Stena Line has announced that it will discontinue its ferry route between Halmstad in Sweden and Grenå in Denmark, with the last sailing of Stena Nautica scheduled for April 30. The decision comes after several years of struggling to achieve profitability on the line.
According to CEO Niclas Mårtensson, the company needs to focus its investments on routes with clear demand to support both business and leisure travel while ensuring the long-term stability of its network. “It is not an easy decision, but it is necessary to future-proof our business and maintain a strong network of ferry connections, which remain an important part of Sweden’s and Europe’s transport infrastructure,” he said.
The Halmstad – Grenå route has faced strong competition from Denmark’s fixed bridge connections, rising operational costs, and a challenging market environment influenced by uncertain international conditions and a weak economy. Despite attempts to reverse the trend, including moving the service from Varberg in 2020, the route has not achieved a sufficient customer base.
Christina Bromander, Trade Director for Stena Line’s Denmark routes, emphasised that the company will make every effort to support affected employees by offering alternative positions within the organisation. Customers affected by the closure will be provided with options, including the Frederikshavn – Gothenburg route.
Stena Line’s Swedish ferry network will continue to operate six routes with 12 vessels, serving connections such as Gothenburg – Kiel, Trelleborg – Rostock, Karlskrona – Gdynia, Nynäshamn – Ventspils, and the newly added Umeå – Vaasa service through Wasaline.
The closure marks the end of a short-lived route but reflects Stena Line’s broader strategy to focus on sustainable, high-demand ferry services across the region.
