STENA Line has acquired the Irish-owned Celtic Link ferry service which operates from Rosslare in the Republic to Cherbourg in France. Celtic Link currently provides a three-times weekly service on the route accommodating up to 1,000 passengers, 200 cars and 120 freight units. Ian Davies, Stena Line's route manager (Irish Sea South) said the acquisition was "a key strategic investment for Stena Line and one which will help stimulate and strengthen new and existing opportunities for trade and tourism between Ireland, France and beyond". "With confidence in the Irish economy strengthening, we see positive long term growth in tourist and freight traffic from the continent as a real opportunity to help strengthen this economic growth further," he said.