New Stena Line Vessel Ready to Set Sail for Belfast

16th October 2025

Jehan Ashmore

Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, at the naming ceremony of Stena Connecta today, the second ‘NewMax’ Stena 2800 class ro-ro freight ferry custom-built for the Belfast-Heysham route, will boost freight capacity by 40 percent on the north Irish Sea route. The newbuild will soon begin its delivery voyage from China to the Irish Sea, to take several weeks before entering service in January 2026. Credit: Stena Line

The second of Stena Line’s newest Irish Sea freight vessels, Stena Connecta, was officially named today at the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China.

The hybrid-powered newbuild will soon begin its maiden voyage and delivery to its new home port on the Irish Sea. Alongside Stena Futura, which entered service last month, the twins will boost freight capacity by 40 percent on the Belfast–Heysham route.

Attending the ceremony were Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson, members of the company’s executive team, and Stena AB owner Dan Sten Olsson.

“It is with great pride that we celebrate yet another milestone for our fleet and our company today. 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,” said Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line.

Next-generation hybrid technology

Stena Connecta is a NewMax ro-ro of the 2800 class; Afloat adds this, reflects the ship’s maximised freight capacity of 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 28x4 meter Norsepower Rotor Sails™ that can save up to 9% in fuel on its Irish Sea route between Belfast and Heysham. Its twin, Stena Futura, is also ready for sail installation.

This year marks 30 years of Stena Line operations on the Irish Sea, during which the company has played a vital role in supporting both trade and communities across the region.

“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.

Facts – Stena Connecta

Length: 147 m
Beam: 26.3 m
Built: 2023–2025, CMI Shipyard, Weihai, China
Passenger capacity: 12
Crew: 26
Height clearance: 5.3 m
Width clearance: 12 m
Freight capacity: 2,848 lane meters
Route: Belfast–Heysham (approx. 12 sailings per week)

Published in Stena Line

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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