As one of Europe’s largest ferry operators, Stena Line is accelerating its fleet modernization efforts. Building on the success of its existing vessel types, the company plans to introduce larger Ro-Ro vessels and deepen its long-term collaboration with Chinese shipyards by ordering up to six new Ro-Ro vessels.
On October 19, Stena RoRo announced on its official website that it has signed a Letter of Intent for 2+2+2 RoRo cargo vessels with a capacity of 3,000 to 4,700 lane meters with China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard. This LOI is a strategic investment for Stena RoRo in a segment which for a long time has been underinvested.
Stena RoRo announced that this new vessel type, named C-Flexer, integrates the successful features of both the E-Flexer and NewMax designs. It incorporates an efficient hull structure, engines compatible with future fuels, and a scalable battery hybrid system.
Key specifications of the C-Flexer are as follows: Length: 200 meters Beam: 28 meters/31 meters Draft: 7.3 meters Speed: 21 knots For cargo capacity, the 3-deck version offers a vehicle lane length of 3,000–3,400 lane meters, while the 4-deck version provides a lane length of 4,100–4,700 meters.
“These vessels will be built for today and designed for tomorrow”, says Per Westling, CEO Stena RoRo AB.
Notably, this letter of intent adopts a flexible “2+2+2” order model, initially confirming the construction of two vessels. Depending on market demand and project progress, two additional vessels can be added in two subsequent batches, enabling a maximum cooperative construction of six vessels. This model provides Stena RoRo with flexibility to adjust its capacity planning in response to market changes, thereby reducing upfront investment risks. Simultaneously, it secures long-term, stable production orders for China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard, fostering the establishment of a lasting and stable strategic partnership between the two parties.
Stena has been a long-term partner of China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard, having ordered a total of 15 high-end E-Flexer series ro-ro ferries and 2 NewMax ro-ro vessels from Weihai Jinling since 2016. Among these, the E-Flexer series represents one of the most advanced RO-RO vessels ever built in China and stands as the most energy-efficient benchmark globally among vessels of its class.
China Merchants Industry’s Weihai Shipyard named the Stena Connecta on October 16, the second vessel in Stena Group’s “Future Proof” series of multi-energy Ro-Ro vessels. Following the Stena Futura delivered in July, the 2,800 lane-meter Stena Connecta incorporates a suite of clean technologies including methanol fuel, battery power, shore power, and rotor sails. The industry regards the series as a cutting-edge benchmark for integrating multiple clean energy solutions.
Stena stated that it is the largest ferry operator in the Irish Sea, and with the delivery of the “Stena Connecta”, its fleet will expand to 13 vessels. The company has operated in the Irish Sea for 30 years, managing a total of 40 vessels and 20 routes across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Excluding the latest orders, Clarkson data shows that China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyard currently holds a total of 25 vessels with a deadweight tonnage of 285,550 tons. This includes 18 car-passenger ferries, 4 car carriers, 2 container ships, and 1 ro-ro vessel, with delivery schedules extending through 2031.