Stena Line, based in Gothenburg, has announced the acquisition of NLC Ferry Ab Oy, operator of the Wasaline brand, marking its entry into the ferry route between Vaasa in Finland and Umea in Sweden.
The agreement, signed on November 4th, transfers operational responsibility for the service to Stena Line, while ownership of the vessel Aurora Botnia remains with Kvarken Link — the company jointly owned by the municipalities of Vaasa and Umea.
Wasaline currently maintains the only direct maritime connection between the two cities, operating daily crossings across the Kvarken Strait. The new arrangement will see Stena Line take charge of route operations following approval by the municipal councils of both cities, anticipated in late 2025. The transaction remains subject to standard regulatory and authority approvals, with completion expected in early 2026.
Stena's management indicated that the acquisition aligns with the company’s strategy to strengthen its northern European network and expand sustainable transport links across the Baltic Sea. The Aurora Botnia will enhance Stena’s access to alternative fuels while reinforcing intermodal transport connections toward Gothenburg, Trelleborg, and continental Europe.
Upon completion, the Umea–Vaasa service will become Stena Line’s fifth Baltic Sea route, complementing its existing operations connecting Trelleborg–Rostock, Karlskrona–Gdynia, Ventspils–Travemünde, and Nynäshamn–Liepaja.
The addition further consolidates Stena Line’s position as one of the leading ferry operators in the region, serving both passenger and freight traffic through an expanding network of strategically located routes and ports.