Stena RoRo takes delivery of RoPax vessel Saint-Malo with strong focus on sustainability

Stena RoRo last week took delivery of E-Flexer No. 11 – in a series of 15 vessels – from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The ship is the Saint-Malo and is long-term chartered to the French shipping company Brittany Ferries. In February next year, the ship will enter the Portsmouth - Saint-Malo route, where she will replace the Bretagne, which has sailed on the route since 1987. This is the fourth of five ordered E-Flexer vessels that will be part of Brittany Ferries' fleet.

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.

As with four of the five E-Flexer ships that Stena RoRo is delivering to Brittany Ferries, the vessel will be powered by multi-fuel engines as well as the market's largest battery-hybrid package of a whopping 12 MWh. 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 is a unique technical solution that produces significantly lower CO2 emissions.

The Saint-Malo is also equipped with a shore connection with an output of 8 MW for high-speed charging of the batteries, enabling a completely fossil-free stay when in port.  With the installed battery capacity, the vessel can run at speeds of up to 17.5 knots on batteries alone.

The ship's modern interior (designed by Figura Arkitekter AB) creates added value and with clear influences from the Brittany region. With over 380 passenger cabins in various categories, the Saint-Malo is the E-Flexer with the highest passenger cabin capacity.

The ship's engines can be powered by marine diesel (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 concept has been continuously developed in line with future environmental requirements and, through its technical design and degree of innovation, can fulfill and exceed both existing and future international requirements.

The E-Flexer series utilizes a basic concept with vessels larger than most existing RoPax ferries and is highly flexible. Each ship is tailored to customers' needs, both commercially and technically. An optimized design of the hull, propellers and rudders together with opportunities to incorporate new environmentally friendly technology contribute to the E-Flexer vessels being at the absolute forefront 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 eleventh E-Flexer vessel in the series,” says Per Westling, CEO Stena RoRo AB. “Within the framework of the E-Flexer concept, there has been continuous technical development, and we can offer our customers very flexible and future-proof 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 steps with regulatory developments, or in accordance with the operator's own policies.”

The Saint-Malo is being chartered to Brittany Ferries for 10 years with a purchase option after four years.

The total of five E-Flexer ships ordered by Brittany Ferries are renewing and modernizing the company's current fleet of cargo and passenger ships. The first ferry, the Galicia was delivered in 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 in early January 2025, delivery of the fifth and final vessel is scheduled.

■ Contact: Stena RoRo www.stenaroro.com