Through optimal design and new technology, a new Stena Line ro-ro concept, ‘Stena Futuro’, will be able reduce energy usage by 20% or more, the company claimed.
One of Stena Line’s central goals is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030.
This involves a range of activities across many areas, not least the de-carbonisation of the fleet, which being undertaken both by improving the efficiency of the existing fleet and by developing a new generation of vessels with optimised features and new technologies.
‘Stena Futuro’ is a 240 m long ro-ro vessel designed to carry semi-trailers and cars.
“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,” said Nicolas Bathfield, Project Manager at Stena Teknik, which was involved in the concept’s development.
The hull and superstructure have been optimised to achieve the most efficient use of cargo space. At the same time, low weight and optimised hydro- and aerodynamics are central to achieving low fuel consumption.
In addition to the vessel’s design, ’Stena Futuro’ will be equipped with technology to limit its environmental footprint. She will have hybrid propulsion – batteries and engines with low fuel consumption that can run on several different fuel types.
The battery system will enable the vessel to partly operate on electricity alone, for example, when entering and leaving port. Solar panels will also contribute to the ship’s electrical needs.
Her hull 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 also enable the reuse of hot exhaust gases from the ship’s engines to meet other on board heating needs, as well as supporting electric power generation.
The concept also includes four 40 m-tall wing sails, which can be retracted when needed — for example, when passing under a bridge.
Recently, Stena’s developers, together with the Swedish research institute RISE, conducted tests and simulations of the sails’ usage to document both energy savings and how the sails affect the ship’s manoeuvrability and safety.
“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,” Bathfield said.
The company added that this design will play a vital part for Stena Lines future tonnage planning. However, currently, there is no finalised plans for her construction.
“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,” added Niclas Mårtensson, Stena Line CEO.
