Stena Line orders two methanol dual-fuelled ferries

Each 147-m vessel has been designed to maximise freight volumes and will provide 2,800 lane metres of capacity, an 80% increase on current ship capacities on the Belfast-Heysham route. 

Equipped to carry 12 passengers and 26 crew, the NewMax vessels will be able to operate on methanol fuel.

Stena Line is working closely with the methanol supply chain and has secured future volumes of e-methanol to fulfil its strategic ambition of shifting to renewable fuels and cutting 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030. Stena Line became the first ferry operator to run a ferry on methanol when Stena Germanica was converted in 2015.

Future proofing the new vessels for electrification has been another priority during construction, providing inbuilt technologies that can take advantage of both battery propulsion and shore power where this is available.

“This investment shows our dedication to sustainability and our strategy of moving towards new sustainable fuels” said Stena Line chief executive Niclas Mårtensson. “The NewMax vessels will also meet the growing demand from customers, adding significant capacity to allow logistics operators to grow their business in the region.”

The unique tidal systems prevailing in Heysham can be challenging, so each vessel will be fitted with a bespoke marine technology configuration making it more resilient to the prevailing weather conditions. Three bow thrusters will provide optimum manoeuvrability and reliability and a specially designed engine/propeller configuration will further enhance berthing capability in extreme weather.

Construction work on the two new vessels is about to start in Weihai, China through Stena RoRo and both ships are due to go into service on the Belfast-Heysham route in Q3 2025, operating from Stena Line’s port in Belfast.