Stena Line is to strengthen its position on the northern Baltic Sea by acquiring a ferry operator on the Gulf of Botnia linking Sweden and Finland.
However, it follows the recent closure of its only Ireland-France and mainland Europe route, as Afloat reported when Stena Vision completed its final Rosslare-Cherbourg sailing in late September. Stena previously had its first and only, albeit a 'freight,' link between these Nordic nations by a one-time Irish Sea ferry, but the service closed just over two years ago.
As for Stena's acquisition of NLC Ferry Ab/Wasaline, the Swedish ferry giant is to take over operations of the ferry route between Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland, in the Gulf of Botnia, divided into the Bothnian Bay, the (North) Kvarken, and the Bothnian Sea, the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea.
Commenting on the development Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line “It is with great joy and enthusiasm that we at Stena Line take on the responsibility for Wasaline and the route between two important regions and cities, Umeå and Vaasa.”
The only existing ferry connection between Umeå and Vaasa is jointly owned by the two cities through the 50/50-owned company Kvarken Link, which in turn owns NLC Ferry, which operates under the auxiliary name Wasaline. Under the agreement signed today, Stena Line will acquire NLC Ferry and take over the operation of Wasaline. The 24,037-ton ferry Aurora Botnia, which sails the route, will continue to be owned by Kvarken Link, the company jointly owned by the two cities.
“It is strategically important to ensure that the service between Vaasa and Umeå continues and has the possibility to grow in the future. We look forward to continuing to develop our work on environmental and operational efficiency together with Stena Line. Wasaline’s staff, both onshore and onboard, will continue to deliver the same great service as today. This will be a major boost for the region, bringing significant positive synergies,” says Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline.
Opportunities for Intermodality
As Afloat reported in August, Wasaline entered into a biogas agreement with Gasum and a Fuel EU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line, making the Umeå–Vaasa route the first international green shipping corridor.
With this next step, Stena Line further strengthens its position as one of the leaders in sustainability within the ferry industry.
“With Wasaline, we not only gain a vessel equipped with the latest environmental technology, which is capable of sailing CO₂-neutral on a regular basis, but we also enhance our access to alternative fuels. In addition, we gain a strong intermodal transport link toward Gothenburg and Trelleborg, and onwards to the European continent,” adds Niclas Mårtensson.
“Together with the City of Vaasa, we have strengthened the connections across the Kvarken and proven that the service is profitable. This has happened during a turbulent time when infrastructure, civil defense, and preparedness have become more relevant than ever. For us in Umeå, it is important to take steps that strengthen resilience and opportunities in our part of the world,” says Hans Lindberg, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board, Umeå Municipality.
“We are very proud of how brave we were, in both the City of Vaasa and Umeå Municipality, when we decided that the ferry connection across the Kvarken was essential. The project became a reality thanks to CEO Peter Ståhlberg and the entire Wasaline team. The growing number of passengers and freight volumes each year shows that it was the right decision. Now, it is time to bring in a larger operator with the knowledge, expertise, and resources that the cities themselves do not possess. We are very pleased to have found a shared vision with Stena Line,” says Frans Villanen, Chair of the City Council of Vaasa.
Next steps
The acquisition is subject to approval by the respective municipal councils of Umeå and Vaasa, expected to take place in November 2025. The transaction is also conditional on customary closing conditions such as authority approvals. The closing is expected to take place at the beginning of the year in 2026.
Stena Line is one of the largest European ferry operators, with 20 routes across the continent. In the Baltic Sea, it operates between Trelleborg–Rostock, Karlskrona–Gdynia, Ventspils–Travemünde, and Nynäshamn–Liepaja. With the addition of Umeå–Vaasa, Stena Line will have its fifth Baltic Sea route. In addition to operating several ports in the region.
