FerryRederiaktiebolaget Eckerö has announced the purchase of the RoPax ferry STENA NAUTICA from Stena Line, in a move that will strengthen its subsidiary Eckerö Link’s operations on the Långnäs–Nådendal route in the Åland archipelago and Finnish Archipelago Sea. The 1986-built vessel, which completed its final sailings on Stena Line’s Halmstad–Grenaa service at the end of April, will replace the smaller FJÄRDVÄGEN.
The acquisition supports Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö’s strategy of developing efficient and sustainable “floating bridges” across the Baltic Sea, with enhanced capacity for both passengers and freight.
STENA NAUTICA brings significantly greater capability to the route, offering around 900 passenger places, 1,265 lane metres of freight space, and a two-level drive-through configuration. At 135.6 metres long with a gross tonnage of 19,763, the vessel will allow improved timetables, better integration of passenger and cargo flows, and greater overall efficiency compared with her predecessor. Port infrastructure upgrades are planned at both Långnäs and Nådendal to accommodate the larger ferry.
The deal follows Stena Line’s withdrawal from the commercially challenging Halmstad–Grenaa crossing, enabling the veteran ferry to begin a new chapter in the Baltic. Eckerö executives noted that STENA NAUTICA is a better fit for the route’s demands and will support expanded freight opportunities.
“The acquisition of STENA NAUTICA is an important step in our long-term development of efficient and sustainable sea connections,” said Björn Blomqvist, Group CEO of Eckerökoncernen. Jonas Henriksson, Managing Director of Eckerö Link, emphasised that the ship aligns well with current traffic needs and opens new possibilities for goods flows and customer solutions.
