Lion Ferry
 | |
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Rebranded as Stena Line |
| Headquarters | Halmstad, Sweden |
Area served | Kattegat |
| Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
| Parent | 1959 - 1985: Bonnier Group[1] 1985 - 1998: Stena Line |
Lion Ferry was a Swedish ferry company which operated passenger and freight ferry services in Scandinavia and North America.
History
In 1960 The Prins Bertil enters service between Halmstad and Aarhus. Lion Ferry acquired Norwegian ferry operator Europafergen in 1965. It commenced the Portland - Yarmouth route operated by the Prince of Fundy in 1970 and closed in 1976. In 1973 it started a joint venture with Irish Shipping to form Irish Continental Line. Lion Ferry AB acquired by Stena Line in 1985. Lion Ferry commences Karlskrona - Gdynia route in 1995.
In 1997 Lion Ferry services were rebranded as Stena Line.
Routes
Lion Ferry operated various routes during its 39 years in operation.
- Halmstad - Aarhus
- Halmstad - Grenå
- Varberg - Grenå
- Karlskrona - Gdynia
- Portland - Yarmouth
- Bremerhaven - Harwich (Marketed as Prinzen Line)
Fleet
Lion Ferry operated many vessels during its time in operation.
| Name | Built | In service | Tonnage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Prins Bertil | 1960 | 1960 - 1964 | 2355 GRT | Chartered 1964 to Red AB Nordö as M/S Calmar Nyckel, sold 1965 to Red AB Nordö. |
| MS Prins Bertil | 1964 | 1964 - 1966 | 3,625 GRT | Sold to Canadian National in 1966, Renamed Leif Eirikson. |
| MS Varberg | 1940 | 1964 - 1966 | 1,217 GRT | |
| MS Europafergen | 1960 | 1965 - 1978 | 2,209 GRT | |
| MS Gustav Vasa | 1965 | 1965 - 1971 | 3,801 GRT | Broken up in 2004. |
| MS Kronprins Carl Gustaf | 1966 | 1966 - 1971 | 3,801 GRT | |
| MS Prins Hamlet | 1966 | 1966 - 1969 | 8,687 GRT | Broken up in 2002 |
| MS Europafärjan II | 1964 | 1970 - 1976 | 2,498 GRT | |
| MS Prins Oberon | 1970 | 1970 - 1978 | 7,993 GRT | Casino ship Ambassador II in Florida |
| MS Prince of Fundy | 1970 | 1970 - 1978 | 5,464 GRT | Broken up in 2005 |
| MS Gustav Vasa | 1973 | 1973 - 1983 | 7,457 GRT | Converted to book ship Logos Hope |
| MS Svealand | 1973 | 1973 - 1982 | 5,159 GRT | Currently operating in the Adriatic as the Seatrade |
| MS Europafärjan III | 1974 | 1974 - 1983 | 4,774 GRT | Currently operating for Corsica Ferries as the Corsica Serena Seconda |
| MS Europafärjan MS Europafärjan II MS Lion Princess |
1971 | 1983 - 1985 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1994 |
8,772 GRT | Currently operating for Color Line as Bohus |
| MS Lion Queen | 1967 | 1988 - 1989 1994 - 1997 |
14,193 GRT | Operates as a cruise ship in Singapore[2] |
| MS Europafärjan I MS Lion Prince |
1969 | 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1997 |
5,679 GRT | |
| MS Lion King MS Lion King II |
1986 | 1995 - 1996 1996 |
11,763 GRT | Still in service on the Varberg - Grenå route as the Stena Nautica |
| MS Lion King | 1979 | 1996 - 1997 | 10,604 GRT | |
| MS Lion Europe | 1981 | 1997 | 14,378 GRT | In service with Stena Line as Stena Europe |