Stena Line has welcomed the first of its new hybrid freight ferries to Belfast Harbour. The multimillion-pound purpose-built Stena Futura goes into service today, 22 September, on the freight-only Belfast to Heysham route.
The 147-metre Stena Futura will operate twelve sailings per week providing much needed additional freight capacity on the popular route which connects local hauliers directly into the key North of England road freight network.
Once operational, Stena Futura and sister ship Stena Connecta, currently under construction and due to enter service also on the Belfast-Heysham route in early 2026, will enhance freight capacity by forty per cent on the Belfast-Heysham route in response to an increase in customer demand for services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The two vessels represent an investment of over GBP 100 million.
Also read: Shore power and extra deck make Stena RoRo more efficient
Methanol-ready, batteries, wind propulsion
The two hybrid vessels, which are methanol-ready, will play a key role in Stena Line’s sustainability roadmap. They are further enhanced with built-in technologies that will be able to utilise both battery propulsion and shore power, when available.
Stena Futura represents a significant step forward in sustainable shipping, built to operate on methanol and is part of a broader initiative to integrate sustainable technologies. The sister vessel in the same series is being delivered “rotor sail ready,” further demonstrating Stena Line’s commitment to wind propulsion.
Paul Grant, Route Director Stena Line: ‘By integrating battery propulsion and shore power capabilities, we are making significant strides towards our goal of reducing CO2 emissions by thirty per cent by 2030.’
Also read: Stena Futura completes sea trials in China
238 weekly sailings in the Irish Sea
Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with the biggest fleet providing up to 238 weekly sailings offering a wide choice of routes including: combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, Rosslare to Fishguard, in addition to the dedicated freight only routes from Belfast to Heysham and Dublin.
Picture: Stena Futura arriving in Belfast (photo by Crowded Space Drones).
