Stena Line marks significant milestones in build of NewMax ships, Stena Futura and Stena Connecta
Stena Futura set afloat while keel laid on second ship to be named Stena Connecta, which will both be used on the Belfast-Heysham route
Swedish ferry company, Stena Line has taken a big step forward with its "NewMax" ships, with the launch of the Stena Futura in a Chinese shipyard and laying the keel for its sister ship, Stena Connecta.
Once operational these two hybrid vessels, designed for the Belfast-Heysham route, will boost freight capacity by 40% to meet growing demand from Northern Ireland to Britain.
Both ships can operate on methanol fuel, marking a significant move towards sustainability as Stena Line works to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
Last month, Stena held a joint launch and keel-laying ceremony at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Weihai, celebrating the release of Stena Futura into the water for the first time, and the laying of the keel for Stena Connecta, which marks the beginning of the build.
Paul Grant, trade director Irish Sea North, Stena Line, said: “We’re delighted to announce the name of our second new build ship, Stena Connecta. It is exciting to see the progress being made on our new ships for the Belfast – Heysham route, which as Connecta’s name suggests, provides a vital connection across the Irish Sea for our customers. We’re continuing to see growth on this route and demand from freight customers, therefore we’re certain that the boost in capacity will be welcomed by the market locally.
“Sustainability remains a focus for Stena Line across our business and this is a significant step forward for our fleet as we work to future proof our business. We’re looking forward to welcoming Stena Futura to the Irish Sea in Autumn 2025.”
Joe O’Neill, CEO of Belfast Harbour said: “Stena Line is one of Belfast Harbour’s most important strategic partners and we welcome the company’s latest significant investment in the key Belfast – Heysham route. It is fantastic to see Stena Line not only respond to increased customer demand by investing in new vessels that will substantially increase freight capacity, but also to see them do so in a way that further improves the sustainability of its fleet.
“As a Trust Port, sustainability is a top priority for Belfast Harbour. Our ambition is to be the first port in the UK and Ireland to reach net zero in our own operations, while also finding effective new ways to work with our partners to tackle emissions in our wider supply chain.”