Stena RoRo’s Canadian ferry deal at risk as country’s China spat interferes

Canada’s ongoing political spat with China is threatening to scupper a recently signed deal between state ferry operator Marine Atlantic and Stena RoRo for the charter of a Chinese-built ropax newbuilding.

The deal, which would see Stena RoRo build a 2,571-lane-metre E-Flexexer LNG dual-fuel ropax with accommodation for 1,100 passengers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and charter it to Marine Atlantic for five years with a purchase option at the end, has become a thorny political issue as Canada heads into a federal election.