Feature, Freight News, Sea


Stena reveals ship of the future

[ April 2, 2025   //   ]

Stena Line has developed a new concept vessel, the Futuro, which it says could reduce energy usage by 20% or more.

The 240-meter-long ro ro ship would carry semi-trailers and cars and would have an optimised hull and superstructure design to achieve the most efficient use of cargo space possible. Low weight and optimised hydro- and aerodynamics, with a low and streamlined design will reduce low fuel consumption.

 Stena Futuro will also be equipped with technology to limit its environmental footprint. The vessel will have hybrid propulsion, batteries and engines with low fuel consumption that can run on several different fuels. The battery system makes it ready to partly operate the vessel on electricity alone, for example, when entering and leaving port. Solar panels will also contribute to the ship’s electricity needs.

The hull of Stena Futuro will also be equipped with an air lubrication system, where small air bubbles are released beneath the waterline to reduce friction between the vessel and the water. A waste heat recovery system will reuse hot exhaust gases from the ship’s engines to meet other onboard heating needs as well as supporting electric power generation.

Nicolas Bathfield, project manager at Stena Teknik, who has been involved in developing the concept, explains: “The mission is to develop the most efficient and competitive vessel possible for a specific cargo capacity, using today’s available technology. The goal is for the vessel to have the lowest fuel consumption on the market.”

The concept for Stena Futuro also includes four 40-meter-tall wing sails, which can be retracted when needed — for example, when passing under bridges. Stena’s developers, together with the Swedish research institute RISE, have conducted tests and simulations of the sails’ usage to document both energy savings and how the sails affect the ship’s manoeuvrability and safety.

Bathfield said: “The tests showed that Stena Futuro’s sails could potentially result in as much as 15% fuel savings. We also confirmed that the vessel meets all requirements for stability and manoeuvrability in scenarios such as sudden wind shifts or quick course changes.”

While the new design will play a vital part in Stena Lines future tonnage planning, there is currently no final plan for the production of Stena Futuro.

The line’s chief executive, Niclas Mårtensson added: “We aim to help lead our industry in achieving the global climate goals. We work toward this every day in our ongoing operations, but we also need to be at the forefront in developing tomorrow’s vessels. The Stena Futuro concept is an important step in that direction.”

 

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