Stena Plans to Acquire Color Line: What Does This Mean for Your Booking?
The Stena Group plans to acquire the Norwegian shipping company Color Line. Both companies announced the agreement on October 26, 2026. Stena Line is already part of the Stena Group.
The purchase has not yet been finalized. First, the relevant authorities must approve it. The signing has no effect on your existing ferry reservation.
Stena and Color Line: Who Is Planning the Acquisition
The buyer is Stena Rederi AB, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stena AB. It is set to acquire all shares of Color Group AS. Color Group includes Color Line and its subsidiaries.
The seller is ONS Invest II AS. This company is owned by Norwegian entrepreneur Olav Nils Sunde and his family. The parties involved have not disclosed the agreed-upon purchase price.
The planned acquisition thus involves the entire Color Group. Regulatory approvals are still pending for the deal to be finalized. Until then, Stena Line and Color Line will continue to operate separately.
What this means for your ferry booking
The agreement does not affect existing bookings or published schedules. This applies to both Color Line and Stena Line. Therefore, you do not need to rebook your trip solely because of the takeover plans.
Existing customer relationships will also remain unaffected by the signing of the contract. For the time being, you will continue to book directly with the respective provider. The agreed-upon booking terms and conditions apply to your trip.
Color Line to Remain as a Separate Brand
Stena Line plans to continue operating Color Line as an independent entity even after the acquisition. The well-known brand name is to remain. The plan also calls for local management in Norway and ships registered in Norway.
At the same time, Stena aims to further develop the shipping company. This includes technology, digital services, customer service, and logistics. Another priority is reducing emissions.
For you, Color Line will therefore continue to operate as a separate travel brand in the future. It is not yet clear what specific new services this will entail.
These routes and ships are operated by Color Line
Color Line currently operates five ships on four international ferry routes. The network connects Norway with Germany, Denmark, and Sweden.
| Ferry Service | Countries | Vessels in Service |
|---|---|---|
| Kiel–Oslo | Germany–Norway | Color Fantasy and Color Magic |
| Hirtshals–Kristiansand | Denmark–Norway | SuperSpeed 1 |
| Hirtshals–Larvik | Denmark–Norway | SuperSpeed 2 |
| Strömstad–Sandefjord | Sweden–Norway | Color Hybrid |
On the Kiel–Oslo route, Color Line combines the ferry trip with a wide range of recreational activities. You can take this route for your vacation in Norway or a mini-cruise. The Color Fantasy and Color Magic offer cabins, restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
The two SuperSpeed routes serve Norway via the Danish port of Hirtshals. On board, you’ll find restaurants, seating areas, and shopping options. Color Hybrid connects the west coast of Sweden with Sandefjord on the western side of the Oslofjord.
Two major routes from Kiel under one corporate umbrella
The acquisition would be of particular significance for Kiel as a ferry hub. In addition to Color Line’s Oslo route, Stena Line already operates the Kiel–Gothenburg route, served by the Stena Germanica and the Stena Scandinavica.
Following a successful merger, both shipping companies became part of the Stena Group. For your travel planning, there are still two separate routes: one to Norway and one to Sweden.
Transaction Expected to Close in 2027
Stena expects the transaction to close toward the end of the first quarter or in the second quarter of 2027. A definitive closing date has not yet been set.
The key factor at this stage is the pending regulatory approvals. Once those are in place, the parties involved can finalize the change of ownership. Until then, both shipping companies will continue to operate independently.
