Stena, a major ferry operator in Europe, is seeking to enhance its foothold in Scandinavia by acquiring Norway’s Color Line.
It emphasizes the complementary aspects of operations for European ferries and freight transport, while stressing the potential for growth.
“This marks a significant milestone in Stena Line’s history, enhancing our capacity to serve as a dependable connection between locations, individuals, and communities,” stated Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line.
Stena is among the largest family-owned firms in Sweden, with Stena Line managing 40 vessels across 19 routes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Color Line is the largest ferry and cruise operator in Norway, operating five vessels between Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Included in its fleet are the sibling vessels Color Magic and Color Fantasy, which, weighing 75,000 gross tons and measuring 224 meters (735 feet), are regarded as the largest luxury ferries globally.
Each ship can hold 2,600 passengers and features 1,270 meters designated for trailers, capable of carrying 550 vehicles. It also includes two fast ships and the Color Hybrid.
Also Read: Germany Eyes Thousands of Missiles, Including Ukraine's Bars Drones
Stena has consented to acquire all of the shares of the privately owned firm for an undisclosed amount. It reports that Color earned over $718 million in 2025 and transported nearly 3.6 million passengers along with 150,000 freight units.
Also Read: Vietnam, Europe Deepen Ties to Promote Peace, Stability and Prosperity
After the acquisition is finalized, Stena plans for Color Line to remain an independent business and brand, managed locally in Norway with ships registered in Norway.
Concurrently, Stena will leverage its industrial knowledge, reach, and experience to enhance and advance Color Line – focusing on decarbonization, technology, digitalization, customer service, and logistics.
Also Read: Europe's Natural Gas Prices Hit Four-Year High as Winter Approaches
“Color Line is among the most esteemed and respected brands in our sector, and Stena aims to maintain these strengths while providing us a more solid base for the company’s ongoing growth and revitalization as part of Stena,” stated Color Line’s CEO Trond Kleivdal.