Stena Line continues to build on its success witnessing record passenger and car volumes on its North Sea route in 2013.

The ferry operator recorded a nine per cent increase in passengers on 2012, carrying 568,000 people throughout 2013 and 123,000 cars (an 11 per cent increase) on its Harwich-Hook of Holland service.

Stena Line carried an additional 47,000 passengers and 13,000 cars in 2013 on its two impressive super-ferries the Stena Hollandica and Stena Britannica.

The ferry operator continues to outperform the rest of the industry which experienced a 2.6 per cent increase in passengers and a one per cent increase in cars in 2013.

Passenger figures have grown steadily throughout the year with the entire final three month period October to December witnessing an eight per cent growth (122,000 passengers compared to 113,000 in 2013).

The number of coaches transported has also risen dramatically with a 15 per cent increase in the whole of 2013 and a massive 38 per cent increase when comparing the last three months of the year. 

The company carried 116, 000 coaches in the whole of 2013 with 16,000 of these in the last quarter; traditionally a much quieter time of year.

Lars Olsson, Stena Line’s general manager for travel on the North Sea, said: “We continue to see that the 2010 investment in our two new super-ferries is paying off and our quality on-board experience continues to help steal market share from no-frills airlines and the Channel Tunnel. 

“Our customers appreciate the high standard of accommodation and excellent service we offer – it really does represent fantastic value for money. 

“In addition, 2013 as a whole was a record breaking year for British tourism and there is no doubt we will have also benefitted from an increase in inbound traffic.”