MV Livia

MV Livia is a roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) ferry operated by StraitNZ on its Wellington to Picton service across the Cook Strait. It was built in 2008, and originally named Norman Voyager. In 2025, the ship was sold to StraitNZ, where it entered into service in July 2025, filling in for sister Connemara which is heading to Singapore for drydock maintenance, and later replacing Strait Feronia.^[3][4]

Livia in Wellington in July 2025
History
Name	Livia (2025–present) Stena Livia (2021–2025) Etretat (2014–2021) Norman Voyager (2008–2014)
Owner	StraitNZ (2025–present) Stena RoRo (2012–2025) Epic Shipping Ltd (2008–2012)
Operator	StraitNZ (2025–present) Stena Line (2021–2025) Brittany Ferries (2014–2021) DFDS Seaways (2012–2014) LD Lines (2011–2012) Celtic Link Ferries (2009–2011) LD Lines (2008–2009)
Port of registry	2025–present: Nassau, Bahamas 2023-2025: Hellerup, Denmark 2021–2023: Limassol, Cyprus 2008–2012: London, England 2012-2021: Le Havre, France
Route	Wellington–Picton (from around August 2025)
Builder	Cantiere Navale Visentini
Yard number	220
Launched	13 June 2008
Maiden voyage	6 November 2008
Identification	Call sign: FIDP IMO number: 9420423 MMSI number: 228022900
Status	In service
Notes	Sister ships:- Norman Atlantic, Scottish Viking, Stena Flavia.[1]
General characteristics
Tonnage	26,904 GT
Length	186 m
Beam	25.6 m
Draught	6.8 m
Decks	8
Speed	24 kts (max)[2]
Capacity	375 passengers and 200 cars
Crew	38

Norman Voyager

The ship was built in 2008 by Cantiere Navale Visentini, Italy for Epic Shipping. She was chartered to LD Lines in 2008 and named Norman Voyager. She made her maiden voyage between Rosslare and Le Havre on 6 November 2008, when LD Lines operated a service in competition with Celtic Link Ferries between Rosslare and Cherbourg. In 2009 she was chartered to Celtic Link Ferries to replace the Diplomat, first operating between Rosslare, Cherbourg and Portsmouth, and before switching to the Rosslare–Cherbourg route at the end of 2009. She was chartered back to LD Lines in 2011 where she was re-registered in Le Havre, and operated between Marseille and Tunis.

In December 2009 she was involved in the rescue of three fishermen following the MV Alam Pintar and FV Etoile des Ondes collision. A report stated "The conduct of the rescue was safe, efficient and in the best traditions of the merchant navy."^[5] Later in 2011 she moved to the Portsmouth – Le Havre route.

In 2012 she was sold to Stena Line; from February 2013 to March 2014 she was operated by DFDS Seaways between Portsmouth and Le Havre.

Étretat

MV Etretat seen in Portsmouth Harbour

From 11 March 2014, Norman Voyager was chartered to Brittany Ferries, renamed Étretat (for a town in Normandy) and branded for its "économie" service. She continued to operate between Portsmouth and Le Havre on Tuesday to Friday. She also ran a weekly return crossing from Portsmouth to Santander on Saturday/Sunday.

Étretat had 13 designated pet-friendly cabins, in addition to 88 standard 4-berth inside and outside cabins, and 51 reserved lounge seats (to Le Havre) or 20 (to Santander).

During winter 2014–2015, she ran a weekly return crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao to cover this service, normally run by MV Cap Finistère, which was laid up to allow the installation of extra scrubbers. She also ran a weekly freight-only service between Portsmouth and Le Havre on Friday.

Stena Livia

On 9 April 2021, Stena Line announced that Étretat was to become the latest addition to their Baltic Sea fleet, renamed Stena Livia.^[6]

In March 2025, it was announced that StraitNZ had purchased the vessel to replace the Strait Feronia.^[3][7] On the morning 3 July 2025, the MV Livia arrived at Oriental Bay, Wellington. 100 spectators greeted the ship. The Livia will undergo procedural and safety checks for the next 20 days. It is expected to launch on 23 July.^[8]