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Öresundsbolaget
Scandinavian Ferry lines (SFL)
SweFerry - Scandlines
 
Page 1 - Conventional Ferries
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards of Öresundsbolaget, concentrating on ships built after 1900, when the company was formed. 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. This page shows the conventional Öresundsbolaget ferries. Page 2 shows the fast ferries - hydrofoils, catamarans etc.
 
 
In 1900 the contract for postal services from Copenhagen to Malmö and Helsingborg passed from DFDS to a Danish/Swedish consortium generally known as Öresundsbolaget, in practice made up from A/S Dampskibsselskabet Øresund of Denmark, and Svenska Rederiakstiebolaget Öresund of Sweden. Nine ships were taken over by the new company, namely the Öresund (1871), Gefion (1874), Gylfe (1874), Gjedser (1887), Lund (1861), Malmö (1870), Hveen (1882), Saltsholm (1882) and Helsingborg (1884). Only the ship names with links are shown on this page.
 
From 1905, new steamships Öresund (1905), Hälsingborg (1912), Malmö (1914) and Sverige (1929) were delivered. After the war, the modern motorships Absalon (1955), Gripen (1956), Öresund (1960), and Örnen (1962) replaced the pre-war steamships on the Copenhagen-Malmö route, plus new ferries were built for a Limhamn-Dragør service. Eventually, all the conventional ships were replaced by fast ferries - initially with hydrofoils and later with catamarans. Ownership of the Swedish ships passed to Scandinavian Ferry lines (SFL), SweFerry and Scandlines in later years, whilst Danish ships passed to the Danish part of Scandlines. A car carrying fast catamaran service also operated between Limhamn-Dragør. All services were rendered obsolete once the Öresund bridge was opened in 1999.
 
Öresundsbolaget, as part of Swedish Railways (SJ), also became involved with longer distance routes such as Malmö-Trävemünde, but these larger ships are not shown on this page, which only covers local Sweden-Denmark services out of Copenhagen and Dragør.
 
 
Ships on This Page:-
Absalon (1955-1976)
Dragør (1960-1969)
Drogden (1963-1977)
Gefion (1900-1933)
Gripen (1956-1976)
Gylfe (1900-1923)
Habicht II (1978)
Hälsingborg (1912-1946)
Hamlet (1968-1996)
Helsingborg (1946-1956)
Limhamn (1960-1969)
Malmö (1914-1961)
Ofelia (1968-1996)
Öresund (1) (1905-1957)
Öresund (2) (1960-1980)
Örnen (1) (1950-1959)
Ørnen (2) (1962-1980)
Saltholm (1967-1980)
Sankt Ibb (1935-1962)
Scania (1972-1999)
 
Fast Ferries on Page 2:-
Felix (1996-2001)
Flyvefisken (1965-1984)
Löberen (1972-1985)
Løberen (1990-2001)
Lommen (1984)
Lommen (1985-??)
Ørnen (3) (1996-2001)
Prince Of The Waves (1974-1975)
Princess Of The Waves (1974-1975)
Queen Of The Waves (1974-1975)
Sælen (1993-2002)
Sjöbjörnen (1996- )
Søbjørnen (1994-1996)
Springeren (1) (1967-1985)
Springaren (2) (1991-2001)
Svalan (1) (1965-1983)
Svalan (2) (1995- )
Sverige (1929-1960)
Tärnan (1966-1983)
Tranen (1977-??)
Tumleren (1979-??)
Tunen (1977-??)
Viggen (1973-1987)
Westfoil (1965-1967)

Associated Pages:-
Öresundsbolaget Page 2 - Fast Ferries
Linjebuss
Scandinavian Ferry Lines
Skandinavisk Linietrafik
Trave Line
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
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Table of Ship Histories

Name

Other names

 Built
 Hamlet  

 1968
 Ofelia  

 1968
 Öresund  Lindblad Polaris, Polaris

 1960
 Ørnen  Saronic Sun, Mistral, Mistral II, Le Mistral, Rendezvous

 1962
 Scania  

 1972
 
 
 
 
 
Öresundsbolaget Fleet List
 
 
Gylfe (1900-23)
Gefion (1900-33)
 
The two paddlesteamers Gylfe and Gefion were built in 1974 by Burmeister & Wain of Copenhagen for DFDS. Both were originally 274grt, but were rebuilt later to 387grt and 359grt respectively. They both passed to Öresundsbolaget in 1900, and continued to operate services from Copenhagen to Helsingborg and Malmö until sold in 1923 and 1933.
 
 
Oscar E.Kulls postcard of Gylfe, posted in 1902.
 
 
Modern E.Danielson postcard number 1837 showing a 1905 advertising poster.
The ships are Gylfe (foreground) and Gefion (background).
 
 
 
 
 
Öresund
(1905-1957)
 
Öresund was built in 1905 by Kockums Varv, Malmö, for Svenska Rederi AB Öresund, Malmö. She served on the Copenhagen-Malmö and Helsingborg-Mölle routes until WW2, and just the former route after the war. Öresund was sold for breaking up in 1957.
 
 
Postcard of Öresund.
 
 
Postcard of Öresund.
 
 
Postcard of Öresund.
 
 
Postcard of Öresund.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Öresund.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hälsingborg (Svenska Rederi AB Öresund: 1912-1946)
Helsingborg (Dampskibsselskabet Øresund: 1946-1956)
 
Hälsingborg was built in 1912 in Copenhagen, for Svenska Rederi AB Öresund, Malmö. She served on the Copenhagen-Mölle and Helsingborg-Mölle routes until WW2, and just the former route after the war after being sold to partners Dampskibsselskabet Øresund in 1946 and renamed Helsingborg. Helsingborg was sold for breaking up in 1956.
 
 
Official Dampskibsselskabet Øresund postcard of Helsingborg.
 
 
 
 
 
Malmö
(1914-1961)
 
Malmö was built in 1914 by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen, for Dampskibsselskabet Øresund. She served on the Copenhagen-Malmö and Copenhagen-Helsingborg routes. In 1947 she was sold to partners Svenska Rederi AB Öresund, Malmö. Malmö was sold for breaking up in 1961.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Malmö.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Malmö.
 
 
A modern greetings card of Malmö (artist "SMK").
 
 
 
 
 
Sverige
(1929-1960)
 
Sverige was built in 1929 by Helsingørs Jernskibs og Maskinbyggeri A/S, Helsingør, for Dampskibsselskabet Øresund. She served on the Copenhagen-Malmö and
Copenhagen-Helsingborg routes.
 

Official Dampskibsselskabet Øresund postcard of Sverige.
 
 
 
 
 
Sankt Ibb
(1935-1962)
 
Sankt Ibb was built in 1935 by Frederikshavns Vaerft & Flydedok, Frederikshavn, Denmark, for A/S Dampskibsselskabet Öresund. She operated on the Copenhagen-Helsingborg-Mölle route until WW2. After the war, she returned to service between Copenhagen-Malmö and Copenhagen-Mölle, until sold to Oy Bore-Ångfartygs Ab Bore, Åbo, Finland in 1962, and renamed Bore I.
 


Official Dampskibsselskabet Øresund postcard of Sankt Ibb.
 
 
Official Ångfartygs Bore Ab/Höyrylaiva Oy Bore photograph of Bore I.
 
 
 
 
 
Örnen
(1950-1959)
 
Built in 1909 by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen for A/S Dampskibsselskabet Bornholm af 1866, Rønne, Bornholm as Ørnen. Sold in 1929 to Rederi AB Svea and renamed Örnen, for their Stockholm-Oskarshamn-Borgholm-Kalmar and Stockholm-Sundsvall-Härnösand-Örnsköldsvik services. In 1950 sold to Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö for the Malmö-Mölle service. Sold again in 1959 to Oy Vaasa-Umeå AB. She left the Baltic for service in Italy in 1966, and was broken up in 1972.
 
Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
Absalon
(1955-1976)
 
Absalon was built 1955 by Aalborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for Dampskibsselskabet Øresund. She served between Copenhagen-Malmö until 1975, when she was sold for further service in Greece with Constantinos G. Ventouris. She was rbriefly renamed Mastrogiorgios, but entered service between Heraklion-Thira the following year as the Agois Georgios. In 1985 she began to serve Igoumenitsa-Bari. Agois Georgios was sold to Kimolos Navigation in 1988, but sank the following year.
 
 
Official Dampskibsselskabet Øresund art postcard of Absalon.
Painting by Helge Rasmussen.
 
 
AB Grafisk Konst postcard 5/10 of Gripen and Absalon (left) in Malmö.
 
 
Pressbyrån postcard of Absalon.
 
 
Grako postcard 5/83 of Absalon entering Malmö.
Photo: Anders Redin.
 
 
Postcard of Agios Georgios.
 
 
 
 
 
Gripen
(1956-1976)
 
Gripen built in 1956 by Aalborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for Svenska Rederi AB Öresund. She served between Copenhagen-Malmö until 1976, when she was sold for further service in with Peter Deilmann. In 1984 she was sold to Rederi Ab Gripen, Malmö as the Gripen av Malmö, returning to her original Copenhagen-Malmö route. In 1987 she was sold to Tropical Cruises SA, Panama.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Gripen.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Gripen.
Published by Carl Stenders, serial number 43 920/2. Photo: Ulf Cronberg.
 
 
A.Duncan photographic of Gripen.
 
 
Grako postcard 5/61 of Gripen entering Malmö (plus enlarged image of ships).
Photo: Giovanni Trimoti.
 
 
AB Grafisk Konst postcard 5/10 of Gripen and Absalon (left) in Malmö.
 
 
An official Deilmann postcard as Nordschau.
Scan supplied by Michael Kenyon.
 
 
 
 
 
Limhamn
(1960-1969)
 
Limhamn was built in 1960 by A/S Bergen Mekaniske Verksted, Bergen, Norway for Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö. She was used on the Limhamn-Dragør route until 1969 when she was sold to Yugoslavia and renamed Slaven. In 1992 she was renamed Zazizan. She was scrapped in 2005.
 
 
Postcard of Swedish ferry Limhamn (later Slaven and Zavizan)
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Postcard of Swedish ferry Limhamn (later Slaven and Zavizan)
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Jadrolinija ferry Slaven
Photo: © Rickard Sahlsten - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
 
 
Jadrolinija ferry Zavizan
Scan: Ivo Batricevic
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Jadrolinija ferry Zavizan
Photo: © Jan Vinter Christensen - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
Jadrolinija ferry Zavizan
Photo: © Jan Vinter Christensen - Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
Click to open larger image in new window
 
 
 
 
 
Dragør
(1960-1969)
 
Dragør was built in 1960 by A/S Bergen Mekaniske Verksted, Bergen, Norway for Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö. She was used on the Limhamn-Dragør route until 1969 when she was sold to Yugoslavia and renamed Loda. In 1992 she was renamed Slaven.
 
 
Postcard of Dragør.
 
 
 
 
 
Öresund
(1960-1980)
 
Öresund was built in 1960 by Ålborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for Rederi AB Svenska Öresund, Malmö. She served on the route Malmö-Copenhagen until 1980, when she was sold to Ångfartygs Ab Saltsjön-Mälaren, Stockholm and renamed Lindblad Polaris. After a lengthy conversion into a cruise ship, Lindblad Polaris, entered service on "expedition cruises" in 1982. In 1986 she was sold to Dry Cargo Shipping Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas, and renamed Polaris, remaining in service as a specialist cruise ship.
 
Additional postcards of this ship are available on this link.
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Öresund.
 
 
A.Duncan photographic of Öresund.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Öresund.
Published by Carl Stenders, Copenhagen, serial number 43 920/1.
 
 
Official Svenska Rederi AB Öresund postcard of Öresund.
Published by E.Danielson, serial number 1873.
 
 
Ultra postcard number Sk509 of Öresund at Malmö.
Photo: T.Lindeberg
 
 
Ultra postcard, serial number Sk 511, of Öresund at Malmö
(plus enlarged image of ships) Photo: T.Lindeberg
 
 
Harry Lange postcard, serial number R356, of Öresund and Ørnen at Malmö
(plus enlarged image of ships)
 
 
Ultra postcard, serial number Sk 511, of Öresund and hydrofoil Queen of the Waves at Malmö (plus enlarged image of ships) - Photo: Dourden & Halberg.
 
 
 
 
 
Ørnen
(1962-1980)
 
Ørnen was built in 1962 by Ålborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark, for A/S Dampskibsselskabet Øresund. She served on the route Malmö-Copenhagen until 1980, when she was sold to Greek owners and renamed Saronic Sun. She subsequently served for various owners as Mistral, Mistral II, Le Mistral and Rendezvous, until broken up in Texas in 1998.
 
Additional photographs of Ørnen are available on this link.
 
 
An official A/S Dampskibsselskabet Øresund postcard of Ørnen (serial 5.78.9000).
Photo: Bent Winkel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drogden
(1963-1977)
 
Drogden was built 1963 by Aalborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark for Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund. She served on the Limhamn-Dragør route until 1977 when she went to Greece as the Saos on a route Alexandroupolis-Samothraki-Kavala.
 
Saos in service on Greek route Alexandroupolis-Samothraki-Kavala.
A.Duncan photographic postcard.
 
 
 
 
 
Saltholm
(1967-1980)
 
Saltholm was built 1967 by Aalborgs Vaerft A/S, Ålborg, Denmark for Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund. She served on the Limhamn-Dragør route until 1979 when she went to Malta as the Mgarr on the Gozo Channel route.
 
A.Duncan photographic postcard of Saltholm.
 
 
Photo of Saltholm at Dragør in August 1979 by Ian Boyle.
 
 
Photo of Saltholm at Dragør in August 1979 by Ian Boyle.
 
 
 
 
 
Hamlet
(1968-1996)
 
Hamlet was ordered, with sistership Ofelia, from Fr.Lürssen Werft, Bremen for a proposed Helsingborg-Helsingör service by HH-Linjen. She was sold to Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö, before delivery in 1968. Hamlet entered service between Malmö-Copenhagen in 1969, transferring to Limhamn-Dragør after a few months. Ownership was transferred to Ab Sundfart in 1977, and again to SFL (Scandinavian Ferry Lines) in 1981. There was a further transfer to SweFerry Ab in 1991. Hamlet remained on the Limhamn-Dragør service throughout this time, being withdrawn late in 1996. She was sold the following year for further service in the Mediterranean.
 
Additional photographs of this ferry are available on this link.
 
 
Official Öresundsbolaget postcard of Hamlet.
 
 
Official Öresundsbolaget postcard of Hamlet and Scania.
 
 
Hamlet in Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund colours.
Photo by Ian Boyle on Limhamn-Dragør route in August 1979.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Hamlet.
Note the higher mounting of the lifeboats over extended accommodation.
 
 
Official SweFerry photograph of Hamlet.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Hamlet, Ofelia and Scania.
 
 
 
 
 
Ofelia
(1968-1996)
 
Ofelia was ordered, with sistership Hamlet, from Fr.Lürssen Werft, Bremen for a proposed Helsingborg-Helsingör service by HH-Linjen. She was sold to Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö, before delivery in 1968. Ofelia entered service between Malmö-Copenhagen in 1969, transferring to Limhamn-Dragør after a few months. Ownership was transferred to Ab Sundfart in 1977, and again to SFL (Scandinavian Ferry Lines) in 1981. There was a further transfer to SweFerry Ab in 1991. Ofelia remained on the Limhamn-Dragør service throughout this time, being withdrawn late in 1996. She was sold the following year to Estonian owners Saaremaa for their service between Kuivastu-Saaremaar.
 
Additional photographs of this ferry are available on this link.
 
 
Ofelia in Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund colours.
Photo by Ian Boyle on Limhamn-Dragør route in August 1979.
 
 
Ofelia in Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund colours.
Photo by Ian Boyle at Dragør in August 1979.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Ofelia.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Hamlet, Ofelia and Scania.
 
 
Commercial postcard of Ofelia.
 
 
 
 
 
Scania
(1972-1999)
 
Scania was built in 1972 by Aalborg Værft A/S, Aalborg, Denmark, for the Limhamn-Dragør service of Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund, Malmö. Ownership was transferred to Ab Sundfart in 1977, and again to SFL (Scandinavian Ferry Lines) in 1981. There was a further transfer to SweFerry Ab in 1991. Scania remained on the Limhamn-Dragør service throughout this time, being withdrawn late in 1999. She was sold the same year to Estonian owners Saaremaa joining fellow Limhamn-Dragør ferry Ofelia.
 
Additional photographs of this ferry are available on this link.
 
 
Official Öresundsbolaget postcard of Scania and Hamlet.
 
 
Scania in Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund colours.
Photo by Ian Boyle at Dragør in August 1979.
 
 
Scania in Svenska Rederi Ab Öresund colours.
Photo by Ian Boyle at Dragør in August 1979.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Scania.
 
 
Official SweFerry postcard of Hamlet, Ofelia and Scania.
 
 
Official Scandlines postcard of Scania, the only Limhamn-Dragør conventional ferry to receive this livery.
 
 
 
 
 
Habicht II
(1978, chartered)
 
Habicht II was built in 1959 by Schlichting Werft, Travemünde, for HADAG, Hamburg, for harbour cruises and Cuxhaven-Helgoland excursions under the name Alte Liebe. She was chartered to Centrumlinjen, and served between Malmö-Copenhagen, receiving the name Örestad in 1962. In 1964 she transferred to a Trelleborg-Copenhagen route. During 1971-72 Örestad ran between Sönderborg-Eckernförde and Malmö-Copenhagen for Skanfahrts.
 
In 1973 Örestad was bought by KG Seetouristik GmbH & Co, Lübeck, and given the name Baltica I (later Baltica). In 1977 Baltica was sold to Förde-Reederei GmbH, Flensburg, and renamed Habicht II. She was used on "butter boat" sailings on the Baltic coast of Germany, but was chartered to Öresundsbolaget in the summer of 1978 for Malmö-Copenhagen service. In 1993 ownership was transferred to the combined Förde Reederei Seetouristik, but she was laid up in 1994. In 1995 she received the name Princess Royal and was moved to Liverpool.
 
 
A.Duncan photographic postcard of Örestad in Centrumlinjen service.
 
 
A postcard of Habicht II in Öresund service at Malmö.
Scan supplied by Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
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