New Stena Line vessel ready to set sail for Belfast from China
Stena Line’s newest vessel, Stena Connecta, was officially named at the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China on October 16, and will soon begin her maiden voyage to her new home port on the Irish Sea.
Alongside Stena Futura, which entered service in September, these two new freight ferries 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 New Max RoRo ship built for maximised freight capacity, with 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 28×4 metre Norsepower Rotor Sails™ that can save up to 9% in fuel on its Irish Sea route between Belfast and Heysham. Its sister vessel, Stena Futura, is also ready for sail installation.
Strengthening connectivity across the Irish Sea
Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with a fleet of 13 vessels (including Stena Connecta, which will enter service in January 2026).
The company operates up to 238 weekly sailings, offering a wide network of routes that includes combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard, as well as dedicated freight routes from Belfast to Heysham and Dublin.
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 metres
- Route: Belfast – Heysham (approx. 12 sailings per week.
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Stena Line named Best Ferry Company…again
Leading ferry company pics up prestigious NI travel award for 32nd time
Stena Line has once again sailed off with the title of Best Ferry Company at the recent 33rd Northern Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards held at the Slive Donard Hotel, Newcastle.
Over 350 guests and VIPs from across many sectors attended the annual travel industry ‘Oscars’, hosted by local comedian Shane Todd, and once again Stena Line was named Best Ferry Company.
It’s the 32nd time Stena Line has picked up the prestigious award and for Orla Noonan, Stena Line’s Travel Commercial Manager (Irish Sea), every win is important, commenting: “Even though we have been very successful at these awards over many years, it’s still a real honour for our entire team to receive this accolade.
“We have a lot of dedicated colleagues on our vessels and onshore who work tirelessly to provide the best possible levels of customer service, reliability and punctuality all year round.
“To have our team effort recognised at this prestigious awards ceremony is something we will always treasure and work hard to retain year after year.”
Stena Line success on the night was further enhanced with the Stena Line Belfast Giants being awarded the NI Special Achievement Award for their 25th Anniversary. 2025 marks the 14th consecutive year of Stena Line’s title sponsorship of the Belfast Giants.
2025 is a milestone year for Stena Line’s Irish Sea operations.
Earlier this month the company marked 30th years of operation on its Dublin-Holyhead route and next month it will celebrate 30 years of port operations from Belfast Harbour along with the naming ceremony of its recently launched ship on the Belfast-Heysham service, Stena Futura.
