On 19 November, Stena RoRo has taken delivery of STENA CONNECTA, the second of two NewMax RoRo vessels built for Stena Line’s Belfast–Heysham route.
Constructed at CMI Jinling Weihai, the vessel now proceeds to final preparations and is expected to enter regular service in January 2026.
The first vessel in the series, STENA FUTURA, entered service on 22 September.
The two dual fuel methanol/battery-hybrid newbuilds represent a 40% increase in capacity on the route once both are in service, replacing the previous tonnage.
STENA CONNECTA is fitted with two 28×4 metre Norsepower Rotor Sails™ capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 9% on the Irish Sea crossing. Its sister vessel, STENA FUTURA, was delivered “Rotor Sail Ready,” allowing the operator to retrofit sails as operational needs evolve.
Building on the success of the E-Flexer and NewMax series, Stena RoRo is taking the next step with the new C-Flexer design concept. The platform features a highly optimized and efficient hull form, engines prepared for future fuels, and a scalable battery-hybrid system—combining proven solutions with forward-looking technologies.
As Per Westling, CEO Stena RoRo AB, summarizes: these vessels are “built for today and designed for tomorrow.”