#StenaSphere – Swedish shipping magnate Dan Sten Olsson of Stena Sphere group, remains quite broad and despite facing several challenges it certainly remains innovative, writes LloydsList.com in their Top 100.

The Stena Sphere, the name the company uses for the group of company's owned by Dan Sten Olsson's family, consists of businesses focused on ferries, (which celebrated a 50th anniversary in 2012) tankers, gas carriers and offshore platforms. It is also active in scrap metal and real estate.

In the tanker business, Concordia Maritime, the only part of the Stena companies that is listed, has had a bumpy ride. The recent announcement that it has formed a pool with Stena Bulk says a lot about the company's dependency on the latter business.

Stena Bulk has been forced to continue its adaption this year, strengthening its activities in bio oil shipping, as well as its activities linked with Angolan oil major Sonangol.

Stena Bulk has also joined the fast-growing World Ocean Council, a global alliance involved in corporate social responsibility, sustainability and the oceans.
The other challenges in the group are in Stena Line, the north European ferry operator that will have to deal with a switch to low sulphur fuel as of January 1, 2015.

For more on the Lloyds List editorial, which examines Stena's role on the issue of the EU Sulphur Directive's impact on its North Sea, English Channel and Baltic Sea ferry network operations, click HERE.