An agreement for the delivery of two Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on an all-new methanol hybrid newbuild RoRo vessel. 

Norsepower, the global leader in wind propulsion systems, and Swedish shipowner Stena Line have signed an agreement for the delivery of two Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on an all-new methanol hybrid newbuild RoRo vessel. The Gothenburg-headquartered shipowner aims to cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.

Ship Building

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, where wind conditions are very favourable for wind assisted propulsion.

Two leaders player in the maritime industry

This collaboration highlights the convergence of two industry leaders, both committed to innovation and sustainability. As a forward-thinking player in the maritime industry, Stena  is renowned for its rigorous specifications and high standards. Stena Line’s strategic ambition to transition to renewable fuels, including securing future e-methanol volumes, aligns seamlessly with Norsepower’s mission to drive decarbonisation through wind propulsion technology.

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Sustainable shipping innovation

“We are honoured to work with Stena Line, a company that has consistently led the way in sustainable shipping innovation,” said Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower. “This partnership underscores the reliability and quality of Norsepower’s products, as well as its alignment with Stena Line’s forward-thinking goals to cut CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.”

Our new ship, Stena Connecta

Dennis Tetzlaff Chief Operating Officer Fleet, at Stena Line said, “Stena Line recently launched our new ship, Stena Connecta, into the water and it will now be fitted out with two rotor sails. These sails will harness wind power to provide auxiliary propulsion to the vessel, therefore reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Innovations such as this are key to futureproofing our vessels and to reaching our emissions targets.”

Related : Stena Line : First of the two all-new NewMax hybrid vessels

The RoRo vessel represents a step forward in sustainable shipping, built to operate on methanol and is part of a broader initiative to integrate sustainable technologies. The sister vessel in the same series is being delivered “rotor sail ready,” further demonstrating Stena Line’s commitment to wind propulsion.

 The NPRS 

To minimise environmental impact during the project’s execution phase, the NPRS will be manufactured at Norsepower’s new production facility in Yancheng, China, and delivered directly to the shipyard. This approach reduces costs and emissions while exemplifying both companies’ dedication to sustainable operations.

About Stena Line

Stena Line has a long history of embracing innovation, becoming the first ferry operator to run a vessel on methanol with the conversion of Stena Germanica in 2015. The addition of Norsepower Rotor Sails further solidifies its position as an industry leader in decarbonisation.

At Stena Line, our well-adapted, balanced, and flexible fleet on 19 ferry routes between our network across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean is one of the largest in the business and consists of RoPax and RoRo ferries. 

About Norsepower

Norsepower was founded in 2012 with a mission to bring sails back to shipping. It has created and taken over the wind propulsion market – and remains its global market and thought leader. Norsepower is now in a unique position to utilize the booming market driven by multiple megatrends, such as volatile fuel prices, climate change induced tightening regulations, and the demand for ESG actions by shipowners, charterers, investors, organizations and the public. 

Sources : Press - Release + Other sources