Lion Ferry

 

 

This page is devoted to postcards of Lion Ferry Ab. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in chronological order.

 

 

Ships on This Page:-

Calmar Nyckel (1964-1965)

Europafärjan (1983-1994)

Europafärjan I (1985-1997)

Europafärjan II (1) (1970-1976)

Europafärjan II (2) (1985-1987)

Europafärjan III (1974-1983)

Europafärjan IV (1978-1981)

Europafergen (1965-1978)

Gustav Vasa (1) (1965-1971)

Gustav Vasa (2) (1973-1983)

Kronprins Carl Gustaf (1966-1975)

Lion Europe (1997)

Lion King (1) (1995-1996)

Lion King (2) (1996-1997)

Lion King II (1996)

Lion Prince (1987-1997)

Lion Princess (1987-1994)

Lion Queen (1988-1989,1994-1997)

Nils Dacke (1975-1982)

Prince of Fundy (1970-1978)

Prins Bertil (1) (1960-1964)

Prins Bertil (2) (1964-1966)

Prins Hamlet (1966-1969)

Prins Oberon (1970-1978)
Svealand (1973-1982)

Varberg (1964-1966)

Associated Pages:-

B&I Line

Corsica Ferries

Grenå-Hundested Line

Öresund

Prinz Ferries

Sessan Linjen

SJ (Statens Järnvägar)

Smyril Line

Stena Line

Strintzis Lines

Trave Line

TT-Line

Ferry Postcards

Simplon Postcards Home Page

 

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Table of Ship Histories

Name	Other names	Built
Gustav Vasa (1)	Wawel, Calypso, Cefalonian Sky, Europrinces, Lucinda, Aulona, etc	1965
Gustav Vasa (2)	Norröna (1),  Norröna I, Logos Hope	1973
Kronprins Carl Gustaf	Wilanow, Split 1700	1966
Lion Europe	Kronprinsessan Victoria, Stena Saga, Stena Europe, Stena Europe	1981
Lion Queen	Patricia, Stena Saga, Crown Princess Victoria, Pacific Star, Sun Fiesta	1966
Prins Bertil (2)	Leif Erikson, Ionian Star, Orient Star, Tian Kun	1964
Prins Oberon	Prinz Oberon, Nordic Prince, Cruise Muhibah, Munster, Ambassador II	1970
Nils Dacke	Quiberon	1975
Svealand	Saga Wind, Sea Wind	1972
Varberg	Marsk Stig, Sessan, Viking 2	1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion Ferry Fleet List

 

 

 

Prins Bertil (1) (1960-1964)

Calmar Nyckel (1964-1965)

 

2196grt - 88.36m long - 5760hp=17.5 knots 900 passengers/44 berths

 

Prins Bertil (1) was built in 1960 by Aarhus Flydedok, Århus for Lion Ferry AB of Halmstad, for a use on a Halmstad-Århus service. Prins Bertil (1) later served on other routes Halmstad-Århus-Kalundborg and Helsingör-Halmstad-Århus. In 1964 Prins Bertil (1) was chartered, then sold, to Rederi AB Nordö and renamed Calmar Nyckel for a route Helsinki-Visby-Kalmar-Rönne-Travemünde. In 1965 she operated on charter with TT-Line. In 1965, Calmar Nyckel was sold to Oy Siljavarustamo/Siljarederiet AB (Silja Line), renamed Holmia, and used on various services including Åbo-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Norrtälje and Nådendal-Stockholm. In 1967 Holmia had a brief charter with Sessan Linjen, followed later in the year with a charter to Kristiansands Dambskipsselskap. In 1971 Holmia was sold to Toscana SPA for use as Flaminia Nuova on services from Portoferraio (Elba) to Livorno and Gorgona/Capraia. In 1974, Flaminia Nuova passed to state-owned Toscana Regionale Marittima SPA (To-re-ma) running Livorno-Gorgona-Capraia-Portoferraio (Elba) as Capo Bianco. This continued until 1992, when Capo Bianco was sold to Saudi Arabian owners.

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcards of Prins Bertil (1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prins Bertil (2) (1964-1966)

 

3625grt - 110.20m long - 9680hp - 20.5 knots - 750 passengers - 240 berths (later 370) - 162 cars

 

Prins Bertil was built in 1964 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg for Lion Ferry Ab of Halmstad. Her sisterships were Gustav Vasa and Kronprins Carl Gustav, and B&I Line ferries Munster, Leinster and Innisfallen were developments of the design. Prins Bertil entered service between Århus-Halmstad-Copenhagen. In 1965 Prins Bertil was sold to Canada, for delivery on 1st January 1966, and was used as the Leif Erikson between North Sydney and Port aux Basques by Canadian National. In 1976, Leif Erikson was sold to Strintzis Lines and renamed Ionian Star. She operated between Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patras. In 1990, Ionian Star was sold by Strintzis, and sailed as Orient Star and Tian Kun before being broken up in 2001. A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Prins Bertil (2) at her launch.

Photo from Anders Bergenek collection.

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Prins Bertil (2).

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Prins Bertil (2).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Varberg (1964-1966)

 

Marsk Stig was built in 1940 for the Grenå-Hundested Line of Hundested. Following the occupation of Denmark by the Nazis, she served with the Deutsches Kriegsmarine until returned to her owners in 1945. Between 1966-68 she served as the Varberg for Europafärgens (Lion Ferry). From 1968-78 she was the Viking 2 of AB Sally, part of the Viking Line consortium.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Postcard of Varberg.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

Postcard of Varberg on charter to Sessan Line, with marketing name Sessan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafergen (1965-1978)

 

2209grt - 87.48m long - 3920hp - 15 knots - 711 passengers - 76 berths - 116 cars

 

Europafergen was built by Marinens Hovedverft, Horten, Norway for I/S Europafergen, Oslo. She entered service between Varberg-Grenå in 1960. In 1965, I/S Europafergen became part of Lion Ferry. Europafergen was laid up in 1976, returning to service in 1978 between Helsingborg-Grenå. She was sold in December that year to Saudi owners as the Saudi Golden Arrow, and was not scarpped until 2002.

 

 

Commercial postcard of Europafergen.

 

 

 

Official postcard of Europafergen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gustav Vasa (1) (1965-1971)

 

3801grt - 110.65m long - 8000hp - 19.5 knots - 1016 passengers - 240 berths - 130 cars

 

Gustav Vasa (1) was built in 1965 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg for Lion Ferry Ab of Halmstad. Her sisterships were Prins Bertil and Kronprins Carl Gustav, and B&I ferries Munster, Leinster and Innisfallen were developments of the design. Gustav Vasa (1) entered service on charter to SJ (Statens Järnvägar - Swedish State Railways) between Trelleborg-Travemünde, later Malmö-Trelleborg-Travemünde, and from 1968 Malmö-Travemünde. In 1971 Gustav Vasa (1) was sold to Polskie Linijskie Oceanica, but remained on the Malmö-Travemünde route. From 1972 this service was run by Rederi Ab Öresund. When the charter ended in 1973, Gustav Vasa (1) was renamed Wawel and put into service between Ystad - Swinoujscie. Ownership passed to Polska Zeluga Baltycka, operating as Polferries, in 1977. Wawel was sold in by Polferries in 1988, and subsequently served as Calypso, Cefalonian Sky, Europrinces, Lucinda, Calypso II, Aulona, and Eurofast on various eastern Mediterranean routes, inculding Brindisi-Albania from 2000.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Schöning postcard (Lübeck) (serial: Tra Luft Kl 1057-f) of Gustav Vasa (1) on charter to SJ.

 

 

 

Schöning postcard (Lübeck) (serial: Tra 650-f) of Gustav Vasa (1) on charter to SJ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kronprins Carl Gustaf (1966-1975)

 

4020grt - 110.20m long - 11400hp - 21.5 knots - 900 passengers - 284 berths - 154cars

 

Kronprins Carl Gustaf was built in 1966 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg for Lion Ferry Ab of Halmstad. Her sisterships were Prins Bertil and Gustav Vasa, and B&I Line ferries Munster, Leinster and Innisfallen were developments of the design. Kronprins Carl Gustaf entered service for Lion Ferry between Halmstad-Copenhagen-Travemünde. In 1967 she was transferred to the Trave Line service Helsingborg-Copenhagen-Travemünde. Kronprins Carl Gustaf was chartered to SJ (Statens Järnvägar - Swedish State Railways) in 1969 for their Malmö-Travemünde route. From 1972 this service was run by Rederi Ab Öresund. In 1975, Kronprins Carl Gustaf was sold to Polskie Linijskie Oceanica and renamed Wilanow, for service between Ystad-Swinoujscie. Ownership of Wilanow was transferred to Polska Zeluga Baltycka in 1977 for Swinoujscie-Rønne/ Ystad/ Copenhagen service, marketed as Polferries. In 1991 Wilanow was rebuilt in Gdansk with more berths. She was sold in 1997 to SEM Maritime, and renamed Split 1700 for eastern Mediterranean service.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Kronprins Carl Gustaf.

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Kronprins Carl Gustaf.

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Kronprins Carl Gustaf.

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Kronprins Carl Gustaf.

 

 

 

Schöning postcard (Lübeck) (serial: Tra 817-f) of Kronprins Carl Gustaf on charter to SJ.

 

 

 

Official postcard of Kronprins Carl Gustaf in Malmö-Travemünde service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prins Hamlet (1966-1969)

 

Prins Hamlet was built by Wärtsilä Chrichton Vulcan, Åbo, Finland, in 1966 for Lion Ferry Ab, Halmstad, Sweden. Her sisterships were Finnpartner, Finnhansa and Bohème. Prins Hamlet initially operated on the Prinz Ferries route from Bremerhaven to Harwich. During her first winter, she also ran some cruises from Copenhagen to the Canary Isles. In the winters of 1967 and 1968, Prins Hamlet ran cruises to Brazil. In 1969 Prins Hamlet was sold to Hafendampschiffart AG (HADAG), Hamburg, who took part ownership of Prinz Ferries. Her name was changed to the German spelling of Prinz Hamlet. Her route was tranferred to a new one from Hamburg to Harwich, and the Hamburg terminal was on the famous St. Pauli Landungsbrücken.

 

Prinz Hamlet was bought by CGT in 1970, but did not enter service until after services had transferred to Cie.Gen.Transmediterraneenne (CGTM), so never carried the red/black French Line colours. It was announced that she would be called Languedoc, but she appeared in service as the Rousillon. Rousillon operated on routes from Marseille to Tunisia and Corsica. She was sold to Greek owners as Kamiros in 1980, running for Dane Sea Lines betwen Piraeus and Rhodos. In 1997, Kamiros was sold to Ascot Seatrade Co, Valletta, Malta. Renamed Thessaloniki. She served on a route Brindisi-Igoumenitsa-Patras for 1997 only, followed by lay-up in Eleusis Bay. Although renamed Queen Calliope in 2000, she did not sail again until she left for Turkey and beaking up in 2002, under the temporary name of Opi.

 

There is a complete history of this ship on this link.

 

 

Official postcard of Prins Hamlet.

 

 

 

An official Lion Ferry postcard of Prins Hamlet.

 

 

 

A FotoFlite photograph of Prins Hamlet.

 

 

 

A commercial postcard of Prins Hamlet.

 

 

 

A FotoFlite photograph of Prins Hamlet at Harwich Navy Yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafärjan II (1) (1970-1976)

 

Europafaerjan II was built in 1964 as Travemünde (1) for Moltzau Line A/S, Gedser, Denmark, entering service between Gedser and Travemünde. The Gedser (1), delivered in 1963, was a near sister (Gedser was distinguishable by the open sided walkways each side aft). In 1968, Travemünde (1) was briefly chartered to Burns & Laird Lines. In 1969, she had a brief charter to Viking Line. In 1970 Travemünde (1) was chartered then sold to Lion Ferry Ab, becoming the Europafaerjan II on their Grenå-Varberg route. Between 1976-88 she was owned by Corsica Ferries as the Corsica Nova. She then served for various Mediterrainean owners including a spell for HML as Apollonia.

 

 

Aerial photograph of Europafärjan II.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prins Oberon (1970-1978)

 

Prins Oberon was built in 1970 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg for Lion Ferry. She entered service for Prinzen Linien between Bremerhaven-Harwich. In 1978 she was sold to German owners and the name was revised to Prinz Oberon. In 1981, the line was acquired by DFDS, and the Harwich-Bremerhaven rote was closed at the end of 1982. Following charters to SMZ and Sealink, Prins Oberon was laid up, returning for brief periods on DFDS services Esbjerg-Newcastle-Göteborg and a new Cuxhaven-Harwich-Göteborg route in 1984. Following further charters, she was sold for Malaysian services as Cruise Muhibah. From 1990-93 she was chartered to B&I Line as Munster (6) between Rosslare-Pembroke Dock. Various Mediterranean charters followed as Ambassador and Ambassador II. In 1997 she was rebuilt for short casino cruises from Florida, still named Ambassador II.

 

There is a complete history of this ship on this link.

 

 

 

F.W.Pawsey postcard FWP/H6 of Prins Oberon at Harwich.

 

 

 

Sapphire postcard EH2162 of Prins Oberon at Harwich.

 

 

 

Dennis postcard F.0663 of Prins Oberon passing Felixstowe.

 

 

 

Cramers "Cekade" postcard Breha016-71/10 of Prins Oberon.

 

 

 

Cramers "Cekade" postcard Breha017-74/15 of Prins Oberon.

 

 

 

Kruger postcard 715.51 of Prins Oberon at Bremerhaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince of Fundy (1970-1978)

 

Prince of Fundy was built in Bremerhaven in 1970 for Lion Ferry AB. She entered service between Portland (USA) and Yarmouth (Canada) in June 1970, and continued on this route until January 1976. Following a Norwegian charter, Prince of Fundy operated on the Lion Ferries Varberg-Grenå route from November 1976 until March 1978, when she was chartered to Brittany Ferries as the Prince of Brittany, followed by purchase in 1980. Her primary route was between Portsmouth and St Malo. Following upgrading work by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, she returned as the Reine Mathilde and began service on the Portsmouth-Caen route. In 1991, Reine Mathilde passed to the associated British Channel Island Ferries as the Beauport, entering service from Poole to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey until October 1993. Following this, Beauport operated vaious charters in the Mediterranean, including regular summer work from 1996-99 with Compagnie Marocaine de Navigation (COMANAV), between Sete and Morocco. During summer 2000 she was chartered to Sancak Lines for service between Brindisi and Cesme. From December 2000 Beauport has been chartered to the Goverment of Trinidad & Tobago, Port Of Spain, for a service from there to Scarborough (Tobago).

 

 

Mirro-Chrome postcard BR-711-C of Prince of Fundy on Portland, Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia route.

 

 

 

Eastern Illustrations postcard 71543-C of Prince of Fundy arriving at Portland, Maine from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

 

 

 

Verlag TRAGA postcard 285C/4 of Prince of Fundy (distance) and Prins Oberon at Bremerhaven (Columbuskaje)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gustav Vasa (2) (1973-1983)

 

Gustav Vasa (2) was built in Rendsburg in 1973 for Lion Ferry AB. She entered service with a charter to Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund between Malmö-Travemünde. In 1976 Trave Line and Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund combined to form Saga Line, and Gustav Vasa (2) continued to serve between Helsingborg/Malmö and Travemünde. In 1980 Saga Line joined with TT Line to form TT-Saga Line. Gustav Vasa (2) continued to serve between Malmö and Travemünde, but also served between Travemünde-Rönne and Trelleborg-Travemünde.

 

In April 1983, Gustav Vasa (2) was sold to Smyril Line (Faroes) as Norröna (1), for their summer network of services to Torshavn from Lerwick, Bergen, Hantsholm and Seydisfjördur. Norröna (1) was often chartered in the winter to cover other operators' overhaul schedules, serving Kiel-Korsör in 1983/84, TT-Line in 1984/85 etc. In 1988 Norröna (1) had charters with Larvik Line and GT-Link. Subsequent charters were with B&I Line, Sealink and Fjord Line. In 2000, Norröna (1) was rebuilt in Fredericia with stability sponsons aft. In 2003, Norröna (1) was renamed Norröna I, to release the name for her replacement Norröna (2), delivered that year. In January 2004, Norröna I covered for Norröna (2) between Hanstholm-Torshavn-Lerwick-Hanstholm. In March 2004, Norröna I was sold to Operation Mobilisation Logos Ltd, Valletta, Malta, who renamed her Logos Hope.

 

Logos Hope remained in Copenhagen until February 2005, when she was taken to Bijela-Shipyard, Montenegro for rebuilding, but was soon transferred to Valletta before work was carried out. In June 2005 Logos Hope was taken to Togir, Croatia, for rebuilding.

 

Complete history of Gustav Vasa (2)

 

 

Malmö-Travemünde Line (Öresund ) postcard of Gustav Vasa (2).

 

 

 

Malmö-Travemünde Line (Öresund ) postcard of Gustav Vasa (2).

 

 

 

 

 

Svealand (1973-1982)

 

Svealand was built in 1972 by Helsingörs Skipsværft Helsingör for the Trave Line service between Helsingborg-Travemünde. In 1976, the service passed to Saga Linjen. In 1981 Svealand transferred to TT-Saga Linjen for their Travemünde-Trelleborg route. Ownership at this time was Johnson Line. In 1983, ownership passed to Scandinavian Ferry Line, and she was renamed Saga Wind that year. In 1989 she moved to the Stockholm-Åbo route of SeaWind Line, and was renamed Sea Wind.

 

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.

 

 

Official Trave-Line (Scandinavian Ferry Lines) postcard of Svealand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafärjan III (1974-1983)

 

Europafärjan III was built in 1974 by Werft Nobiskrug, Rendsburg for Lion Ferry Ab of Halmstad. She entered service between Varberg-Grenå in September of that year. In 1982, ownership passed to Stena Line, but Europafärjan III was sold again in March 1983 to the Tourship Group, who own Corsica Ferries. She was renamed Corsica Serena II, and put into service between La Spezia-Bastia, later Livorno-Bastia. In 1999 the name was modified to Corsica Serena Seconda.

 

 

Lion Ferry postcard of Europafärjan III.

 

 

 

Lion Ferry brochure photograph of Europafärjan III.

 

 

 

Photo: © Linus Andersson.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

Photo: © Linus Andersson.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

Photo: © Linus Andersson.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nils Dacke (1975-1982)

 

7927 grt - 129m long - 1140 passengers -252 cars - 540 lanemetres - 22 knots

 

Nils Dacke was built for Lion Ferry in 1975 by Werft Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg. She was chartered to Rederi Ab Öresund for use between Malmö-Travemünde, retaining Lion Ferry crew. In 1976, the service became known as Saga Line, serving Helsingborg/Malmö-Travemünde. From 1980, the service was operated by TT Saga Line, between Malmö-Travemünde. In 1982, Nils Dacke was chartered to Brittany Ferries as the Quiberon between Plymouth-Santander Plymouth-Roscoff and Roscoff-Cork. Quiberon was purchased by Brittany Ferries two years later. She operated on various Brittany Ferries routes until 2002, when she finished her career between Portsmouth-Caen, whilst awaiting delivery of the delayed Mont St Michel. Quiberon was then sold to Linee Lauro, for use in the Mediterranean, initially Séte-Palma.

 

Additional postcards and photos are available on the complete history of this ship on this link.

 

 

Official Malmö-Travemünde postcard of Nils Dacke.

 

 

 

Photograph of Nils Dacke in Saga Line colours.

Photo: © Frank Heine.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafärjan IV (1978-1981)

 

Europafärjan IV was built as the Nils Holgersson (2) for Travemünde-Trelleborg Linie in 1967 by Lübecker Flender-Werke. Her sistership was Peter Pan (1). Nils Holgersson (2) served on the Travemünde-Trelleborg route until 1975 when she was transferred to the Travemünde-Helsingborg as the Oliver Twist. In 1978 she was chartered to Lion Ferry as the Europafärjan IV for service between Varberg-Grenå and Helsingborg-Grenå. In 1984 Europafärjan IV was renamed Europafärjan Syd. In the following year, she was sold to Polska Zeluga Baltycka (Polferries) as the Lancut, for the services Swinoujscie-Copenhagen, and Swinoujscie-Ystad. In 1994 she moved to the Eastern Mediterranean and passed through various owners as European Pride, Nettuno, Hermes and Hermes V.

 

 

Lion Ferry postcard of Europafärjan IV.

 

 

 

Lion Ferry brochure photograph of Europafärjan IV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafärjan (1983-1984)

Europafärjan II (2) (1985-1987)

Lion Princess (1987-1994)

 

Prinsessan Desirée was built in 1971 by Aalborg Værft, A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for Rederi Ab Göteborg-Frederikshavn Linjen (Sessan Linjen). Prinsessan Desirée entered service between Göteborg-Frederikshavn. In 1980 the Sessan Tor Line partnership started. In 1981, Sessan Linjen was acquired by Stena Line, but Prinsessan Desirée initially continued on the same route. Later in 1981, Prinsessan Desirée operated charters with B&I Line and Sealink. In 1982 she operated with Sally Line UK between Ramsgate-Dunkerque under the marketing name Viking 2. In 1983, Prinsessan Desirée operated on the old Lion ferry route of Varberg-Grenå Linjen (now part of Stena Line) as the Europafärjan. In 1985 she was registered under the ownership of Lion Ferry Ab (Stena Line) and renamed Europafärjan II. In 1987, she was renamed Lion Princess, and continued on service between Varberg-Grenå (plus Halmstad-Grenå from 1990) until sold in 1993 to Scandi Lines A/S, Sandefjord, Norway. She entered service with Scandi Lines in 1994 as the Bohus between Strömstad-Sandefjord. Ownership was transferred to Color Line in 1999.

 

 

Photograph of Europafärjan.

 

 

 

Photograph of Europafärjan II on the Varberg-Grenå route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europafärjan I (1985-1997)

Lion Prince (1987-1997)

 

Europafärjan I was built as Prinsessan Christina in 1969 by Aalborg Værft, A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for Rederi Ab Göteborg-Frederikshavn Linjen (Sessan Linjen). Prinsessan Christina entered service between Göteborg-Frederikshavn. In 1977 she was sold to Safe Ship Rederi Ab, Göteborg for delivery in 1981. She was renamed Safe Christina and chartered to Sally Line UK for Ramsgate-Dunkerque service during summer 1981. In 1982, Safe Christina was sold to Stena Line, and renamed back to Prinsessan Christina, returning to service on the Göteborg-Frederikshavn route. In 1983 she moved to a Moss-Frederikshavn-Göteborg circuit, and was renamed Stena Nordica. In 1985, Stena Nordica was transferred to the Lion Ferry (Stena Line) Helsingborg-Grenå route, and renamed Europafärjan I. She was renamed again in 1987, as Lion Prince, and she also operated Halmstad-Grenå and Varberg-Grenå until 1998, when the Lion Ferry routes were incorporated into parent company Stena Line, and she was renamed Stena Prince. Stena Prince was laid up for sale in 1999, passing to Freedom Ferries of Naples. She was renamed Commodore and operated on routes from Genoa to Sardinia and Corsica. Other routes were tried, including Portoferraio (Elba)-Piombino, until she was laid up in 2002.

 

 

Photograph of Europafärjan I on the Helsingborg-Grenå route.

Photo: © Preben Morgensen.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Lion Prince.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion Queen (1988-1989,1994-1997)

 

Patricia was built in 1966 for Swedish Lloyd. She was one of three sisterships, the others being Swedish Lloyd's Saga, and Svea Lines' Svea, both of which later served with Minoan Lines. Patricia was used on the Swedish Lloyd Southampton-Bilbao service until 1978, when she was sold to Stena Line. She served under the names Stena Saga, between Oslo-Frederikshavn, after briefly being named Stena Oceanica. In 1988 Stena Saga was transferred to Stena Line subsidiary Lion Ferry for use as Lion Queen between Halmstad-Grenå and Helsingborg-Grenå. In 1990 she was transferred again to Stena Line (Canada) as the Crown Princess Victoria. After passing through the names Crown Princess, Pacific Star and Sun Fiesta, she reverted to Lion Ferry management in 1994 as Lion Queen. She served between Halmstad-Grenå and Karlskrona-Gdynia, until replaced by the Lion Europe in 1997. Since then she has served in the Far East as the Amusement World.

 

A complete history of this ship, with additional Lion Ferry images, ia available on this link.

 

 

Official Lion Ferry postcard of Lion Queen.

 

 

 

Chantry Classics release CC/S238 of Lion Queen.

Photo: © Dieter Streich.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp1202, issued October 1995, of Lion Queen.

Photo: © Anders Bergenek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion King (1) (1995-1996)

Lion King II (1996)

 

Isle of Innisfree was built in 1986 by Nakskov Skipsværft A/S as the Niels Klim of Danske Statsbaner (DSB). Her sistership was Peder Paars. They operated on the Århus-Kalundborg route of DSB, but were not a success, and were sold to Stena Line in 1990, for delivery in 1991. Niels Klim was renamed Stena Nautica, and laid up in Svendborg. In 1992 she was briefly chartered to B&I Line, followed by a return to DSB on old route Århus-Kalundborg. In March 1993 she returned to B&I on longer term charter, and was renamed Isle of Innisfree for their services Rosslare-Pembroke Dock and Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead. In 1995 she was chartered to Stena subsidiary Lion Ferry as Lion King between Halmstad-Grenå. In 1996 she was renamed Lion King II, reverting to Stena Nautica when the charter ended. During summer 1997 Stena Nautica ran for Trasmediterranea between Algeciras-Tangier, before returning to Stena Line services Karlskrona-Gdynia, Halmstad-Grenå then Varberg-Grenå. In 2001 Stena Nautica was rebuilt with extra vehicle decks, passenger capacity reducing from 2000 to 833.

 

 

Company postcard of Lion King (1).

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp1201 of Lion King (1), issued August 1995.

Photo: © Klas Brogren, Halmstad.

 

 

 

Photograph of Lion King (1).

Photo: © Richard Ribic.

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp1217 of Lion King II, issued June 1996.

She was renamed Lion King II, on 1st May 1996 to release the name for Lion King (2).

Photo: © Klas Brogren, Halmstad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion King (2) (1996-1997)

 

Company postcard of Lion King (2).

 

 

 

Simplon Postcards release sp1217 of Lion King II, issued June 1996.

Photo: © Mike Louagie, 7th May 1996, on first day of Lion Ferry service.

 

 

 

Photograph of Lion King (2).

Photo: © Richard Ribic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion Europe (1997)

 

Lion Europe was built as the Kronprinsessan Victoria in 1981 for Rederi Ab Göteborg-Frederikshavn Linjen (Sessan Linjen) by Götaverken Arendal Ab, Göteborg. Kronprinsessan Victoria entered service between Göteborg-Frederikshavn in April 1981. Her sistership was Prinsessan Birgitta. Soon afterwards, Stena Line AB acquired a majority share ownership in Sessan Linjen. Kronprinsessan Victoria was rebuilt as a day/night ferry and transferred to the Göteborg-Kiel route. Additional Göteborg-Frederikshavn sailings were still made in summer.

 

In 1988, Kronprinsessan Victoria was renamed Stena Saga, and received a block of new cabins on the upper deck. She transferred to routes connecting Oslo-Frederikshavn-Göteborg. The block of additional cabines was removed in 1994 when Stena Saga transferred to the more exposed Harwich-Hook of Holland route as the Stena Europe, swapping routes and her name with the larger Stena Britannica (3) which had been uneconomic at Harwich. In 1997 Stena Europe transferred to the Karlskrona-Gdynia route as Lion Europe, when replaced by HSS Stena Discovery. She reverted back to the name Stena Europe the following year, when Stena dropped the Lion Ferry marketing name. In 2002 Stena Europe replaced the Koningin Beatrix on Fishguard-Rosslare services.

 

 

Photograph of Lion Europe.

Photo: © Rob De Visser.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

Photograph of Lion Europe.

Photo: © Rob De Visser.

Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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