Feature, Freight News

Stena Line to return to sail on the Irish Sea

[ March 18, 2025   //   Chris Lewis ]

Stena Line’s new Belfast/Heysham Stena Connecta ferry will be fitted with two Norsepower Rotor Sails when it goes into service from late 2025. It is projected to deliver up to 9% fuel savings for the methanol hybrid ro ro vessel. Wind conditions on the Irish Sea are very favourable for wind assisted propulsion, says the Swedish-based ship operator. The sister vessel will be delivered ‘rotor sail ready’, it adds.

Fleet chief operating officer, Dennis Tetzlaff, said: “These sails will harness wind power to provide auxiliary propulsion to the vessel, therefore reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Innovations such as this are key to future-proofing our vessels and to reaching our emissions targets.”

Stena Line’s strategic ambition to transition to renewable fuels, including securing future e-methanol volumes and cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.

Stena Line became the first ferry operator to run a vessel on methanol with the conversion of Stena Germanica in 2015.

Tags: Stena Line; Norsepower