Stena Line welcomes first hybrid freight ferry Stena Futura to Belfast
Stena Futura sails into Belfast to a water salute
Stena Line has welcomed the first of its new hybrid freight ferries to Belfast Harbour, marking a major milestone in its 30-year partnership with the city.
The multimillion-pound, purpose-built Stena Futura will officially enter service on the freight-only Belfast-Heysham route on 22 September, operating 12 sailings per week to provide much-needed additional freight capacity.
The 147-metre vessel will connect Northern Ireland's hauliers directly into the North of England's key road freight network.
Once fully operational, Stena Futura and her sister ship Stena Connecta--currently under construction and due to join the route in early 2026--will deliver a 40% increase in freight capacity in response to rising demand for services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Sustainability focus
The two hybrid ships are "methanol-ready" and feature advanced technology designed to support battery propulsion and shore power when available.
Stena Futura has also been built to operate on methanol, representing a significant step forward in sustainable shipping. Its sister ship, Stena Connecta, is being delivered "rotor sail ready," demonstrating Stena Line's commitment to wind propulsion as part of its decarbonisation strategy.
Stena Futura Master Przemyslaw Plichta pictured with Paul Grant Stena Line Route Director
Paul Grant, Route Director at Stena Line, said:
"The arrival of Stena Futura in Belfast is a significant milestone in our 30-year association with the city.
Stena Futura and sister vessel Stena Connecta represent an investment of over GBP100 million, highlighting our commitment to our Irish Sea network.
"The ships were commissioned in direct response to customer demand for an increase in freight capacity on our routes and we are delighted to see the first ship enter service."
"These vessels represent a crucial step in our broader sustainability journey. By integrating battery propulsion and shore power capabilities, we are making significant strides towards our goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030, reinforcing Stena Line's position as a leader in sustainable shipping."
Strategic partners welcome new vessel
Joe O'Neil, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, welcomed the ship's arrival:
"It is fantastic to welcome the Stena Futura to Belfast.
We would like to congratulate Paul and the team at Stena Line on this significant milestone and welcome their commitment to sustainability in shipping.
"The whole team at Belfast Harbour is looking forward to seeing this state-of-the-art vessel entering service on one of our most important freight routes."
Phil Hall, Port Director at Peel Ports Group, added:
"The arrival of Stena Futura marks an exciting new era of sustainable, greener shipping across the Irish Sea. Our own investments to upgrade the Port of Heysham, alongside the long-standing and valued partnership with Stena Line, will enable an improved, more resilient, and environmentally responsible gateway for our customers."
Stena Line's Irish Sea presence
Stena Line is the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with the biggest fleet providing up to 238 weekly sailings across multiple routes, including combined passenger and freight services from Belfast to Cairnryan and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard.
The company also operates dedicated freight-only services between Belfast-Heysham and Dublin.
Across Europe, Stena Line runs approximately 40 vessels on 20 routes, carrying out more than 25,700 sailings each year.
Founded in 1962 and still family-owned, the company employs around 6,200 staff and has an annual turnover of SEK 19.5 billion.