IT hasn't always been plain sailing for Stena Line which is still in the middle of a £10 million savings drive but today the company is buoyed up and exclusively in celebration mode.
Twenty years ago to the day on Thursday, November 12, 1995, the Scandinavian-owned shipping company launched its Belfast services with three ships which made their - rather sluggish - way to Stranraer and back, ferrying passengers invariably more interested in the destination than the journey.
Today, as the Irish Sea (North) division of Stena Line celebrates its milestone birthday in what is set to be a record year for business, it operates seven ships sailing to three ports - Cairnryan, Birkenhead (Liverpool) and Heysham - with the seafaring experience having been completely transformed.
Speaking ahead of the 20th anniversary which brought Stena owner Dan Sten Olsson and senior management to Belfast on a 'meet and greet' visit, Irish Seas (North) route manger Paul Grant admitted the last two decades had been "quite a journey".
"There have been many significant changes to sea travel and with Stena in particular over the past 20 years," he said, "but undoubtedly the passenger experience must be at the top of the list.
"With modern, super-fast ferries, a new terminal in Belfast - representing a £35m investment - new terminal at Cairnryan, and the focus on more of a 'cruise ship' experience, passenger numbers have surged.
"This will be a record year in numbers - in 2015 we will have transported 1.4 million foot passengers, 300,000 cars and almost 500,000 freight from Belfast so I think it fair to say that Belfast is now a major hub for Stena."
The company has invested £330 million into local services over the 20-year period and now employs 965 people working both on board the ships and ashore.
"Business is definitely improving but we need to see the Northern Ireland economy grow at a similar speed as the rest of the UK," Mr Grant added. "Ferry travel is an important part of the infrastructure and the capacity is there for increased growth in terms of freight.
"Regarding leisure traffic, the HSS concept has revolutionised sea travel and contributed to the growing tourism market. Today modern, stable vessels offer spa treatments as well as VIP lounges, while quality beds and mattresses are hand-picked so passengers travelling overnight on the Liverpool service are assured of a good night's sleep,"
Last month Stena Line was voted Best ferry Company in Northern Ireland for the 23rd consecutive year - an early birthday present for the company which has transported 26 million passengers, five-and-a-half million cars and over four million freight units over the past 20 years.
Stena Line's chief operating officer Hans Nilsson said the company had been "long term supporters" of Belfast.
"Over the last two decades alone, working in partnership with Belfast Harbour, we have invested over £330 million in establishing and developing our services to and from Belfast," he said.
"This week we will have an eighth Stena vessel in Belfast with the 117 000 ton ice-breaker series Stena Arctica undergoing a major refit at Harland and Wolff, further testimony of support for and confidence in the local Northern Ireland economy."
