The new ferry “Stena Connecta” was christened at the CMI shipyard in China. Together with her sister ship “Stena Futura”, she increases the freight capacity on the Belfast-Heysham route by 40% and uses hybrid propulsion.
The ferry operator Stena Line has expanded its fleet. The newest member, the “Stena Connecta”, has now been christened in China. This means that the shipping company will soon be operating a fleet of 13 ships in the Irish Sea.
Stena Line’s latest ferry, “Stena Connecta”, was officially christened on October 16 at the CMI shipyard in Weihai (China). She is due to set off on her maiden voyage to the Irish Sea shortly. Together with the “Stena Futura”, which entered service in September, the two new cargo ferries will increase the cargo capacity on the Belfast-Heysham route by 40%.
The ceremony was attended by Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson, members of the management and Stena AB owner Dan Sten Olsson.
“It is with great pride that we celebrate another milestone for our fleet and our company today. ‘Stena Connecta’ and her sister ship represent the state of the art in maritime technology. Not only will they play a vital role in maintaining important transportation links between Ireland and the UK, but they will also make a significant contribution to our sustainability goals – in particular to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030,” said Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line.
“Stena Connecta” with multi-hybrid propulsion system
The “Stena Connecta” is a new “New Max RoRo” vessel designed for maximum cargo capacity, offering 2,800 track meters over a length of 147 meters. The vessel has a multi-hybrid propulsion system that enables the use of batteries, biofuels and methanol. Two Norsepower Rotor Sails (28 x 4 m each) can save up to 9% fuel on the route between Belfast and Heysham. The sister ship Stena Futura is also prepared for the installation of the sails.
Fleet expands to 13 units
Stena Line is one of the largest ferry operators on the Irish Sea and operates a fleet of 13 vessels, including the “Stena Connecta”, which will enter service in January 2026. The company offers up to 238 weekly crossings and covers a wide network of routes, including combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard, as well as freight-only routes from Belfast to Heysham and Dublin.
This year Stena Line celebrates 30 years of operation on the Irish Sea, during which time the company has played a central role in trade and regional development.
“Our investment in ‘Stena Connecta’ and Stena Futura demonstrates our strong confidence in the continued growth of the Irish Sea and our commitment to further strengthen trade and connectivity. These vessels have been commissioned in direct response to customer demand for increased freight capacity,” added Niclas Mårtensson.
The “Stena Connecta” will shortly start its transfer voyage from China to the Irish Sea – a voyage that will take several weeks. Regular service on the Belfast-Heysham route will begin in January 2026.
Technical data – “Stena Connecta”
- Length: 147 m
- Width: 26.3 m
- Year of construction: 2023-2025, CMI Shipyard, Weihai, China
- Passenger capacity: 12
- Crew: 26
- Clearance height: 5.3 m
- Clearance width: 12 m
- Cargo capacity: 2,848 track meters
- Route: Belfast – Heysham (approx. 12 crossings per week)
