Tor Line

Tor Scandinavia & Tor Britannia

Tor Scandinavia & Tor Britannia

Tor Line was founded by Trans Oil and Rex Shipping (Tor) to instigate a modern passenger, car and freight service across the North Sea from Sweden to the UK and Holland. The Tor service followed a triangular route pattern serving Immingham in the UK, Amsterdam in Holland, and Göteborg in Sweden. Additional freight-only services with dedicated ro-ro ferries were also soon introduced. On freight services, there was a brief partnership with former rivals Swedish Lloyd to form Tor Lloyd. Negotiations began to sell one of the large passenger ships to DFDS Seaways, but instead DFDS acquired the complete Tor Line passenger operation in 1981, followed by the freight operations in 1982.The two passenger ships received DFDS Seaways livery and, for a short period, the hull logo  of DFDS Tor Line. The passenger ships soon began assisting on  traditional DFDS Seaways routes, and soon lost the DFDS Tor logo. In 1991 they lost their Tor  names as well, becoming the Prince and  Princess of  Scandinavia.

Anna Oden 

Anna Oden

Anna Oden

  • Built. 1979 (IMO 7800758)
  • Yard. Öresund shipyard Ab Landskrona.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo RO/RO
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg/ Antwerp
  • Length. 143.26 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 4546
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2196 Lane Metres
  • Speed. 15 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 29/06/2011

Anna Oden was built in 1979 and entered service with Oden Line between Sweden and England. In 1981 she was chartered to Tor Line, in 1989 Anna Oden was renamed Tor Flandria and placed in service between Goteborg-Gent. In 1998 Tor Flandria was renamed Southern Carrier but remained in Tor service. In 1999 she was chartered to Cobelfret for service between Zeebrugge-Purfleet. After a brief charter with North Sea Ferries in 2000 she reverted to her original name Anna Oden, and in 2003 was sold to Cobelfret.

In 2005 she again ran between Zeebrugge-Purfleet. Ann Oden was Scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in January 2014.

Britta Oden 

Britta Oden

Britta Oden

  • Built. 1978 (IMO 7800746)
  • Yard. Ab Öresund, Landskrona.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo RO/RO
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Antwerp
  • Length. 143.26 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 16947
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2196 Lane metres
  • Speed. 15 knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2010

Britta Oden was built in 1978 and entered service with Oden Line between Sweden and England in 1978. In 1982 she was chartered to Tor Line. Anna Oden was renamed Tor Scandia and placed in service between Goteborg-Gent. In 1998 Tor Scandia was renamed back to Britta Oden but remained in Tor service. In 2000 she was chartered to Flota Suardiaz. In 2003 Britta Oden was sold to Cobelfret for service between Goteborg and Killingholme from 2004. In June 2005, DFDS took over the Goteborg-Killingholme service and they briefly chartered Britta Oden. From August 2005 she ran between Zeebrugge-Purfleet. From July 2006 she transferred to the old Dart Line route from Vlissingen to Dartford. In 2007 she had charters to Acciona Trasmediterranea and P&O Ferries (Rotterdam-Hull route).  

Eva Oden 

Eva Oden

Eva Oden

  • Built. 1979 (IMO 7800760)
  • Yard. Öresund, Landskrona varvet Ab.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg
  • Length. 170.26 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 4546
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2196 Lane metres
  • Speed. 15 knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2010

Eva Oden was built in 1979 for the Oden Lines service between Sweden and England. She was chartered to Tor Line in 1982, and rebuilt with extra capacity in 1987. In 1988 she Eva Oden renamed Tor Belgia. The charter ended in 1998, and she reverted to the name Eva Oden. Tor Line chartered her again from 1999-2000 under this name. In 2000 Eva Oden was chartered to Cobelfret, followed by sale in 2003. She was eventually scrapped in India. 

Stena Gothica 

Stena Gothica

Stena Gothica

  • Built. 1975 (IMO 7383138)
  • Yard. A/S Framnaes, Norway
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line (Charter)
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg
  • Length. 171.12 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 14406
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 1900 lane metres
  • Speed. 16 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2012

 

  • History: Strada Gothica (2008-2012) Roro Gothica (2004-2008) Stena Gothica (2004)
  • Stena Gothica (1999-2004) Stena Gothica (1990-1999) Monawar L (1988-1990) Stena Project (1988)
  • Railro 2 (1988) Melbourne Trader (1975-1988)

Tor Anglia 

Tor Anglia

Tor Anglia

  • Built. 1977 (IMO 7707736)
  • Yard. Schiffswerft u. Masch
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line 1988-2010
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg
  • Length. 171.94 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 17492
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2300 lane meters
  • Speed. 21 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2010

Tor Anglia was built as Merzario Gallia in 1977. She later served as Nordic Wasa and African Gateway, and was chartered to DFDS-TOR Line in 1987, being purchased the following year. In 2004 she was chartered to Cobelfret for use on their Rotterdam-Purfleet route. 

Tor Baltica 

Tor Baltica

Tor Baltica

  • Built. 1977 (IMO 7528594)
  • Yard. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co, Ltd Ulsan Korea.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Length. 155.99 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 5463
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 1700 Load Metres
  • Speed. 17 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2011

 

  • History:
  • 21/06/1977 Launched
  • 12/2000 Sold to DFDS Tor Line
  • 06/2001. Renamed Tor Baltica.
  • 2004. Gothenburg-Harwich-Rotterdam.
  • 04/2011. Renamed Baltic States

Tor Britannia

Tor Britannia

Tor Britannia

  • Built. 1974 (IMO 7361312)
  • Yard. Flender Werft Ag, Lübeck, Germany
  • Class of Ship. Passenger
  • Operator. DFDS/Tor Line 1975-2003
  • Length. 182.35
  • Gross Tonnage. 14905
  • Passengers. 1700
  • Freight Capacity. 440 Cars
  • Speed.  24.5 Knots
  • Status. Moby Drea (Moby Lines)

 

Tor Britannia was built in 1974 for the Goteborg-Amsterdam and Goteborg-Felixstowe services of Tor Line. Her sister Tor Scandinavia followed a year later in 1976. They were both 16000 grt, carried 1358 passengers, and had a high speed of around 25 knots.

From 1983, Tor Britannia operated some services between Harwich and Esbjerg, which was achieved much faster than running-partner Dana Anglia due to Tor Britannia’s higher speed. She later served on most other DFDS Seaways routes, including Harwich-Hamburg, and routes from Ijmuiden to Norway and Sweden.

In 1991 Tor Britannia was renamed Prince of Scandinavia.

In 2003, Prince of Scandinavia was sold to Moby Lines and entered service as the Moby Drea between Livorno and Olbia.

Tor Britannia 

Tor Britannia

Tor Britannia

  • Built. 1978 (IMO 7627950)
  • Yard. Soc Metallurgique, France
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. DFDS Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich- Gothenburg
  • Length. 193.25
  • Gross Tonnage. 21,491
  • Freight Capacity. 2,600 lane metres
  • Speed. 16.5 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 02/06/2010

 

  • History:
  • 10.1994: Lengthening by 24 metres, placing a flume tank above the weather deck.
  • 03.1999: Renamed Tor Belgia.
  • 10.2003: Sold to KS-Bolag, Oslo and chartered back for five years. 06.2010: Sold to Astonvilla Prosperites S.A., Panama and renamed Dubai Gate.
  • 07.2010: Scrapped at Alang, India.

Tor Caledonia 

Tor Caledonia

Tor Caledonia

  • Built. 1976 (IMO 7617735)
  • Yard. A/S Frederikstad
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich-Gothenburg
  • Length. 188.67 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 14424
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 1900 lane metres
  • Speed. 15 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 20/06/2012

 

  • History:
  • 28/02/1977 Launched
  • 14/05/1982 Requisitioned by the Ministry of defence.
  • 1982. Sold to Spanocean Line Ltd, Bristol,
  • 05/1984 Grimaldi Lines, Italy. Renamed Gothic Wasa.
  • 12/1984 Sold to Initial Plc, Hamilton, Bermuda. Renamed Galloway.
  • 06/1985 Tor Line. renamed Tor Caledonia.
  • 25/09/2001 Sold to Locat s.p.a. Bologna, Italy.
  • 11/11/2011 Renamed Strada Gigante.
  • 06/2012 Sold to Argo Systems Fze, Dubai, U.A.E. Renamed Gigante.
  • 20/06/2012. Arrived  Bangladesh for scrapping. 

Tor Flandria

Tor Flandria

Tor Flandria

  • Built. 1981 (IMO 7909982)
  • Yard. Kockums Varv, Malmo.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich-Gothenburg
  • Length. 193.6 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 15636
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2870 lane meters + 500 cars
  • Speed. 19 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 17/03/2014

 

  • History:
  • 24/10/1981 Launched
  • 12/1981 Chartered to Finnlines Oy, Helsinki, Finland.
  • 02/1982 Chartered to Atlantic Cargo Services AB, Malmö, Sweden.
  • 1983 Sold to Zenit Dry Cargo Ab, Sweden. Renamed Zenit Clipper
  • 1984 Sold to Automar II Corporation, United States. renamed  American Falcon.
  • 07/1998 Sold to Stena, Nassau, Bahamas. renamed Stena Partner
  • 09/1998 Sold to Orando Ltd., Dublin, Ireland. renamed Tor Flandria.
  • 12/2002 Sold to Scandinavian Ro/Ro K/S, Oslo, Norway.
  • 03/2006 Sold to Grimaldi, Naples, Italy.
  • 14/07/2006 Repossessed by Malta Motorways, Malta. renamed  Eurocargo Africa.

Tor Gothia 

Tor Gothia

Tor Gothia

  • Built. 1971 (IMO 7116913)
  • Yard. Mekaniske Verksted Framnäs, , Norway.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg
  • Length. 163.48 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 4128
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 1575 Lane Metres
  • Speed. 18.5 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2014

 

  • History:
  • 06/07/1971 Launched
  • 11/1971 Tor Line. Gothenburg-Antwerp.
  • 1993 Chartered to Fred Olsen Oslo, Norway.
  • 1996 Sold to Tor Line Ab, Gothenburg.  Rotterdam-Immingham.
  • 11/02/2000 Sold to Homer Maritime Co. Oslo, Norway.
  • 11/02/2000 Chartered to DFDS Tor Line.
  • 2000 Gothenburg-Harwich.
  • 06/2004 Sold to Ulusoy Marti Ro/Ro Istanbul Renamed Ulusoy-6.
  • 06/2006 Chartered to Cotunav, Tunisia.
  • 07/01/2014 arrived at Aliaga, Turkey for breaking.

Tor Hollandia

Tor Hollandia

Tor Hollandia

  • Built 1973 (IMO 7321972)
  • Yard: A/S Framnaes
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Gothenburg
  • Length: 163.48 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 12254
  • Passengers: 12
  • Freight Capacity. 1575 Lane metres
  • Speed: 16 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2013

 

  • History:
  • 07/03/1973 Launched
  • 1975 Chartered to Salén Shipping Co. renamed Bandar Abbas Express.
  • 1975 Chartered to OT Express Line.
  • 06/1978 Renamed Tor Dania.
  • 1978 Chartered to Foss Shipping Ltd., London.
  • 1980 Sold to broström Ab, Gothenburg.
  • 1984 Sold to Swedish Ab Finans Vendor, Gothenburg.
  • 15/12/1986 Sold to Tor Line Ab, Gothenburg.
  • 04/01/1992 Renamed Tor Dan
  • 18/05/1993 Renamed Tor Hollandia.
  • 11/02/2000 Sold to Horner Maritime Co, Panama
  • 07/11/2005 Renamed Seahawk
  • 01/2006 Sold to Greenbriar Shipping Co, Piraeus renamed Philip.
  • 06/2013 Sold for scrapping in Turkey.

Tor Humbria 

Tor Humbria

Tor Humbria

  • Built. 1978 (IMO 7430723)
  • Yard. Oskarshamns Varvs A/B, Oskarshamn
  • Class of Ship. Cargo RO/RO
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich-Gothenburg
  • Length. 183,14 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 14,763
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity.2150 Lane metres
  • Speed. 18.5 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 19/06/2010

 

  • History:
  • 01.2003: Sold to Goliath Shipping, Oslo and chartered back for three and a half years.
  • 12.2007: Sold to CS & Partners, Hellerup, Denmark.
  • 06.2010: Sold to Turkish Breakers and renamed Humbria.
  • Emirates Express (1977-1981) Abuja Express (1981-1983) Fosseagle (1983-1985)
  • Finneagle (1985-1987) Borac (1987-1999) Tor Humbria (1999-2010) Humbria (2010)

Tor Mercia 

Tor Mercia

Tor Mercia

  • Built. 1984 (IMO 8412869)
  • Yard. Schichau-Unterweser AG.
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich – Helsingborg
  • Length. 158.05 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 5,998
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2,050 Load metres
  • Speed. 15.5 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 06/10/2010

 

  • History:
  • 21/12/1984 Launched as Kintampo
  • 01/1990 Chartered to Tor Line AB renamed Tor Mercia.
  • 02/1990 Helsingborg-Harwich.
  • 1990 Renamed Kintampo.
  • 1994 Renamed Seaboard Voyager.
  • 09/2010 Sold for breaking up.

Tor Scandia  

Tor Scandia

Tor Scandia

  • Built. 1981 (IMO 7909970)
  • Yard. Kockums Varv, Malmö
  • Class of Ship. Cargo
  • Operator. DFDS Tor Line
  • Route. Harwich-Gothenburg
  • Length.193.6
  • Gross Tonnage. 15,636
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity 2,870 lane metres + 500 cars
  • Speed. 19 Knots
  • Status. Scrapped 2013

 

Broken up  Chittagong 29.11.13 

  • History: Kuwait Express (1981-1984) American Condor (1984-1994), Stena Porter (1994-1998)
  • Tor Scandia (1998-2006), Eurocargo Europa (2006-2013).

Tor Scandinavia

Tor Scandinavia

Tor Scandinavia

  • Built. 1975 (IMO 7361324)
  • Yard. Flender Werft Ag, Lubeck, Germany
  • Class of Ship. Passenger Ferry
  • Operator. Tor Line/DFDS
  • Length. 182.35
  • Gross Tonnage. 14905
  • Passengers. 1700
  • Freight Capacity. 440 Cars
  • Speed. 24.5 Knots
  • Status. Moby Otta (Moby Lines)

 

Tor Scandinavia was eventually delivered on April 12, 1976..Although technically modern in many ways; the ships’ exteriors were quite traditional in their style, reminiscent more of ocean liners than ferries.

For all of its service with Tor Line, the Tor Scandinavia alternated with its sister on the routes Gothenburg–Immingham and later Felixstowe) and Gothenburg–Amsterdam. Already in autumn 1976 the ship had her first major accident, when she ran into a major storm on the North Sea. Nine windows were smashed and the ship started taking in water from the forward air intakes on the superstructure. Eventually the ship arrived in Amsterdam approximately 18 hours behind schedule.

Tor Scandinavia was renamed Princess of Scandinavia in 1991. Princess of Scandinavia was sold to Moby in 2006 and renamed Moby Otta

Tor Selandia

Tor Selandia

Tor Selandia

  • Built. 1998 (IMO 9157284)
  • Yard. Fincantieri-Cant. nav. Italiani s.p.a.
  • Class of Ship.
  • Operator. DFDS Tor Line
  • Length. 195 m
  • Gross Tonnage. 24196
  • Passengers. 12
  • Freight Capacity. 2800 Load Metres
  • Speed. 23 Knots
  • Status. Selandia Seaways

 

  • History:
  • 11/01/2005 Gothenburg-Harwich.
  • 11/08/2010 Renamed Selandia Seaways.

 

We are adding more information to this site on a regular basis, if you wish to submit any photos or provide any information, then please use the contact page at the bottom of the screen.

 

Copyright Ownership.

We attempted to get the consent of copyright holders to use this material for nearly all of the photographs on the website.

In the few cases where names are available, a thorough search was made using telephone directories, photographic copyright directories, People Search and Google Area Search. None of the copyright owners could be traced in this way and we believe we have exhausted all reasonable avenues.

The consensus opinion of these authorities was that if any two of the following situations applied we would be deemed to have taken sufficient action to avoid infringing copyright laws:

  • Reasonable efforts made to contact the copyright holder
  • No financial gain will be made in relation to the photos
  • A letter is obtained from present owner of photos
  • There is a proviso included stating that if offence is caused document will be removed

The website owner undertakes to remove any photograph from the website where offence is caused. All the above conditions have therefore been met.

 

  • I wish to thank the following people for their contribution to this project.
  • Simplon Postcards, John Wray and all those that have allowed me to use their photos.

Header photo. Tor Anglia (c) John Wray 1984.