Stena Line is renewing its fleet and has placed an order for two new hybrid E-Flexer ferries, scheduled to enter service in 2030. The two RoPax ferries will have capacity for 1500 passengers and 2750 lane metres of freight.
Designed as day ferries, they are intended to operate on the Gothenburg–Frederikshavn route. The vessels will feature the latest hybrid propulsion technology, allowing them to operate on both conventional fuel and electricity. They will also be prepared for conversion to 100 per cent electric operation once the necessary charging infrastructure is in place.
The vessels currently operating on Stena Line’s Gothenburg–Frederikshavn route, Stena Danica and Stena Jutlandica, have served the route for many years. Stena Danica entered service on the route as early as 1984, while Stena Jutlandica followed in 1996.
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Increased freight capacity
The newly ordered vessels are scheduled to enter service between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn in 2030. However, as Stena Line always strives to maintain flexibility and redundancy across its fleet, the vessels will also be capable of operating on other daytime routes within the company’s network.
Christina Bromander, Trade Director for Stena Line’s Denmark routes: ‘With the new vessels, we are increasing our freight capacity, which we believe will be particularly valuable in connection with our upcoming move to a new port location in Arendal. The conditions there are excellent for developing our freight business, with opportunities for increased intermodality thanks to the rail connection.’
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E-Flexers
The two new vessels will become the sixth and seventh E-Flexers in Stena Line’s fleet. The first entered service in 2019, and today three E-Flexers operate on the Irish Sea and two between Sweden and Poland.
The vessels will be built at the China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard in China, which has so far built fifteen E-Flexers.
The E-Flexer 2.0 particulars are:
- Length: 214.5 metres
- Width: 27.8 metres
- Three vehicle decks – one for passenger vehicles and two for freight
- Freight capacity: 2750 lane metres
- Passenger capacity: 1500
- Designed as a day ferry, with 132 cabins for crew and passengers
- Shipyard: China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard, China
- Expected delivery: 2030
Picture: Stena Line’s new E-Flexer ferries are prepared for conversion to 100 per cent electric operation (image Stena Line).
