Stena Line has signed an agreement with wind propulsion company Norsepower for the delivery of two Rotor Sails™ on an all-new methanol hybrid roro vessel to serve the Belfast-Heysham 'freight' route later this year.
The Gothenburg, Sweden-headquartered shipowner aims to cut CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030.
The 147-metre ‘NewMax’ series vessel, built by Jinling Weihai Shipyard in China, will feature two 28x4m Norsepower Rotor Sails™ (NPRS). This is projected to deliver up to 9% fuel savings on the planned trade route linking Belfast and Heysham in Lancashire, England.
It’s scheduled for delivery to Stena Line from Stena RoRo in Q4 2025 and will see the ship operate on the Irish Sea route, where wind conditions are very favorable for wind-assisted propulsion.
The collaboration highlights the convergence of the two industries, both committed to innovation and sustainability, with Stena also renowned for its rigorous specifications and high standards.
We are honoured to work with Stena Line, a company that has consistently led the way in sustainable shipping innovation,” said Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower. “This partnership underscores the reliability and quality of Norsepower’s products, as well as its alignment with Stena Line’s forward-thinking goals to cut CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030.”
Dennis Tetzlaff, Chief Operating Officer of Fleet at Stena Line, said, “Stena Line recently launched our new ship, Stena Connecta, into the water, and it will now be fitted out with two rotor sails. These sails will harness wind power to provide auxiliary propulsion to the vessel, therefore reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Innovations such as this are key to future-proofing our vessels and to reaching our emissions targets.”
The RoRo vessel represents a step forward in sustainable shipping, built to operate on methanol and is part of a broader initiative to integrate sustainable technologies. The vessel’s twin in the same series is being delivered “rotor sail ready,” further demonstrating its commitment to wind propulsion.
To minimize environmental impact during the project’s execution phase, the NPRS will be manufactured at Norsepower’s new production facility in Yancheng, China, and delivered directly to the shipyard. This approach reduces costs and emissions while exemplifying both companies’ dedication to sustainable operations.
Stena Line has a long history of embracing innovation, becoming the first ferry operator to run a vessel on methanol with the conversion of Stena Germanica in 2015. The addition of Norsepower Rotor Sails further solidifies its position in its decarbonisation aims.
