Stena RoRo takes delivery of battery-powered ro-pax vessel
Stena RoRo has taken delivery of E-Flexer No. 11 – in a series of 15 vessels – from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai).
Sustainable technologies on board
The vessel will be powered by multifuel engines as well as what the company says is the market’s largest battery hybrid package – 12MWh. With the help of these batteries, the ship will be able to operate in and out of port with batteries only, and even maneuver during docking and departure without the ship’s diesel engines being in operation.
This technical solution reportedly produces significantly lower CO2 emissions. The Saint-Malo is also equipped with a shore connection with an output of 8MW for high-speed charging of the batteries, enabling a completely fossil-free stay in port. With the installed battery capacity, the vessel can run at speeds of up to 17.5kts on batteries alone.
The ship’s engines can be powered by marine gas oil (MGO), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or biodiesel and biogas. In addition, the PTI/PTO system with the battery power function can be used for propulsion or maneuvering in port. The system is scalable, which means that in the future the Saint- Malo can operate entirely on batteries or on a combination of these different fuels.
The E-Flexer series uses a basic concept with vessels larger than most existing ro-pax ferries and is flexible. Each ship is tailored to customers’ needs, both commercially and technically. The design of the hull, propellers and rudders, together with opportunities to incorporate new environmentally friendly technology, optimizes the E-Flexer vessels in terms of sustainability, performance, and cost and energy efficiency.
“It is with great satisfaction and pride that we’ve now taken delivery of the 11th E-Flexer vessel in the series,” said Per Westling, CEO of Stena RoRo. “Within the framework of the E-Flexer concept, there has been continuous technical development, and we can offer our customers very flexible and futureproof propulsion systems that by a margin meet both present and future environmental requirements. The large battery hybrid system we installed on the Saint-Malo means that the ship can operate optimally, in step with regulatory developments or in accordance with the operator’s own policies.”
Brittany Ferries’ updated fleet
Stena RoRo has placed 15 orders for E-Flexer vessels with CMI Jinling, a shipyard in Weihai, as well as two New Max ro-ro vessels. Eleven vessels have now been delivered. The first ferry, the Galicia, was delivered in the autumn of 2020, the second in November 2021, the third in December 2023. In October 2024, the Saint-Malo, which is the fourth vessel, was delivered, and delivery of the fifth and final vessel is scheduled for early January 2025.
The Saint-Malo is now on its way to Europe and is expected to arrive at its home port by the end of the year and enter service on February 12, 2025. It is being chartered to Brittany Ferries for 10 years with a purchase option after four years. E-Flexer No. 11 has a length of 240m, a draft of 6.4m, a breadth of 27.8m and the capacity to carry 1,290 passengers and 3,320 cargo meters of freight. The vessel can reach a top speed of 24kts (17.5kts on batteries only). Its modern interior was designed by Figura Arkitekter to reflect the Brittany region. With over 380 passenger cabins in various categories, the Saint- Malo is the E-Flexer with the highest passenger cabin capacity.
In related news, Stena RoRo has ordered another two E-Flexer ro-pax vessels from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The vessels will be delivered in 2027 to the Greek shipping company Attica Group and will operate in the Adriatic Sea. Click here to read the full story.
