The Swedish ferry operator Stena Line can look back on a stable year overall in a difficult market environment. Passenger traffic developed positively, while the freight business fell short of expectations.
According to the shipping company, the freight business proved to be challenging in 2025. Stagnating economic development and ongoing restrictions on rail access to Kiel had a negative impact on demand. In particular, the significant rise in track access charges in recent years has noticeably reduced the attractiveness of intermodal services. Nevertheless, those responsible are cautiously optimistic for the current year, pointing to existing potential along the corridors to Northern Europe and the hope of improvements to the infrastructure.
In the sixtieth year of operation of the Kiel-Gothenburg route, the Swedish shipping company Stena Line is holding its own in a market environment that remains challenging. While the ferry service remained very popular with passengers in 2025, the year was characterized by difficult conditions in the freight sector. The investments in the two ferries deployed are to be continued in 2026.
At the annual press conference at the seaport of Kiel, Stena Line took stock of the year 2025 and also provided an outlook. The two ferries “Stena Germanica” and “Stena Scandinavica” were equipped with new, modern cabins in spring 2025 – a measure that was positively received by guests.
Even at this early stage, the booking situation suggests a similarly good passenger year as 2025. In addition to traditional car travel and short trips to Gothenburg, Stena Line is again planning special offers for motorhomes and caravan combinations in 2026. A special trip is also planned again as part of Kiel Week.
In the freight segment, however, the year 2025 will remain challenging in view of the weak economy and the difficult conditions for rail access to Kiel. The development of track prices in particular is limiting the competitiveness of intermodal products. Nevertheless, Head of Germany Mikko Juelich is confident for 2026.
With a view to the international route network, Stena Line has taken over the operation of the port of Liepāja, thus securing the connection between Travemünde and Latvia in the long term. The shipping company will also officially take over Wasaline’s operations on the Umeå-Vaasa route in January. This connection is integrated into Stena Line’s German network via a combined train service. In the Irish Sea business region, two newbuilds, the “Stena Futura” and the “Stena Connecta”, were put into service, increasing freight capacity on the Belfast-Heysham route by around 40%. Both ships are methanol, battery and shore power capable.
“Stena Connecta” reaches Belfast
Meanwhile, the new ro-ro ferry “Stena Connecta” has moored in the port of Belfast for the first time. The newbuild is to commence commercial operations on the Belfast-Heysham route. According to the shipping company, Stena Line is investing a total of more than £100 million in the expansion of this freight connection.
The “Stena Connecta” complements its sister ship “Stena Futura”, which has been in operation on the route since October 2025. Together, the two newbuilds will increase freight capacity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain by around 40%. The connection is one of the fastest-growing routes in the shipping company’s network.
Both units are so-called “New Max” RoRo ships, which are designed for maximum loading capacity. The “Stena Connecta” has a length of 147 m and a total of 2,848 loading meters. It is powered by a multi-hybrid system that enables the use of batteries, biofuels and methanol. In addition, the ship is equipped with two 28 m high Norsepower rotor sails, which should enable fuel savings of up to 9% on the route across the Irish Sea. The “Stena Futura” is also prepared for a corresponding retrofit.
“In 2025, our Heysham-Belfast freight service recorded its highest volume in the past five years with 113,000 units transported,” explained a company spokesperson. The two newbuilds were commissioned in response to the increasing demand for additional freight capacity. Feedback on the recently launched ‘Stena Futura’ has been extremely positive and the ‘Stena Connecta’ is also expected to be well received.
“Stena Connecta“:
Length: 147 m
Width: 26.3 m
Cargo capacity: 2,848 lane meters
Passengers: 12
Crew: 26
Construction period: 2023-2025, CMI Shipyard, Weihai (China)
Area of operation: Belfast-Heysham (around 12 departures per week)
