Lion Ferry
 |
 | |
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Rebranded asStena Line |
| Headquarters | Halmstad,Sweden |
Area served | Kattegat |
| Services | Passenger transportation Freight transportation |
| Parent | 1959 - 1985:Bonnier Group[1] 1985 - 1998:Stena Line |
Lion Ferrywas aSwedishferry company which operated passenger and freight ferry services inScandinaviaand North America.
History
[edit]In 1960 ThePrins Bertilenters service between Halmstad and Aarhus. Lion Ferry acquiredNorwegianferry operator Europafergen in 1965. It commenced thePortland-Yarmouthroute operated by thePrince of Fundyin 1970 and closed in 1976. In 1973 it started a joint venture withIrish Shippingto formIrish 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
[edit]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
[edit]Lion Ferry operated many vessels during its time in operation.
| Name | Built | In service | Tonnage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSPrins Bertil | 1960 | 1960 - 1964 | 2355 GRT | Chartered 1964 to Red AB Nordö as M/S Calmar Nyckel, sold 1965 to Red AB Nordö. |
| MSPrins Bertil | 1964 | 1964 - 1966 | 3,625 GRT | Sold toCanadian Nationalin 1966, RenamedLeif Eirikson. |
| MSVarberg | 1940 | 1964 - 1966 | 1,217 GRT | |
| MSEuropafergen | 1960 | 1965 - 1978 | 2,209 GRT | |
| MSGustav Vasa | 1965 | 1965 - 1971 | 3,801 GRT | Broken up in 2004. |
| MSKronprins Carl Gustaf | 1966 | 1966 - 1971 | 3,801 GRT | |
| MSPrins Hamlet | 1966 | 1966 - 1969 | 8,687 GRT | Broken up in 2002 |
| MSEuropafärjan II | 1964 | 1970 - 1976 | 2,498 GRT | |
| MSPrins Oberon | 1970 | 1970 - 1978 | 7,993 GRT | Casino shipAmbassador IIinFlorida |
| MSPrince of Fundy | 1970 | 1970 - 1978 | 5,464 GRT | Broken up in 2005 |
| MSGustav Vasa | 1973 | 1973 - 1983 | 7,457 GRT | Converted to book shipLogos Hope |
| MSSvealand | 1973 | 1973 - 1982 | 5,159 GRT | Currently operating in theAdriaticas theSeatrade |
| MSEuropafärjan III | 1974 | 1974 - 1983 | 4,774 GRT | Currently operating forCorsica Ferriesas theCorsica Serena Seconda |
| MSEuropafärjan MSEuropafärjan II MSLion Princess |
1971 | 1983 - 1985 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1994 |
8,772 GRT | Currently operating forColor LineasBohus |
| MSLion Queen | 1967 | 1988 - 1989 1994 - 1997 |
14,193 GRT | Scrapped in Alang in 2021[2] |
| MSEuropafärjan I MSLion Prince |
1969 | 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1997 |
5,679 GRT | |
| MSLion King MSLion King II |
1986 | 1995 - 1996 1996 |
11,763 GRT | Still in service on the Varberg - Grenå route as theStena Nautica |
| MSLion King | 1979 | 1996 - 1997 | 10,604 GRT | |
| MSLion Europe | 1981 | 1997 | 14,378 GRT | In service withStena LineasStena Europe |