Coronavirus information

3 December 2021; Changes to Covid-19 procedures

Please be informed that as of 6 December 2021 it is mandatory to use face masks on board the ships on  the following routes an in the following terminals and ports:

Routes: Karlskrona-Gdynia, Rostock-Trelleborg, Kiel-Gothenburg, Gothenburg-Frederikshavn, Halmstad-Grenaa

Terminals/Ports: Gdynia, Karlskrona, Kiel, Rostock, Gothenburg, Halmstad, Frederikshavn, Grenaa

4 June 2021; Passenger locator form to be filled in before entering the UK

A passenger locator form must be completed online before you arrive in the UK. Please check the UK Government’s website here.
Passenger locator form 

4 June 2021; Coronavirus (Covid-19) testing before travelling to England

Please check the UK Government’s information about Coronavirus testing before you travel to England.
The information includes exemptions for people who do not need to take a test, which is relevant for hauliers to notice.

20 April 2021; Antigen testing services for HG drivers to end 21 April 2021

The dedicated COVID-19 (antigen) testing sites that were established in early January for HGV/LGV/coach drivers intending to travel to France and to certain other EU countries will close from the evening of 21 April. Drivers are no longer required to have proof of a negative Covid test result to enter France or a number of other countries. Further detail is provided on below link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dbb45-covid-19-tests-for-hgv-drivers-travelling-to-france-certain-other-countries/#

29 March 2021; New regulations for drivers arriving in England from 6 April

From April 6, hauliers arriving in England from abroad will need to take a COVID-19 test in England if they are staying for more than 2 days. They need to take the first test within the first 2 days, then further tests every 3 days.

This will apply to drivers and crews of HGVs and drivers of vans and other light goods vehicles. It applies to both UK-based and non-UK hauliers.

If a driver does not have proof of a negative COVID-19 test, he/she could be fined £2,000.

However, not all drivers will need to take a test.
• A driver will not need to take a test if he or she will be in England for 2 days or less.
• A driver will not need to take a test if he or she arrives in England from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man – known as the Common Travel Area (CTA). A driver must have only been in the CTA or the UK in the 10 days before arrival. If a driver has been outside the CTA in the 10 days before he she arrives in England, they must take the tests.

There is more information available on GOV.UK, here. The UK is advising that drivers requiring tests undertake those tests in England, for example at the haulier advice sites at various locations around the country.

24 March 2021; France has lifted the Covid testing requirements for hauliers entering France from the UK

The French Authorities has informed us that France has lifted the Covid testing requirements for hauliers entering France from the UK, in a new decree published this morning, 24 March. It removes the testing requirement for drivers departing the UK and arriving in France. It is immediately applicable. This of course is of relevance to landbridge traffic.

16 March 2021; update for freight drivers travelling on our North Sea routes from the UK

From 16 March 2021 at 00:01 freight drivers are extempted to provide a negative rapid (Antigen test) for travelling on our North Sea routes from the UK, if the driver’s stay in the UK has been shorter than  48 hours.

9 March 2021 Important update for freight drivers; COVID-19 test posibilities at the Port of Gothenburg

Intygslakaren.se offer drop-in testing of Covid-19 in Gothenburg. The tests will be provided by qualified heath care professionals. It costs 1000 SEK + 200 SEK for coming down to the port.
The test takes time from 30 minutes to 1 hour including result and health certificate depening on how many person need to be tested. If there are more than one that needs to be tested they will come down to the port.

Would you like to get in contact with Intygslakaren.se? Dial +46 737- 74 18 25

8 March 2021 Updated instructions for freight drivers on our routes between Sweden and Germany

From March 7th, 2021 at midnight, Sweden has the status of a high incidence area, which means that new regulations will apply also for truck drivers.

Classification as a risk area is the result of a joint analysis and decision-making process by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community.

Before entering Germany from a high incidence area, the following things must be considered from now on:
– A digital registration is mandatory. The drivers can submit the digital registration under the following link: https://einreiseanmeldung.de/#/
– The registration form is in several languages available. After registration the driver will receive a confirmation with a QR code or a registration number. We kindly ask to register urgently
before the Check-In at Trelleborg harbour or Gothenburg harbour. The driver can’t check in without confirmation.
– Truck drivers who have been in high-incidence areas for more than 72 hours also need a negative Covid-19 test.

Please also note the information from the Federal Ministry of Health of the Federal Republic of Germany Fragen und Antworten zur Einreise nach Deutschland (bundesgesundheitsministerium.de)
Regulations of the respective federal states are linked on the following website: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/corona-bundeslaender-1745198
For further information on digital registration on entry, please also see https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/coronavirus-infos-reisende/info-sheet/faq-deaenglisch.html

InnoVacc offer drop-in testing of Covid-19 at the check-in area in Trelleborg. Read more here!

Short term modifications are possible. Please inform yourself about the current regulations of your federal and district government.

24 February 2021 UK Government informs – Essential information to enter the UK

The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

1) All persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure to the UK. For further information please visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

2) To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom.

3) All arrivals must quarantine for 10 days unless exempt. If you have travelled through a red list country in the last 10 days, you must have a valid Managed Quarantine Facility booked prior to departure. For information please visit: www.gov.uk/travel-quarantine-and-testing. Check the list of exempt countries immediately before travel and the list of work-related exemptions if travelling for work.

4) Everyone is required to take a coronavirus test on days 2 and 8 of their quarantine. You must have this booked prior to departure. For information please visit: www.gov.uk/travel-quarantine-and-testing.

5) It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK.

6) If you quarantine in England, you may opt into Test to Release. For further information please visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK.

1 February 2021 – Mandatory Passenger Locator Form when entering the UK

From 1 February 2021 all freight drivers need to complete a passenger locator form before travelling to the UK. After check-in at Hoek van Holland or Rotterdam all drivers must fill in a passenger locator form and complete this online before arriving in the UK. Please click this link to access the passenger locator form or download your preferred language version below:

Fill in your passenger locator form
Wypełnij formularz lokalizatora pasażerów
Completați formularul dvs. de localizare a pasagerilor
Попълнете формуляра си за локация на пътници

For drivers travelling to Killingholme the completed passenger locator form or the confirmation mail has to be mailed to [email protected]

28 January 2021 – Important update for Freight drivers travelling to France:
Negative Covid-19 test result now required for travel on all our routes to Cherbourg.

From this Thursday, 28th January, the French authorities have indicated that mandatory COVID-19 testing is required for all freight drivers who are travelling to France. Stena Line is not permitted to allow drivers to board unless they have a negative antigen test result, undertaken prior to check-in.

If any freight driver arrives in France without a valid negative test certificate, they will not be permitted to enter the country; this will result in them being repatriated to Ireland, with their load. Therefore, Stena Line staff will be validating all drivers’ negative test results at check-in for our French services.

The Irish Government is setting up pre-boarding COVID-19 testing centres for freight drivers leaving through Dublin Port and Rosslare. The locations will be released shortly.

Please note these testing facilities are for commercial freight drivers only. Members of the public travelling with Stena Line are not permitted to be tested there.

Requirements for travel passengers have also changed. All travel passengers, that are not commercial truck drivers, need to present a valid negative result from a PCR test, that has been undertaken 72 hours prior to departure.

The full announcement from the Department of Transport can be read here.

Download the Q&As that provide details of the Irish Government’s testing locations for freight drivers heading to France.

20 January 2021 – Mandatory proof of negative Covid-19 testing for drivers arriving in the Netherlands from the UK

In addition to information from 18 January please note the following re the test centres

The Humberside Airport site is now also confirmed. There will be signage and marshals on the ground to assist any driver arriving for a test. The actual test centre will be located at the Humber Emergency Service Centre – and there will be signs from the main A18 road prior to arriving at the Airport. Check this link for a full list of test site locations Haulier advice site locations – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

18 January 2021 – Mandatory proof of negative Covid-19 testing for drivers arriving in the Netherlands from the UK

The Dutch Government is introducing mandatory proof of negative Covid-19 testing for drivers arriving in NL from the UK, effective from 00:01 CET Tuesday 19 January 2021.

All freight drivers travelling by ferry from the UK to Dutch ports will be required to show proof of a negative rapid antigen test which must be obtained within 24 hours of boarding a service departing for the Netherlands. No self-testing is allowed.

The UK Government is providing free Covid-19 testing at many of its haulier advice sites which are at motorway service stations and truck stops. Please check the following link where a full list of the test sites can be found with further information on location and opening hours: Haulier advice site locations – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For shipments via Killingholme – if drivers have not been able to get a test done earlier – we would recommend using the Doncaster North site on the M18 at J5 or Woodall Northbound – M1 J30/31. Testing is available from 06:00 to 22:00.

For shipments via Harwich – if drivers have not been able to get a test done earlier – we would recommend using the Orwell Crossing Truck Stop – A14 J57 and J58. Testing is available from 06:00 to 22:00.

At check-in at the ferry terminal drivers will need to present a proof of a negative rapid antigen test with

• the driver’s first and last name as stated in their passport,
• date and time of test,
• stamp or details of the testing site that conducted the test.
• This may be digital or paper, and the Dutch authorities will then check that drivers have the above on arrival into the Netherlands.

Please note

• the ferry companies are instructed by the authorities to turn back any driver who has not undertaken a test or if the driver cannot present proof that the test is negative.
• queues can be expected near the ports of Killingholme and Harwich, therefore please do not come to the port without a negative test result to show.

19 November 2020 – Danish restrictions taken off

The Danish restrictions that was introduced on 5 November 2020 in the Northern part of Jutland have been taken off and our passenger operation on our route Gothenburg-Frederikshavn will therefore be back to normal service from Friday morning 20 November. Our Freight operation was never affected by the restrictions.

8 November 2020 – Measures to protect England from new COVID-19 strain extended 

The UK Government has on 8 November extended measures to prevent the potential spread of a variant strain of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Freight exemption has been removed, which means:

Non-UK resident HGV drivers who have travveled from or through Denmark in the last 14 days can no longer enter UK, while all passenger vessels and accompanied freight from Denmark will be halted.

Anyone from the UK who arrives in England after 4am 6 November after travelling from or through Denmark in the last 14 days – including HGV drivers after previous exemptions were removed, must self-isolate along with their household.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/measures-to-protect-england-from-new-covid-19-strain-extended

6 November 2020 – Danish restrictions

From 5^th November, the Danish authorities introduced further restrictions in the Northern part of Jutland to reduce the spreading and development of COVID-19 virus. We have therefore decided to temporarily stop the passenger operation between Frederikshavn in Denmark and Gothenburg in Sweden between 9^th November and 3^rd December. The freight operation on the route will continue to keep the vital supply lines open between Denmark and Sweden.

Freight drivers can continue to travel with freight onboard the ferries Stena Danica, Stena Jutlandica on approximately 50 departures per week between Frederikshavn and Gothenburg as well as on 22 weekly departures between Halmstad in West Sweden and Grenaa in the eastern part of Jutland in Denmark.

We take the situation very seriously. We follow the Danish authorities’ recommendations and the reason for this stop of the passenger operation.

Safety on board our ferries

We already follows the authorities’ restrictions on the use of face masks in terminals, ports and on board the ferries to and from Denmark. In addition, the company has introduced a number of safety measures to ensure a safe and secure journey onboard the ferries. The safety measures include social distance, air circulation with fresh sea air, frequent cleaning as well as new fog machines used to disinfect common areas and cabins on the ferries.

27 October 2020 – Essential information to enter the UK

The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
1) To protect your health and others’, everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom.
2) You may be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. Check the exempt countries list immediately before you travel as this list can change at short notice.
3) It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in the UK.

Failure to comply with the above measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK.

September 4, 2020

Update on face mask/face covering on our routes Gothenburg-Frederikshavn v.v. and Halmstad-Grenaa v.v and our terminals in Denmark:
In accordance with the Danish Government’s regulation of face coverings in public transport, it is mandatory for all passengers as per 5 September 2020 to wear face coverings at our terminals in Denmark and on board the ships Stena Danica, Stena Jutlandica, Stena Vinga and Stena Nautica during the entire crossing.

If your freight driver is not in possession of a face mask/face covering it can be purchased at our terminals and on board our vessels.

Exemptions for freight drivers:

• Freight drivers dropping or collecting unaccompanied freight units
• Whilst the freight driver is in his vehicle.
• If the freight driver needs to eat, drink, or take medication it is allowed to remove the face covering
• When the freight driver is in a cabin

August 24, 2020

As per 22 August 2020 Denmark has changed requirements to the use of face mask. Get an overview on the Danish Health Authority’s website here.

July 10, 2020

June 4, 2020

UPDATE to the EU Annex 3 certificate for International Transport Workers when entering the Republic of Ireland and our information below from 22 April, 27 April and 29 May. The certificate mentioned below now includes LGV drivers (light goods vehicle drivers). Please download an updated version of the form here.
This information supersedes previous advice for EU member states in respect of Green Lane / Public Health Passenger Locator Forms, shown below.

May 29, 2020

Regulations making it a legal requirement for passengers to complete a public health passenger locator forms on entry into the Republic of Ireland will be in effect from Thursday 28 May.

In relation to how the Regulations will be applied, please note the following:

1. HGV (Heavy goods vehicle) drivers are exempt entirely from completing the form; however, drivers are expected to be in possession of and to present as required the documents specified in the EU’s Green Lanes guideline (download here). These documents are; ID documentation, driving licence and a standard template letter from their employer as set out in appendix 3 of the attached guidelines

2. The regulations as currently drafted do not exempt drivers of LGV (light goods vehicles) from completion of the form. However, as these drivers are considered essential supply chain workers in line with the EU Green Lane Guidance, they are only required to complete Sections 1, 2 and 4 of the form.

Apr 27, 2020

The Irish Health Authorities have requested that anyone arriving to Ireland from another country to fill in the Public Health Passenger Locator From. It also applies for commercial drivers to fill in the form however by ticking off the form’s exemption from the need to self-isolation commercial drivers can enter Ireland without the need to self-isolate. The form is available at all check-ins and for  download here.

Apr 22, 2020

The European Commission has approved a ‘Green Lane’ system for cross-border movement of freight on land and at sea to ensure the delivery of essential supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To help ensure these travel rights are upheld internationally recognised certificates of professional competence should be considered sufficient to prove that a driver is active in international transport. In the absence of this certificate or in in case the certificate has expired the European Commission has created a template verification certificate for international transport workers which can be issued by their employers . Download the template here.

Apr 16, 2020

To prevent spreading the COVID-19 virus the Polish Government has introduced compulsory covering of mouth and nose in public places in Poland as from 16 April 2020. This also applies to the area of the ferry terminal in Gdynia. Our ferries on the route are not included in the regulations. Freight drivers are recommended to be equipped with appropriate protection in accordance with the regulations, e.g. a mask.

Update on Gdynia-Karlskrona route

As endorsed by the World Health Organization, we recommend making contactless payments with your card to minimize the risk of virus transmission on banknotes. Where possible, we also recommend online payments. We continue to accept cash, but for our common good, please make contactless card transactions.

Mar 19, 2020

The Oslo-Frederikshavn route permanently closed

Thursday 19 March 2020the Stena Line Scandinavia AB board and Stena Line Group Management took the tough but necessary decision to permanently close the route between Oslo and Frederikshavn. This measure in response to the global COVID-9 that has had a substantial effect on Stena Line’s passenger operations.

Due to the negative effect on the passenger operation caused by the Coronavirus, we have been forced to take drastic measures, reduce costs and adapt to a new business situation and to secure the continuity of the freight and transport business.

Update on Central Europe & Southeast Europe route network

Stena Line noted an intense contraction in demand of the passenger segment due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus associated with increased border controls, closed borders and official orders. For this reason Stena Line have been adjusted the current route network.

• In Germany the route between Trelleborg and Sassnitz is suspended from now until estimated end of May. Stena Line reserves the right to extend the suspension depended on the spread of Covid-19 and official decree. FS Sassnitz is inlay-up in the Port of Mukran.
• The four vessels on the Trelleborg-Rostock and Göteborg-Kiel route operating currently in the normal schedule, focusing on freight. Special safety measures apply onboard.
• There is no temperature check for the drivers at the moment.

Mar 18, 2020

Important update regarding to Karlskrona-Gdynia route

Given the current situation and conditions, please be advised that we will be implementing the following changes in relation to your freight bookings on our route on Karlskrona-Gdynia:

• Used unaccompanied vehicles except for trailers will not be transported
• New trade vehicles only will be transported. Cars with alcohol interlocks must be provided with an extra mouthpiece sealed up in a plastic bag

Furthermore, the following actions will be carried out in the port of Gdynia:

• All freight drivers arriving to Gdynia are subject to body temperature measurement
• In general all freight drivers are allowed to pass the Polish border without undergoing the obligatory 14-day quarantine, but in some cases the Polish Border Guard may decide to send a driver to undergo the quarantine in accordance with the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate’s decision.

The Polish Government has announced that restriction on international border crossing will be implemented as from Saturday 14 March 24.00 hrs for minimum 10 days.

The border closure does not affect the transport of goods to/from Poland. Stena Vision, Stena Sprit and Stena Baltica will be carryinng freight drivers and freight transportation

• Polish freight drivers attending their job , are excluded from 14 days quarantine
• Freight drivers from all other countries attending their job with transportation of goods to/from Poland are allowed to enter Poland

Mar 13, 2020

The Danish Prime Minister has announced to close all Denmark’s border as from 14 February 2020 12.00hrs.

All Danish borders will be closed as from 14 February 2020 and until 13 April 2020 and therefore all flights, ferries and train transportation will be closed or partly closed to provide the spread of the Corona virus.

The restrictions do NOT apply to freight drivers and the goods transportation, which means that all transport deliveries of goods, e.g. food, medicine and all necessary goods to the industry will still be allowed to be transported with Stena Line’s ferries.

Below information includes the actions we have taken to follow the official authority’s regulations and recommendations and to make sure to support freight customers and freight drivers in the best possible way.

Freight Drivers

In an extraordinary situation like this we rely on the manuals and routines we have for this kind of situation. Our crews are trained for many different types of situations, including diseases. In addition to that:

• We are in touch with local authorities in the 10 countries we are operating in and ensure to follow regulations and recommendations from them and established health organisations.
• On-board our ships and in our terminals, we are taking precautionary measures to prevent any spread of the Coronavirus including:
  o Increased the frequency of preventive cleaning and disinfection of “Hand Contact Point Hotspots” such as door handles, access touch pads, telephones. These are sanitized after each sailing and/or at least three times a day on longer crossings.
  o Increased possibilities for hand wash and disinfection placed in our public areas.
  o Information on hygienic measures based on the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.
• Stena Line’s employees on-board are trained how to deal with suspected cases of illness and our ships are equipped with medical equipment.
• Customers are requested not to send any drivers onboard our vessels if the driver has visited/been in quarantine areas, hence having a risk of spreading the virus. This also applies for drivers not displaying any symptoms. At any time, we will reserve our right to refuse travel.
• Drivers will be accommodated in single cabins as far as circumstances may permit but cannot be guaranteed. Local variations may apply on certain routes.
• The local authorities’ regulations regarding gathering in larger groups DO NOT currently apply to our ferries.
• Please note that we on certain routes have implemented temperature control for Freight Drivers. Contact our Freight Customer Support offices for further information.
• Please note that rules and conditions in relation travelling onboard our vessels may be subject to change at short notice.

Freight Companies

• Unless there is a direct travel ban from the official authorities we will keep sailing.
• Currently, our network is open to all the destinations we cover on our 20 routes. Should any changes be necessary we will immediately update our website with current traffic information to give you the best service possible.
• Please also note that all schedules may be subject to change at short notice.

Please also visit https://www.stenaline.com/coronavirus-information/ where we will keep you updated of any changes to the current situation that come to our knowledge.

We do hope that you agree with us when expressing the importance of all of us taking a responsibility in this difficult situation.

Should you have any questions about your shipments with us, please feel free to contact your local sales representative or via the links mentioned in this information.

Thank you for your support.