Stena Acquires Color Line, Joining Two of Europe’s Largest Ferry Companies

Stena, which is already one of the largest ferry operators in Europe, is moving to expand its presence in Scandinavia with the acquisition of Norway’s Color Line. It is highlighting the complementary nature of the operations for European ferries and freight transport while emphasizing the growth opportunities.

“This is a true milestone in Stena Line’s history, further strengthening our ability to be a reliable link between places, people, and communities,” said Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line. Stena is one of Sweden’s largest family-owned companies, with Stena Line operating 40 ships on 19 routes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Color Line is Norway’s largest cruise and ferry operator with five ships sailing between Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. Among its fleet are the sister ships Color Magic and Color Fantasy, which, at 75,000 gross tons and 224 meters (735 feet) in length, are considered to be the largest luxury ferries in the world. The ships can each accommodate 2,600 passengers and have 1,270 meters for trailers with a capacity for 550 cars. It also has two high-speed vessels and the Color Hybrid.

Stena has agreed to purchase 100 percent of the shares of the privately held company for a non-disclosed price. It says that Color generated revenues of more than $718 million in 2025 and carried nearly 3.6 million passengers with 150,000 freight units.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →