Historic agreement secures continued rail ferry service to Germany

Stena Line today signed a historic agreement with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) that secures the continued operation of rail ferry services between Sweden and Germany. The agreement, the first of its kind, ensures that traffic on the Trelleborg–Rostock route can continue until 31 December 2031.The agreement was signed during a press conference at the Port of Trelleborg by Elisabeth Lönne, Chief Commercial Officer at Stena Line, and Roberto Maiorana, Director-General of the Swedish Transport Administration. “Stena Line is very pleased that the conditions are now in

February was a record month for Wasaline

Wasaline reports its best February since operations began in 2013. A total of 18,191 passengers travelled with the company during the month, representing an 11 percent increase compared with the same period last year.One contributing factor to the increase is the concept of ice cruises, which have proven very popular. Several groups from Europe have chosen to travel with Wasaline to experience the winter landscape of the Kvarken region. “Our long-term marketing efforts in Europe are now beginning to deliver results. We are seeing, in particular, groups from Germany coming to us to

Stena Line renovates ferries on the Kiel–Gothenburg route: an upgrade ahead of the high season

Stena Line has invested millions in extensive refurbishment and modernisation of the Stena Germanica and Stena Scandinavica ferries on the Gothenburg–Kiel route. The renovation includes restaurant and bar areas as well as outdoor decks ahead of the coming travel season.Stena Line has carried out an extensive modernisation of the Stena Germanica and Stena Scandinavica ferries that operate on the route between Gothenburg and Kiel. Now that the ships have recently returned from the shipyard, passengers can enjoy renovated restaurant and bar areas and an upgraded outdoor deck. The shipping

Wasaline is now officially part of Stena Line

A ceremony in Umeå marked the official completion of Stena Line’s acquisition of Wasaline.“The close and strong cooperation between Sweden and Finland is of central strategic importance to both our countries. Robust and reliable transport links are a fundamental prerequisite for a competitive business sector as well as for strengthened preparedness and security. Ferry traffic between Sweden and Finland is attractive and viable, as underscored by today’s ceremony”, said Andreas Carlsson, Minister of Infrastructure in Sweden, before he, together with Joakim Strand, Finland’s Minister for

Stena Line to discontinue the Halmstad–Grenaa ferry route

Stena Line has decided to close the ferry route between Halmstad in Sweden and Grenaa in Denmark. The vessel Stena Nautica will continue to operate the route until 30 April.“The reason for this decision is that we have faced significant challenges in achieving profitability on the route over a long period of time. By concentrating our investments on routes with clear demand, we can support both commercial transport and passenger travel more efficiently, while at the same time strengthening the long-term resilience of our route network. This has not been an easy decision, but it is necessary

Stena Line completes acquisition of terminal operations in Liepaja

Stena Line has now completed the acquisition of the terminal operator Terrabalt in Liepaja, Latvia, and officially taken over RoRo, bulk and general cargo operations. All approvals from competition authorities and relevant governmental institutions have been granted, and Stena Line is now registered as the owner.The completion of the transaction marks an important milestone in Stena Line’s long-term commitment to trade development and resilience in the Baltic Sea region. Liepaja is Latvia’s third-largest port and plays a key role in regional and international supply chains. Stena Line

Stena Connecta arrives in Belfast Harbour

Stena Line invests over £100m in expanding Belfast-Heysham freight serviceStena Connecta, the latest purpose-built freight vessel commissioned by Stena Line for the Irish Sea has arrived in Belfast Harbour and is due to go into commercial service on the Belfast-Heysham route on 23rd January 2026. The ship joins its sister vessel Stena Futura which went into service on the Belfast-Heysham service in October 2025 and together they offer an additional 40% freight capacity on the increasing popular trade route between Northern Ireland and Britain. Stena Connecta, like Stena Futura, is a ‘

Stena Line and Associated British Ports to begin work on new multi-million pound Immingham terminal

Stena Line, and the UK’s largest port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP), are to commence work on a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham. The new terminal represents a joint investment of more than £200 million in the port and a boost to the Humber region of England where the unaccompanied freight market has been steadily growing.Located in Lincolnshire, Immingham is becoming a strategic hub for Stena Line, which currently runs two daily services from the Humber region to The Netherlands. ABP’s four Humber ports collectively already make up the UK’s number 1 gateway for

Stena Line Celebrates Naming Ceremony of Stena Futura

Belfast Harbour hosts first ship naming ceremony in two decadesOver 200 guests attended the official naming ceremony of Stena Line’s newest vessel, Stena Futura, at Belfast Harbour.  This state-of-the-art hybrid freight ferry marks a significant milestone in Stena Line’s 30-year partnership with Belfast and its ambitious journey toward sustainable shipping. The 147-metre Stena Futura is the first of two next-generation “NewMax” freight vessels purpose-built for the busy Belfast–Heysham route. Designed with cutting-edge technology, the ship is methanol-ready and equipped with hybrid

Stena Line acquires Wasaline

Stena Line strengthens its position in the Baltic Sea by acquiring NLC Ferry Ab Oy/Wasaline and taking over operations of the ferry route between Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland.“It is with great joy and enthusiasm that we at Stena Line take on the responsibility for Wasaline and the route between two important regions and cities, Umeå and Vaasa,” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line. The only existing ferry connection between Umeå and Vaasa is jointly owned by the two cities through the 50/50-owned company Kvarken Link, which in turn owns NLC Ferry which operates under the

New Stena Line vessel ready to set sail for home

Stena Line’s newest vessel, Stena Connecta, was officially named at the CMI Shipyard in Weihai, China on October 16, and will soon begin her maiden voyage to her new home port on the Irish Sea. Alongside Stena Futura, which entered service in September, these two new freight ferries will boost freight capacity by 40 percent on the Belfast–Heysham route.Attending the ceremony were Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson, members of the company’s executive team, and Stena AB owner Dan Sten Olsson. “It is with great pride that we celebrate yet another milestone for our fleet and our company today.

Stena Line signs landmark 50-year agreement with the Municipality of Frederikshavn

Stena Line has entered into a historic 50-year agreement with the Municipality of Frederikshavn to operate the ferry port in Frederikshavn Harbor, securing the company’s presence in the North Jutland port city for decades to come.The partnership between Stena Line and Frederikshavn dates back to the early 1960s. With this new long-term agreement, Stena Line will assume full responsibility for the operations of the RoPax ferry terminal. “Through an excellent dialogue with the Municipality and Port of Frederikshavn, we are continuing to build on our historically strong relationship to

Stena Line welcomes Stena Futura onto Belfast-Heysham route

Stena Line has welcomed the first of its new hybrid freight ferries to Belfast Harbour. The multimillion-pound purpose-built Stena Futura will go into service on the freight-only Belfast to Heysham route on 22 September.The 147-metre Stena Futura will operate 12 sailings per week providing much needed additional freight capacity on the popular route which connects local hauliers directly into the key North of England road freight network. Once operational, Stena Futura and sister ship Stena Connecta, currently under construction and due to enter service also on the Belfast-Heysham route

Stena Line will acquire port operations in Liepaja, Latvia

Stena Line continues its commitment to trade growth and resilience in the Baltic Sea. The ferry company will acquire all shares in the port operator Terrabalt in Liepaja, Latvia.By acquiring the Latvian company Terrabalt, Stena Line takes over the operation of the RoRo, bulk and general cargo terminal in Liepaja, Latvia’s third-largest port. The Liepaja port is managed within the framework of the Liepāja Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a free trade zone established in 1997 that includes the port, industrial area, and airport. Stena Line currently operates the Liepaja–Travemünde route with two

Stena Line awarded contract to continue operation of the Gdynia – Karlskrona route

The Port of Gdynia Authority has concluded the tender procedure for the selection of ferry operators at the Public Ferry Terminal in Gdynia, launched in June this year. Stena Line has been awarded the contract (and, following the signing of the new agreement, will continue its operations at the terminal in the coming years.Marek Kiersnowski, Trade Director for the Stena Line Gdynia–Karlskrona route, said: “The outcome of the tender secures the continuity of our strategic Gdynia–Karlskrona service, which is one of the most important ferry connections in the Baltic Sea. It also holds the

Rebuilt Stena Foreteller returns to service with enhanced efficiency

In the end of July, the ship Stena Foreteller will return to service on the Europoort/Rotterdam – Immingham route following a major rebuild and renovation. With a new additional cargo deck and a 30 percent increase in capacity, the vessel becomes more efficient and further reduces CO₂ emissions per cargo unit.Stena RoRo has led the reconstruction of the Stena Line vessel at the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling in Weihai. The RoRo vessel Stena Foreteller has been fitted with a fourth vehicle deck on top of the existing three, increasing the number of lane meters from 3,000 to 4,000. “The

Stena Line announces plans to withdraw its Rosslare-Cherbourg service

Following a strategic route review, Stena Line has announced that from 30 September 2025, the ferry operator intends to withdraw its existing three-day Rosslare - Cherbourg service. The last sailing will depart Cherbourg on 29 September, arriving in Rosslare on 30 September.These plans have been developed after an extensive review with the intention of strengthening the company’s investment in the Irish Sea, whilst delivering the most efficient use of the company’s resources. Johan Edelman, Trade Director said, “Our priority is, as always, the care of our people and customers. We’ve

Stena Futura successfully completes sea trials in China

Stena Line has announced that Stena Futura, the first of its new hybrid ferries destined for the Irish Sea, has successfully completed its sea trials.The completion of the sea trials is a significant milestone in the build Stena Futura and the vessel is on schedule to enter service on the Belfast-Heysham route in late summer. Sea trials are designed to test the vessel at sea to demonstrate the proper function of the ship to ensure that all systems are fully operational and in line with agreed specifications. The tests include areas such as engine performance and endurance, fuel

Adventurous Upgrade for Quality Hotel The Reef

Quality Hotel The Reef in Frederikshavn, Denmark has undergone an extensive renovation over the past year. The transformation is now complete, and guests and visitors are welcomed to a fully refurbished reception and communal areas, a brand-new restaurant concept, and an upgraded adventure water park.Since 1987, this iconic hotel in Frederikshavn has played a key role in the region's tourism industry and has remained a beloved destination for families across the Nordic countries. Owned by Stena Line and operated by Strawberry under the Quality Hotel brand, the hotel is now entering a new

Stena Line Develops New Concept Vessel

Through optimal design and new technology, the new concept vessel Stena Futuro can reduce energy usage by 20 percent or more.One of Stena Line's central goals is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The path to this goal involves a range of activities across many areas, not least the decarbonization of the vessel fleet. This is being done both by improving the efficiency of the existing fleet and by developing a new generation of vessels with optimized features and new technologies. Stena Line's latest concept for the new generation of vessels is Stena Futuro, a 240-meter-long

New Managing Director for AML Appointed

Rachid Houari has been appointed to lead ferry operations in the Strait of Gibraltar as the new Directeur Général (Managing Director) for African Morocco Link (AML).Rachid has done his Bsc in shipping operations in Southampton, his MBA at ENPC Paris, and has more than 25 years of maritime experience in ferry, RoRo, and port operations in the shipping sector between Morocco and Spain. Most recently, he held the position of Managing Director for three logistics zones companies within the Tangier Med Group, where he previously also had responsibilities for both port and ferry operations.

Stena Line and Norsepower team-up on future-proof methanol hybrid RoRo equipped with Norsepower Rotor Sails™

Stena Line and Norsepower have signed an agreement for the delivery of two Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on an all-new methanol hybrid newbuild RoRo vessel Stena Connecta. The agreement is a step in Stena Line's goal to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030.Built by Jinling Weihai Shipyard in China, the 147-metre vessel will feature two 28x4m Norsepower Rotor Sails™ (NPRS), projected to deliver up to 9% fuel savings on the planned trade route. Scheduled for delivery to Stena Line from Stena RoRo in Q4 2025, the ship will operate on the Irish Sea, between Belfast and Heysham,

STENA LINE’S SECOND NEW SHIP STENA CONNECTA LAUNCHES

Stena Line has reached another major milestone in its NewMax fleet investment programme with a ceremony to mark Stena Connecta launching into the water at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Weihai, China.Stena Connecta is one of two new ships due to serve the Belfast – Heysham route, a key trade corridor across the Irish Sea. Now that Stena Connecta has entered the water, the shipyward will continue with the installation of the interior. Sister ship, Stena Futura is currently being fitted out, and is due to enter service in Autumn 2025. Stena Connecta will follow in early 2026.

Meatball revolution at sea: 35 tons less meat on Stena Line ships in 2025

By replacing half of the meat in their meatballs with yellow pea mince, Stena Line aims to reduce meat consumption by 35,000 kilos next year. “Taste and quality-wise, it is exactly as good a product as before. But it makes a difference from a sustainability perspective,” says Jakob Lells, Group Executive Chef at Stena Line. A huge change that will hopefully go unnoticed. That’s one way of describing Stena Line’s initiative on 50/50 meatballs, where half of the meat in the popular dish meatballs with mashed potatoes will be replaced next year with a plant-based mince made from