 This route was inaugurated on 8 October 2000 using two old freight RoRo ferries, the "Stena Searider", built in 1969, and the "Stena Seatrader", built in 1973.The success of this route encouraged a further 200 million euro investment in two replacement ferries for this service.The first vessel, the Stena Trader replaced the Stena Seatrader and commenced operating on 12 August 2006 and the second vessel, the Stena Traveller went into service on 20 June 2007 replacing the Stena Searider.