Lion Ferry was a Swedish ferry company which operated passenger and freight ferry services in Scandinavia and North America.

Lion Ferry Ab
Founded1959
Defunct1998
FateRebranded as Stena Line
HeadquartersHalmstad, Sweden
Area served
Kattegat
ServicesPassenger transportation
Freight transportation
Parent1959 - 1985: Bonnier Group[1]
1985 - 1998: Stena Line
Lion Prince, a ferry of Lion Ferry in Sweden

History

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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

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Lion Ferry operated various routes during its 39 years in operation.

Fleet

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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 Scrapped in Alang in 2021[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

References

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  1. ^ "Lion Ferry".
  2. ^ http://www.nctoursonline.com/cruise/cruises-amusementworld2.htm