Ferry operator Stena Line acquires Wasaline
The ferry operator Stena Line has acquired NLC Ferry Ab Oy/Wasaline, taking over the operations of the ferry route between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden, strengthening its position in the Baltic Sea.
Wasaline transports both passengers and cargo between Umeå, Sweden and Vaasa, Finland – the northernmost year-round international ferry route in the world. The journey takes 3.5-4 hours aboard the hybrid ferry Aurora Botnia, with the vessel tailored for cargo and passenger transportation across the Kvarken.
The company is focussed on environmentally friendly transportation for the manufacturing industry and, as of August 2025, is operating CO2 neutrally, with the Aurora Botnia powered by biogas and batteries – the first shipping company in the Baltic Sea to offer carbon-neutral transportation.
In July 2025, 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.
Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline, said:
“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.”
Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry companies with approximately 40 vessels and 20 routes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, operating 34,700 sailings each year. In the Baltic Sea, Stena Line currently operates ferry routes between Trelleborg–Rostock, Karlskrona–Gdynia, Ventspils–Travemünde, and Nynäshamn–Liepaja.
The company, with its 6,550 employees, also plays a vital role in the European logistics network and develops new intermodal freight solutions by combining transport by rail, road and sea, and operates several ports in the region.
The family-owned company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg.
Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, commented:
“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 Vaasa and Umeå 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 brand name Wasaline. Under the acquisition agreement, Stena Line will acquire NLC Ferry and take over the operation of Wasaline. Aurora Botnia will continue to be owned by Kvarken Link, the company jointly owned by the two cities.
Mårtensson continued:
“With Wasaline, we not only gain a vessel equipped with the latest environmental technology and capable of sailing CO₂-neutral on a regular basis, 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.”
Hans Lindberg, Chair of the Municipal Executive Board, Umeå Municipality, said:
“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.”
With the addition of Umeå–Vaasa, Stena Line will have its fifth Baltic Sea route.
Frans Villanen, Chair of the City Council of Vaasa, concluded:
“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 reality thanks to Managing Director Peter Ståhlberg and the entire Wasaline team.
“The growing number of passengers and freight volumes each year show 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.”
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 to customary closing conditions such as authority approvals. The closing is expected to take place in the beginning of 2026.