Stena Line, Bygg nr. W0320 og W0321 ved China Merchant Jinling Shipyard, Stena NewMax "Stena Futura" og "Stena Connecta"

Refvik

Administrator
Staff member

Stena Line boosts freight capacity on Irish Sea with two all-new hybrid vessels​

9c6545fc30f150a3_400x400ar.jpg


Two all-new hybrid propulsion vessels designed to run on methanol and adding 80% capacity on the Belfast-Heysham route will respond to increasing customer demand for capacity and sustainability performance. Construction of the NewMax vessels will begin shortly with launch on the Irish Sea in 2025.


Stena Line, one of Europe’s leading ferry operators and the Irish Sea’s leading operator, has announced that it is constructing two new bespoke freight vessels for its expanding Belfast-Heysham freight service. Each of the two new 147-meter vessels has been designed to maximise freight volumes and will provide 2,800 lane meters of capacity which is an 80% increase on current ship capacities. The new vessels will be equipped to carry 12 passengers and 26 crew.

The ‘NewMax’ vessels will be able to operate on methanol fuel. Stena Line is currently working closely with the supply chain of methanol and has secured future volumes of e-methanol to fulfil its strategic ambition of shifting to renewable fuels and cutting 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030. Stena Line became the first ferry operator to run a ferry on methanol when the Stena Germanica was converted in 2015.

Future proofing the new vessels for electrification has been another priority during construction providing in-built technologies that can take advantage of both battery propulsion and shore power, where this is available.

This investment shows our dedication to sustainability and our strategy of moving towards new sustainable fuels” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line. “The NewMax vessels will also meet the growing demand from customers, adding significant capacity to allow logistics operators to grow their business in the region.”

The unique tidal systems prevailing in Heysham can be challenging, so each vessel will be fitted with a bespoke marine technology configuration making it more resilient to the prevailing weather conditions. Three bow thrusters will provide optimum maneuverability and reliability and a specially designed engine/propeller configuration will further enhance berthing capability in extreme weather.

Construction work on the two new vessels is about to start in Weihai, China through Stena RoRo and both ships are due to go into service on the route in autumn 2025, operating from Stena Line’s port in Belfast.

Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with the biggest fleet offering the widest choice of routes including, combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard routes, as well as a freight only route from Belfast to Heysham, a total of up to 238 weekly sailing options between Britain and Ireland.

Stena Line also offers a direct service from Rosslare to Cherbourg and will be introducing an upgraded ship, Stena Vision, to this route for summer 2023, making this route the most frequent service from Ireland to France with 12 sailings per week.
 
Stena Line also offers a direct service from Rosslare to Cherbourg and will be introducing an upgraded ship, Stena Vision, to this route for summer 2023, making this route the most frequent service from Ireland to France with 12 sailings per week.

Stena Vision er på plass til Rosslare i dag.

 
This big Pax-upgrade of the Ireland route with the big Stena Vision is for me the first positive step from Stena since very long times.
(Replacing the big comfortable Superfasts and Vision/Spirit with the much smaller simply E-Flexer is for me backyards)
Maybe next year the Spirit will follow also to Ireland.
But why they go not 7 days a week in summer ? Many departures complete full-booked since weeks - Ireland is booming at German tourists.

To the freight-route Heysham-Belfast:
This route can really be easy online booked, as guest, no registration, no contract, nothing ! If there is here a freight-ferry-freak... .
Via freightlink.de - Vehicle up to 6 m incl. driver ca. 250,- € incl. tax, port-pass, meals and half cabin (they have space for max. 12 Pax).
Ship will be probably Stena Scotia, Seatruck Point or Stena Foreteller.
 
Stena Line lays keel for Stena Futura - the first of its new Belfast-Heysham ships

First of the new hybrid ships due to enter service in Autumn 2025

Swedish ferry company, Stena Line has reached an important milestone in its fleet investment programme with the keel laying of the first ‘NewMax’ vessel which will be deployed on the Belfast-Heysham route. The ship has also been officially named ‘Stena Futura.’


On Friday 28 June, the keel laying ceremony of the first of the two new ‘NewMax’ hybrid vessels took place in China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in WeiHai, China. Stena Futura, the chosen name for the vessel, is one of two ‘NewMax’ hybrid vessels being built to run on methanol. The new vessels will significantly enhance freight capacity on the Belfast-Heysham route.

A priority during the construction of the vessels will be to provide built-in technologies that can take advantage of both battery propulsion and shore power, where available. The ships will be futureproofed with a progressive propulsion configuration that will ultimately allow the vessels to be decarbonised.

Stena Line is currently working with port partners, Peel Ports and Belfast Harbour to secure the smooth introduction of the vessel as well the provision of shore infrastructure needed to provide additional electrical capacity to enable the future goal of powering the new ships by shore power.

“Keel laying marks a significant milestone in the construction of our new hybrid ships for the Belfast – Heysham route and we are delighted to announce its name – Stena Futura. As demand for freight across the Irish Sea continues to grow, the increase in capacity will be universally welcomed by hauliers and exporters.” says Paul Grant, Trade Director Irish Sea, Stena Line.

“Stena Line is committed to taking responsibility and being part of the solution to climate change. Investing in new ships, prepared to run on alternative fuels as well as electricity, is an important part of our strategy of moving towards new sustainable fuels and setting new industry standards.”

The keel-laying of the second of the two NewMax vessels is planned for this autumn and the name of that vessel has yet to be revealed and its due to come into service in early 2026.
 
Back
Top