Just a month after a new ferry arrived in Morecambe, a ceremony has been held to name the vessel’s sister ship which will boast an additional power source.
Stena Line’s newest vessel, Stena Connecta, was officially named at the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China and will soon begin her maiden voyage to her new home port on the Irish Sea. Alongside Stena Futura, which entered service in September, these two new freight ferries will boost freight capacity by 40 percent on the Belfast–Heysham route.
Stena Connecta is a New Max RoRo ship built for maximised freight capacity, with 2,800 lane metres across its 147-metre length. It uses a multi-hybrid propulsion system enabling the use of battery power, biofuel, and methanol and has two 28×4 metre Norsepower Rotor Sails™ that can save up to 9% in fuel on its Irish Sea route between Belfast and Heysham. Stena Futura could also have sails retro fitted.
“Stena Connecta and her sister vessel represent the very latest in maritime technology and will not only play a crucial role in maintaining essential transport links in Ireland and the UK but also make a significant contribution to our sustainability goals of reducing CO₂ emissions by 30 percent by 2030,” Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, said.
“Our investment in Stena Connecta and Stena Futura demonstrates our strong confidence in the continued growth of the Irish Sea region and our commitment to strengthening trade and connectivity. These vessels were commissioned as a direct response to customer demand for increased freight capacity on our routes,”
added Niclas Mårtensson.
Stena Connecta will soon begin her delivery voyage from China to the Irish Sea, a journey expected to take several weeks. She will enter regular service on the Belfast–Heysham route from January 2026.
