Feature, Freight News, Sea


Stena Connecta ready to take up Belfast-Heysham duties

[ January 20, 2026   //   ]

Stena’s Line’s Stena Connecta freight vessel for the Belfast-Heysham route has arrived in Belfast Harbour and is due to go into commercial service on 23 January.

She joins sister vessel Stena Futura which went into service in October 2025 and together the two ships will offer an additional 40% freight capacity on the route.

Stena Connecta, like Stena Futura, is a New Max  ro ro ship built for maximised freight capacity, with 2,848 lane metres across its 147-metre length and uses a multi-hybrid propulsion system enabling the use of battery power, biofuel, and methanol.

Uniquely the Stena Connecta has two Norsepower Rotor Sail to enhance efficiency with up to 9% fuel savings. Stena Futura is also ready for rotor sail installation.

Irish Sea North trade director, Paul Grant, said: “Our significant investment in Stena Connecta and Stena Futura, more than £100m, demonstrates our strong confidence in the continued growth of the Irish Sea region. In 2025 our Heysham/Belfast freight service recorded its highest volumes in the last five years with 113,000 units shipped.”

He added that, when operational, the two vessels will offer up to 24 sailings per week between Belfast and Heysham.

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