Refurbishment work starts this week on the two giant ships that Stena Line will be introducing on the Irish Sea when the ferry company launches its new Belfast to Cairnryan route in November.

The identical ‘sister’ ships Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII will be the biggest ferries ever to sail between Northern Ireland and Scotland and will undergo a refit programme at the Remotova shipyard in Poland.

Stena Line says the refit will see the ships become two of the most modern, comfortable and best designed ferries ever to ply the Irish Sea.

The new Stena Superfast vessels will each be able to accommodate 1,200 passengers, 660 cars or 110 freight units and will operate up to 12 daily departures between Belfast and Stena Line’s new port at Cairnryan, all year round.