Color Line
 
This page is devoted to postcards of the Norwegian ferry company Color Line, which until 1991 was known as Jahre Line. Color Line took over the operations of Larvik Line in 1997, and Scandi Line in 1999. They also acquired a majority share percentage in Fjord Line in 2002, but subsequently sold them.
 
Color Line route map (2003):-
 
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.
 
 
Ferries on This Page:-
Bohus - 1999-
Christian IV - 1991-
Color Fantasy - 2004-
Color Festival - 1994-
Color Viking (1) - 1994-98
Color Viking (2) - 2000-
Color Traveller - 2004-
Jupiter - 1991-1999
Kronprins Harald - 1991-
Peter Wessel - 1997-
Princesse Ragnhild - 1991-
Sandefjord - 1999-2000
Skagen - 1991-
Venus - 1991-94
 
Fast Ferries on This Page:-
Seacat Danmark - 1996 (High Speed Ferry)
Seacat Norge - 1996 (High Speed Ferry)
Pegasus Two - 1997-8 (High Speed Ferry)
Silvia Ana L - 1997- (High Speed Ferry)
 
Associated Pages:-
Fjord Line
Fred Olsen
Hoverspeed
Jahre Line
Larvik Line
Lion Ferry
Olau Line
P&O Stena Line
Scandi Line
Silja Line
Thoresen Car Ferries
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
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Table of Ship Histories

Name

Other names

 Built
 Christian IV  Olau Britannia, Bayard

 1982
 Color Viking  Wellamo (3), Dana Gloria, Svea Corona (2), King of Scandinavia, Jupiter

 1975
 Jupiter  Bolero, Prince of Fundy II, Scandinavica, Crucero Express, Seminole Express, Magic I

 1973
 Princesse Ragnhild  -

 1981
 Sandefjord  Viking III, Terje Vigen, Scandinavia, Fenno Star, Sagafjord

 1965
 Venus  Prinsessan Birgitta, Stena Scandinavica, Tarik L, King of Scandinavia, Cesme

 1981
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Line Fleet List
 
 
Christian IV (1991- )
 
Olau Britannia (I) was built for the Olau Line Sheerness-Vlissingen service in 1982. In 1989 she was sold to Nordström & Thulin, along with sister Olau Hollandia (I), for delivery in spring 1990. She was resold to Fred Olsen, and entered service as Bayard between Kristiansand and Hirtshals. Fred Olsen passenger ferry services were sold to Color Line in December 1990, and she was renamed Christian IV.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard 91107 of Christian IV, printed by Jan Petter Hannaas, Agenturer.
 
 
 
Wadmanns Forlag postcard 9286 of Christian IV.
Photographed by Aage Pedersen at Hirtshals.
 
 
 
Wadmanns Forlag postcard 9287 of Christian IV.
Photographed by Aage Pedersen.
 
 
 
Aune Forlag (official Color Line) postcard F-15956-5 of Christian IV.
Photographed by Ole P.Rorvik.
 
 
 
Skjaerebo (official Color Line) postcard 920805 of Christian IV.
Photographed by Viggo Lynau.
 
 
 
Skjaerebo (official Color Line) postcard 910147 of Christian IV.
Photographed by Gary Rogers.
 
 
 
R.Stav Johannsen postcard of Silvia Ann L passing Christian IV.
 
 
 
An enlarged image of the ships from the card above
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jupiter (1991-99)
 
Jupiter was built in 1973 for a consortium including Lion Ferry, by Dubegion-Normandie, Nantes. She is a sister ship of P&O Southern Ferries' Eagle. She operated for Lion Ferry as Prince of Fundy II in the summers of 1973-76 between Portland, Maine, USA and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. During the winters she cruised for Commodore Cruise Lines, in which Lion Ferry also had interests. From 1976-78 she was chartered to Bergen Line on the route Bergen/Stavanger/Kristiansand-Newcastle. From 1978-78 She was chartered to Stena Line as Scandinavica. From 1981-91 operated as Bolero for Fred Olsen on North Sea services. In 1991 Bolero passed to Color Line as the Jupiter, operating between Kristiansand-Hirtshals and Oslo-Hirtshals until 1994. She has since served as the Crucero Express, Seminole Express and Magic I.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Jupiter.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Jupiter.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kronprins Harald (1991- )
 
Kronprins Harald was built in 1987 by Wärtsilä Marine Yard, Åbo, Finland, for Jahre Line. She entered service on their Oslo-Kiel route, and has remained on this service ever since. In 1990, her registered owners became Color Line A/S (Norway). In 1997, Kronprins Harald was chartered to attend the start of the Whitbread "Round The World" yachting race at Southampton.
    Kronprins Harald details:-
    Dimensions: 166.3 x 28.4 x 6.5 m
    Tonnage: 31122 Grt/ 17126 Nrt/ 5250 Dwt
    Machinery: 2 x 12-cyl, Sulzer-Wärtsilä 12 ZAV 40, and 2 x 6-cyl, Sulzer-Wärtsilä 6 ZAL 40, diesels
    Power: 19,800 kW.
    Speed: 22.0 knots
    Passengers: 1440
    Cars: 700
    Freight Lanemetres: 1220 m

 

 

Official Color Line postcard of Kronprins Harald.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Kronprins Harald.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Kronprins Harald and Color Festival.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Kronprins Harald.
 
Official Color Line postcard of Kronprins Harald.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Princesse Ragnhild (1991- )
 
Prinsesse Ragnhild was built in Kiel for the Oslo-Kiel service of Norwegian company Jahre Line. She was completed in 1981 at 15000grt in size, 896 berths. She later had additional cabins added to the top deck, increasing to 16000grt and 1006 berths. The company was relaunched as Color Line, with a new livery, in 1991. In 1992 she was radically rebuilt with a new centre section and extra decks, becoming 38500grt with 1876 berths, and was barely recognisable as the earlier ship.
 
On 7th July 1999 she suffered an engine room fire on passage Kiel-Oslo. All passengers were successfully evacuated, although one died later from a heart attack. The crew remained on board, and the fire was extinguished.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, with additional cabins. (UP 8026)
 
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, with additional cabins. (UP 8027)
 
 
 
An official Color Line painting of Prinsesse Ragnhild, showing proposed rebuild.
 
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, as rebuilt. (UP 8045)
 
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, as rebuilt. (UP 8047)
 
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, as rebuilt. (UP 8134)
 
 
 
An official Color Line card of Prinsesse Ragnhild, as rebuilt. (Skjaerebo Postcards)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Skagen (1991-)
 
Skagen was built by Aalborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark in 1975 for Fred Olsen Line as the Borgen, for use between Kristiansand-Hirtshals. In 1991 she passed to Color Line as the Skagen, remaining on the same route. Since 1997 she has also run on routes to Larvik, Frederikshavn and Moss. In 2004, Skagen was replaced with the Color Traveller and laid up.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Skagen.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Skagen.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Venus (1991-94 )
 
Venus was built Prinsessan Birgitta by Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Åbo, Finland, for a consortium of owners including Rederi Ab Göteborg-Frederikshavn Linjen (Sessan Linjen) who owned 43.5%. Prinsessan Birgitta entered service between Göteborg-Frederikshavn in 1974. In 1977, Rederi Ab Göteborg-Frederikshavn Linjen took full ownership. In 1980 the Sessan Tor Line partnership started. In 1981, Sessan Linjen was acquired by Stena Line. Prinsessan Birgitta was also used on routes Göteborg-Travemünde and Göteborg-Kiel. In 1982 Prinsessan Birgitta was renamed Stena Scandinavica. In 1987 Stena Scandinavica was chartered to Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation S.A. (Cotunav) service between Tunis-Genoa, for which she was renamed Scandinavica. In 1988, Scandinavica was chartered to Sealink British Ferries for service between Dover-Calais and Dover-Zeebrugge. In 1989, the Cotunav charter was repeated as the Tarik L. In 1990, Scandinavica was sold to Norway Line and given the name Venus for their Bergen-Stavanger-Newcastle route. Ownership later passed to Color Line. In 1994 she was sold to DFDS as part of an exchange deal with the King of Scandinavia (ex-Dana Gloria). Scandinavica was renamed King of Scandinavia and introduced on service from Newcastle to Hamburg or Esbjerg in 1995. In 1996, Ijmuiden replaced Esbjerg. Charters to Cotunav continued in the summers of 1997, 1998 and 2001. She was chartered to Bornholmstrafikken later in 2001. In 2002, King of Scandinavia was sold to Reca Marmara Lines, Istanbul, for a service Cesme-Brindisi-Ancona. A complete postcard history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Venus.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Venus.
 
 
 
Ramsey postcard of Venus.
 
 
 
Hilton Davis limited edition real photographic postcard of Venus.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Viking (1994-98)
 
Color Viking was originally built in 1975 for the Silja Line partner EFFOA, as the Wellamo. In 1981 she was sold to DFDS and renamed Dana Gloria for their Newcastle to Gothenburg and Esbjerg services. In 1983 she moved to the Copenhagen-Oslo service of DFDS. In 1984 she was chartered to Silja Line partner Johnson Line and named Svea Corona (previously carried by a sistership). In 1985 she reverted to the Copenhagen-Oslo service of DFDS, originally as Dana Gloria, but then renamed King of Scandinavia when lengthened in 1989. In 1994 she was sold to Color Line and renamed Color Viking, and she passed to Fjord Line in 1998 along with her route from Newcastle to Norway. She was renamed Jupiter, reviving the old Bergen Line name.
 
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Color Viking.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Color Viking.
 
 
 
Simplon Postcards release of Color Viking.
 
 
 
Chantry Classics release of Color Viking.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Festival (1994- )
 
Color Festival was built as Svea in 1985 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Helsinki, for Johnson Line of Stockholm. She entered service with Silja Line on the route Stockholm-Mariehamn-Åbo. In 1987 registered owners became Oy Svea Line. She was upgraded at Lloyds Werft, Bremerhaven, in 1992, and renamed Silja Karneval. In 1994 she was sold to Color Line, and renamed Color Festival, for use between Oslo-Hirtshals.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Color Festival.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Color Festival.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of Color Festival and Kronprins Harald.
 
 
 
 
 
 
SeaCat Danmark (1996)
 
Official Color Line postcard of SeaCat Danmark (front) and SeaCat Norge.
 
 
 
Official Color Line postcard of SeaCat Danmark.
 
 
 
Photo by Sören Lund Hviid.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
SeaCat Norge (1996)
 
Official Color Line postcard of SeaCat Danmark and SeaCat Norge (rear).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Peter Wessel (1997- )
 
Peter Wessel was built by Öresundsvarvet Ab, Landskrona, in 1981 for Rederi AB Gotland, but was chartered to Oy Vasa-Umeå Ab (Wasa Line) before delivery, as the Wasa Star. In 1983, Wasa Star was chartered to the Greek Karageorgis Line but was returned early following a dispute over payments. She was then sold to Larvik Line and renamed Peter Wessel. In 1997, the operation passed to Color Line.
 
 
Official Color Line postcard (Aune 166380) of Peter Wessel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Silvia Ana L (1997- )
 
R.Stav Johannsen postcard of Silvia Ann L passing Christian IV.
 
 
 
An enlarged image of the ships from the card above.
 
 
 
An official Color Line image of Silvia Ana L.
 
 
 
Photograph of Silvia Ana L by Micke Asklander.
Scan provided by Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pegasus Two (1997-8)
 
 
Photograph of Pegasus Two.
Photo: © John Hedegaard Jensen.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Photograph of Pegasus Two.
Photo: © John Hedegaard Jensen.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bohus (1999- )
 
Bohus (II) was originally built in 1971 for Sessan Linjen as the Prinsessen Desiree. Sessan Linjen were acquired by Stena Line in 1982, and Prinsessen Desiree was chartered out to various other companies. She was then redeployed to the Varberg (Sweden) to Grenaa (Norway) as Europafaerjan and Lion Princess, before sale to Scandi Line in 1993 as Bohus.
 
 
An official Color Scandi Lines postcard showing Bohus.
Note stability sponsons added aft.
 
 
 
A later official Color Lines postcard showing Bohus.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sandefjord (1999-2000)
 
Sandefjord had been built in 1965 as the Viking III for the Thoresen Car Ferries services from Southampton to Cherbourg and Le Havre. From 1975 she was chartered out to various operators until sold to Da-No Linjen in 1982 as Terje Vigen. Other operators followed, until sale to Scandi Line in 1992. She was replaced by the charter, and later purchase, of Color Viking in 2000. Sandefjord was sold to owners in Uruguay in October 2000, and registered with Buquebus in 2001. In February 2003 she was sold to Saga Line and renamed Sagafjord for a service Moss-Skagen. Although repainted in Saga Line colours, the service did not start in 2003. The service eventually started in May 2004, but closed at the end of the summer, with Sagafjord being laid up in Horten.
 
 
An official Color Scandi Line postcard showing Sandefjord.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Viking (2) (2000- )
 
Color Viking (2) was built as the Peder Paars in 1985 by Nakskov Skipsværft, Nakskov, Denmark for DSB. She served between Århus-Kalundborg. In 1990 Peder Paars was sold to Stena Line, remaining in DSB service until May 1991. She was then chartered to Stena Sealink line as the Stena Invicta, for use between Dover-Calais. On 1st January 1998, Dover-Calais services were transferred to P&O Stena Line, and Stena Invicta was soon taken out of service. During the summer of 1998, she was chartered to Silja Line for use as the Wasa Jubilee on the route Umeå-Vasa. In April 2000 she was chartered to Color Line and was renamed Color Viking for the service Strömstad-Sandefjord. She was purchased by Color Line in 2001.
 
 
An official Color Line postcard of Color Viking.
 
 
 
An official Color Line image - proposed, but not issued as a postcard.
 
 
 
An official Color Line image of Color Viking (2).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Traveller
(Color Line: 2003- )
 
Color Traveller was built as the Travemünde at Helsinki in 1981, for Gedser-Travemünde Ruten. In 1986 the company's name was changed to GT-Linien, and Travemünde was renamed Travemünde Link. The company name was changed again in 1987, to GT-Link. In 1988, Travemünde Link was purchased by Rederi AB Gotland, but remained in service with GT-Link. Later in 1988, she was chartered to Sally Ferries for service as the Sally Star between Ramsgate-Dunkirk. In 1997, she was transferred to Silja Line for use between Vaasa-Umeå, under the marketing name Wasa Express, although the name was not officially changed. She entered Destination Gotland service later the same year as Thjelvar. In November 2003, Thjelvar was chartered to Color Line. She entered service with Color Line as Color Traveller in March 2004 between Larvik and Hirtshals, replacing the Skagen. During the summer of 2004, she transferred to the Larvik-Frederikshavn route, returning to Larvik-Hirtshals in August.
 
 
Color Traveller at Larvik, 29/6/2004.
Photo: © Sigmund Krøvel-Velle.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
Color Traveller at Frederikshavn, 30/7/2004.
Photo: © Dirk Jankowsky.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Color Traveller at Frederikshavn, 30/7/2004.
Photo: © Dirk Jankowsky.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Color Fantasy (2004- )
 
On December 16, 2002, Color Line AS, and Norwegian owned Kværner Masa-Yards Inc. in Finland, signed an agreement regarding the construction of the world’s largest cruise ferry for Color Line’s Oslo-Kiel service. The contract was signed by Color Line’s owner, Olav Nils Sunde, and Kværner’s chairman, Kjell Inge Røkke. The contract is worth more than EUR 300 million, and is one of the largest single ships contracts in Norwegian shipping history. The new ship will replace Prinsesse Ragnhild on the Oslo-Kiel service in December 2004. The contract includes an option of a second ship built to the same standard.
 
The new ship, of 74600 GT, will be more than twice the size of Kronprins Harald. The ship will have a spa-centre, a water park, casino, cinema, show lounge, several discos and restaurants for different age groups and preferences, a separate conference section and an exhibition area. There will also be different activities for small children. In the duty free section the guests will find fashion stores and other specialty shops. Most of the attractions and stores are located close to the large internal “street”, which is 120m long, and almost 9m to the ceiling, extending through three decks. Again, in line with the best cruise traditions, according to Kleivdal.
 
The new cruise ferry will operate the Oslo-Kiel service together with Kronprins Harald. It has capacity for 2770 guests, almost twice as much as Kronprins Harald. The ship will have a large capacity for conferences, and shall also meet the need for transportation of cargo and cars between Norway and Germany. The car decks on board have room for a row of cars measuring 2.5 kilometres, consisting of passenger cars and trailers. The name of the new ship was announced as Color Fantasy. She entered service between Oslo-Kiel in December 2004.
    Proposed Details:-
    Dimensions: 223.90 x 35.00 x 6.80 m
    Tonnage: 74600 Grt/ 5000 Dwt
    Machinery: 4 x Wärtsilä 8L46 diesels
    Power: 31200 kW
    Speed: 22.0 knots
    Passengers: 2770
    Cars: 750
    Freight Lanemetres: 1270 m
 
Advance Color Line images of the new ship, unnamed at the time of issue.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at the builders in Åbo, 3/12/2004.
Photo: © Christian Eckardt.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Color Line postcard of the Color Fantasy.
 
 
 
Color Line postcard of the Color Fantasy.
Scan: Micke Asklander of Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Color Line postcard of the Color Fantasy.
Scan: Micke Asklander of Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Aker Finnyards builders postcard of the Color Fantasy.
Click on the image for a larger image of the details in a new window.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy, 5/12/2004.
Photo: © Folke Österman.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at Runsala 7/12/2004.
Photo: © Miran Hamidulla.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at Kiel 5/12/2004.
Photo: © Hans-Joachim Hellmann.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at Kiel.
Photo: © Cees de Bijl, June 2005.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at Kiel.
Photo: © Cees de Bijl, June 2005.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy at Kiel.
Photo: © Cees de Bijl, June 2005.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy passing Laboe.
Photo: © Cees de Bijl, June 2005.
 
 
 
Photograph of Color Fantasy passing Laboe.
Photo: © Cees de Bijl, June 2005.
 
 
 
 
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