Germany's KfW IPEX-Bank has granted Stena Line a $180m loan to finance two of its ferry newbuildings in China.

That will allow the Swedish ferry giant to complete a series of five new “E-Flexer" ropaxes under construction at Jinling Shipyard, before it turns its attention to a more ambitious project for battery-powered ships.

“For us, this is another step on the path to environmentally friendly and sustainable passenger and freight transport by sea,” said Andreas Ufer, a KfW IPEX management board member.