Stena Line has ordered two new hybrid ferries that add battery capabilities to the company's successful E-Flexer ferry platform. This design, developed a decade ago by Stena RoRo, is a flexible class design with 17 units ordered so far, including seven directly by Stena Line and 10 others leased to Stena RoRo's customers.
Design and Performance Details
The latest version of this design has been developed to allow operations solely on battery power. These ferries are designed based on a diesel-electric propulsion system, and the company reports that they will be capable of using various fuels, including biodiesel. Additionally, the engines of these ferries will be prepared to operate with methanol as well.
Order and Production Planning
The new order includes two ferries with an option for two additional ones, which will be built in China at the China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry (CMI) Weihai shipyard. This yard has delivered 13 E-Flexer RoPax ferries so far and has four more under construction. According to the plan, these two ferries are to be delivered in 2030.
Stena Line has announced that these new ferries are designed as daily ferries for the route between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Frederikshavn, Denmark. The length of these ferries will be 214.5 meters (704 feet) and they will have three vehicle decks, one for cars and two decks for trucks. Their total capacity will be 2750 meters lane and a passenger capacity of 1500 people.
Kristina Brumander, Stena Line's route business manager in Denmark, noted that with these new ferries, our transport capacity will increase, which will be particularly valuable in connection with the timely transition to the new port location in Arendal. The conditions there are very favorable for developing the transport business, with opportunities for medium-term growth thanks to rail connectivity.
The current ferries on the Gothenburg–Frederikshavn route, Stena Danica and Stena Jutlandica, have been operating on this route for many years. Stena Danica has been in service on this route since 1984, and Stena Jutlandica joined the fleet in 1996.
Stena RoRo, which is the design division of the Stena Group, will continue to manage the construction program in China.
