly 30%.
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The next phase will reconfigure the front-of-house operations, streamlining traffic flow, reducing congestion, and enhancing safety for both customers and staff.
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The upgrades will improve efficiency and allow Stena Line to accommodate continued growth in freight volumes.
Boosting Terminal and Route Operations
Stena Line currently operates two main routes from the 12 Quays Terminal:
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Liverpool – Belfast: A popular route served by Stena Edda and Stena Embla, two E-Flexer vessels introduced in 2021–2022, which have doubled travel volumes.
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Liverpool – Dublin: Recently expanded to include freight-only services, operated by Bore Song and Stena Forwarder.
Andrew Kane said
“The significant growth of our services through 12 Quays in Birkenhead has created operational challenges with an increase in unaccompanied freight and traffic build up. With the potential for further growth, we are futureproofing the port with 200 additional freight parking spaces to ensure that we can facilitate our customers’ needs and we are sure this expansion will be welcomed by the market.
“The reconfiguration of the lanes and car parking at the entrance to the port will also improve traffic flow, operational efficiency and health and safety for our customers and staff. We’re delighted to open our new freight parking facilities and we expect the remainder of the project to be completed by early next year.”
Partnership for Growth
The project is a joint effort with Peel Ports Group, operators of the 12 Quays Terminal.
“Ongoing enhancements at the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead are improving facilities to support continued growth, ensuring that both passenger and freight customers enjoy the highest level of service” said Phil Hall, Port Director Mersey at Peel Ports Group.
The remaining elements of the infrastructure upgrade are expected to be completed by early 2026, positioning Birkenhead as a high-capacity, future-ready freight and passenger gateway on the Irish Sea.
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Source: Stena Line
