Stena Line has continued its ambitious fleet investment programme with the introduction of Stena Futura to the key Irish Sea freight link between Belfast and Heysham. The first of two NewMax vessels, Stena Futura, along with her forthcoming sister Stena Connecta, due on the route in early 2026, will add 40% capacity to the route which has been operating at a premium with the current vessels, Stena Scotia and Stena Hibernia for some time.
The new ships represent a significant boost to the route and the company’s wider Irish Sea network in response to an increase in customer demand for services between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The ships are the maximum size for the port of Heysham at 147 metres in length with space for 2,800 lane metres of freight.
On behalf of Stena Line, Stena RoRo designed and, in May 2023, ordered the two vessels from the CMI Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China, specifically for the unique requirements of the Belfast-Heysham route. This is the same shipyard that has delivered several vessels in the very successful E-Flexer series for Stena RoRo. The NewMax vessels can be powered by methanol or conventional marine fuel and have been developed in line with future environmental requirements in mind, such as using batteries as a means of propulsion and shore power connections.
Construction of the first vessel commenced in January 2024 and the keel was laid in June 2024. The names of the vessels were announced in October 2024. This announcement coincided with the release of the first vessel, Stena Futura into the water and the keel laying for the second vessel, Stena Connecta. Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line commented “These new vessels are the first RoRo ships equipped with a multi hybrid solution, enabling them to operate on battery, biofuel, and methanol. This not only complies with upcoming regulations but also reduces our CO2 emissions, aiding our customers in achieving their scope 3 targets.”
In February 2025, the second vessel was launched into the water for the first time. At this stage it was announced that Stena Connecta would be fitted with rotor sails, which utilise wind energy to provide auxiliary propulsion, thereby improving fuel efficiency by approximately 9% and lowering emissions. Commenting on the agreement for the installation of the rotor sails, Heikki Pontynen, CEO of Norsepower said “We are honoured to work with Stena Line, a company that has consistently led the way in sustainable shipping innovation. This partnership underscores the reliability and quality of Norsepower’s products as well as its alignment with Stena Line’s forward-thinking goals to cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.”
Following extensive sea trials at the end of June 2025, Stena Futura was delivered on 18th July. She commenced her delivery voyage from China via Singapore, Mauritius, and Cape Verde on 23rd July, arriving at Belfast on 12th September. The vessel entered service, initially for one return sailing between Belfast and Birkenhead before starting on the Heysham route on 22nd September.
Stena Futura, and her forthcoming sister, Stena Connecta feature comfortable facilities for drivers of accompanied freight on the 8-hour crossing between Belfast and Heysham. These include 12 single-occupancy cabins, all with ensuite facilities and a lounge/restaurant area.
The official naming ceremony took place in the company of more than 200 invited guests at Belfast Harbour on 20th November. The state-of-the-art vessel’s naming marked a significant milestone in Stena Line’s 30-year partnership with Belfast and its ambitious journey towards sustainable shipping. The naming ceremony was carried out by Dr Madeleine Olsson Eriksson, a member of the Olsson family, owners of Stena Line.
At the time of writing, Stena Connecta was due to depart the shipyard at the end of November for her journey to the Irish Sea. She is expected to join the Stena Futura on the Belfast-Heysham route in early 2026.
