History

History

The foundations for today’s Stena Group were laid on 18 November 1939 when the Sten A Olsson Metallprodukter trading company was founded. In the following years the company expanded both inside and outside the country’s borders.

the son of a skipper

Sten A Olsson

Sten A Olsson was the son of Skipper and ship owner Gustav Olsson from Donsö. In 1946 he bought his first vessel and the shipping business started on a small scale. At the beginning of the 1960s a ferry service started between Göteborg and Skagen (Denmark).

The picture shows a young Sten A Olsson by his first head office where it all started.

Over the years freight services using the company’s vessels became a significant part of the business. In 1972 the business was divided into two branches: Stena Line AB and Stena Metall AB. In the same year the Masthugg terminal in Göteborg was completed.

 

The business continued to expand and at the end of the 1970s major investments were made in offshore and RoRo vessels. Stena Fastigheter (Property) was founded in 1980. The tanker shipping company Stena Bulk was founded in 1982. Northern Marine Management, a management company for vessels that are not Swedish-flagged, was founded in 1983. Concordia Maritime was founded and listed on the stock market in 1984.

Black and White photo of Sten A Olssons first office
Two men standing in front of a vessel model
Historic black and white picture of Stena Britannica and Stena Germanica
Black and white photo of a man in suit and tie in front of a Stena ferry

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

For us at Stena, sustainability and social responsibility involve a desire to contribute to economic development, reduce our impact on the environment and act ethically in everything we do. At the same time, we strive to improve quality of life for our employees, their families and society at large.

1939

Black and White photo of Sten A Olssons first office

The foundation of the Stena Sphere was laid on 18 November 1939 with the establishment of the trading company Sten A Olsson Metallprodukter.

1946

Historic black and white picture of a three mast ship

The first ship was purchased: Dan, a three-masted schooner with sails and engines.

1952

Historic black and white picture of man in front of truck

Stena Metall’s first separate branch for material collection and processing opened in Hisingen in Göteborg. The branch is still in use.

1962

Historic black and white picture from harbour

Ferry services began between Göteborg and Skagen, followed a little later by the route to Frederikshavn. The new Stena Danica was christened in 1969.

1972

Two cobble stone roads and dark sky

Stena Metall AB and Stena AB were divided into two separate company groups and the terminal at Masthuggskajen was completed.

1977

Two men holding a model of a ship

Eleven RoRo vessels were delivered from South Korea.

1980-84

Blue water

An expansive period with new companies being established:
1980 – Stena Fastigheter
1982 – Stena Bulk
1983 – Northern Marine
1984 – Concordia Maritime is listed

1995

Man working at platform

Stena Drilling acquired Atlantic Drilling.

2002

Stena Adactum logo

With the establishment of Stena Adactum, the Sphere expanded to also include long-term investments in new business areas.

1995-2012

Drilling vessel at sea

The new series of the 6th generation Drillships was delivered.

2012

Rendering of residential buildings and people in park

Stena Fastigheter’s scheduled start of construction of about 1,000 apartments in Vegastaden, Haninge Municipality, south of Stockholm.

2016

Large circular building

Stena Fastigheter signed an agreement to acquire the “SCA house” in December 2016. The property in Göteborg includes 25,000 square meters of office and innovation centre for which SCA has signed a long lease.

2017

Arg blue and red vesel at sea

Stena Bulk´s scheduled delivery of the tenth and final IMOIIMAX product tanker from the GSI Shipyard in China.

2021-2025

Passenger ferry at sea

Stena RoRo will deliver seven more vessels of the E-Flexer class. The concepts are developing with the implementation of new technology such as alternative fuel engines and battery hybrid packages making the E-Flexers series of ships frontrunners towards CO2 neutral ferry operation.