Stena Launches Second Irish Sea Hybrid Ferry With Two 28m Rotor Sails That Cut Fuel Consumption By Up To 9%

Stena Line’s newest ship, Stena Connecta, was officially christened on October 16 at the CMI shipyard in Weihai, China. The ship will soon embark on a voyage to its home port on the Irish Sea. Together with Stena Futura, which entered service in September, these two new cargo ships increase cargo capacity on the Belfast–Heysham route by 40 percent.

The ceremony was attended by Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson, members of the Stena Line management team, and Stena AB owner Dan Sten Olsson.

“Today we proudly celebrate another milestone for our fleet and our company. Stena Connecta and her sister ship are equipped with the latest technology and will not only play a crucial role in maintaining transport connections between Ireland and the United Kingdom, but also make an important contribution to our sustainability goal: a 30 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030,” said Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line.

Hybrid technology

Stena Connecta is one of the new Max RoRo-ships built for maximum cargo capacity, with 2,800 avenue meters spread over a length of 147 meters. The ship has a multi-hybrid propulsion system that allows the use of battery power, biofuel, and methanol. In addition, it is equipped with two Norsepower Rotor sails (28 x 4 meters), which save up to 9 percent fuel on the route between Belfast and Heysham. The Stena Futura is also ready for the installation of these sails.

Strengthening connection across the Irish Sea

Stena Line is the largest ferry company operating on the Irish Sea, with a fleet of 13 ships (including Stena Connecta). The company operates up to 238 weekly sailings, with an extensive network of routes including passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard, as well as freight routes from Belfast to Heysham and Dublin.

This year, Stena Line celebrates 30 years of operations in the Irish Sea, during which the company has played an important role in supporting trade in the region.

“Our investment in Stena Connecta and Stena Futura shows our strong confidence in the further growth of the Irish Sea region. These ships were produced in response to an increasing demand for freight capacity on our routes,” adds Niclas Mårtensson.

Stena Connecta will soon begin her journey from China to the Irish Sea, a journey expected to take several weeks. The ship will enter regular service on the Belfast–Heysham route from January 2026.

Facts – Stena Connecta

• Length: 147 m
• Width: 26.3 m
• Year of manufacture: 2023–2025
• Passenger capacity: 12
• Crew: 26
• Freight capacity: 2,848 lane meters
• Route: Belfast – Heysham (about 12 sailings per week)

Press Release