Hydrocracking process with interstage steam stripping

A process for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the steps of:

• supplying the feedstock and hydrogen to an input of a first stage reactor containing a first stage hydrocracking catalyst for removal of heteroatoms and cracking of high molecular weight molecules into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons to produce a first-stage reactor effluent;
• thereafter
• passing the first stage effluent to a steam stripper vessel to separate hydrogen, H2S, NH3, light gases (C1-C4), naphtha, and diesel products;
• passing the stripper bottoms from the stripper vessel, and hydrogen, to a second stage reactor containing a second stage hydrocracking catalyst;
• combining a hydrocracked effluent stream of the second stage reactor with the hydrogen, H2S, NH3, light gases (C1-C4), naphtha, and diesel products separated in the steam stripper vessel to form a combined product stream;
• and passing the combined product stream to a separation stage for separation of the components into predetermined product streams.