The newly built Stena Futura has entered service on the Belfast to Heysham freight route, providing additional capacity on one of the Irish Sea’s key trade corridors. The 147-metre vessel will operate 12 sailings each week, offering direct access for Northern Irish hauliers to the North of England’s road freight network.
Constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, the vessel completed sea trials in June 2025 before delivery. Stena Futura is the first of two NewMax-class hybrid ferries designed for the route. A second ship, Stena Connecta, is scheduled to join the service in early 2026. Together, the pair are expected to increase capacity on the Belfast–Heysham link by 40% in response to rising freight demand between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
The NewMax series has been developed with a focus on sustainability. Stena Futura is methanol-ready and equipped with systems enabling battery propulsion and shore power when available. Its sister ship will be delivered with provision for rotor sail technology, reflecting Stena Line’s wider commitment to wind-assisted propulsion.
Company representatives described the vessel as an important milestone in Stena Line’s long-standing operations from Belfast and part of an investment of more than GBP 100 million in its Irish Sea network. Peel Ports Group, which manages Heysham, noted that the new tonnage aligns with infrastructure upgrades at the port, supporting the goal of delivering more efficient and environmentally responsible freight services.
Stena Line remains the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, with a fleet of around 40 vessels providing up to 238 weekly sailings.