Styrsöbolaget – a shipping company with a long and proud history

The steamships Styrsö II, Vira, and Styrsö at Styrsö Bratten, 1929

The traffic operated by Styrsöbolaget today has deep historical roots. As early as 1837, the first steam-powered boat was put into service on the river in Gothenburg. In the 1850s, parts of the Hisingen side were industrialized, primarily due to the establishment of shipyards. This development supported the expansion of steamboat traffic. During the summer, excursions to the archipelago were organized on Sundays. The primary destination became Styrsö Bratten, where there was an inn. Soon after, Styrsö Havsbad was established, featuring cold and hot baths, a restaurant, and several hotels.

The steamboat Styrsö at Styrsö Bratten, 1929

From the summer of 1867, Styrsö was regularly served by Göteborgs Ångslupsbolag. The company was restructured in 1872 into Göteborgs Nya Ångslups AB, which quickly expanded with new routes to both the southern and northern archipelagos. The traffic originated from Ångslupsbron at Skeppsbron. Most of Ångslupsbolaget’s boats had bird names such as Dufvan, Ejdern, Falken, Lärkan, Svalan, Svanen, and Ärlan, but also other names like Vira, Svea, Göta, and Styrsö.

Styrsö Havsbad, owned by wealthy investors, was dissatisfied with Ångslupsbolaget’s management of the traffic at the turn of the last century. Consequently, the spa ordered two new boats, which were put into service in the summer of 1904 under the names Styrsö I and Styrsö II. Ångslupsbolaget responded with the newly built Styrsö in 1907. For a few years, there was intense competition between the two companies. This ended with an agreement where the spa company’s owners took over the majority of shares in Ångslupsbolaget.

Ångslupsbolaget faced financial difficulties during World War I and went bankrupt in the fall of 1921. This was largely due to competition from motorboats, which could offer lower prices than the steamboats that had been hit by sharply increased coal prices. Competitors included Styrsö Motortrafik, started by Gustaf Samuelsson from Styrsö. The motorboats were old fishing boats converted for passenger traffic, featuring very basic salons and inexpensive hit-and-miss engines. The term “stånka” referred to the noise of the hit-and-miss engines.

In the spring of 1922, Ångslupsbolaget’s boats were purchased by AB Styrsö Havsbad to ensure continued summer traffic for bathers to Styrsö. However, only the steamships Styrsö and Styrsö II (formerly Ejdern) were retained for the traffic.

The motorboat Neptun, 1929

In 1922, Gustaf Samuelsson, together with a few other residents of Styrsö and Donsö, founded Styrsö Nya Trafik AB, commonly known as Styrsöbolaget. The purpose was to provide year-round transportation for the benefit of the island’s inhabitants. The service began with the motorboats Aldebaran and Neptun, which were soon joined by the newly acquired steamboat Vira. In 1928, the owners of the Styrsö Havsbad purchased Styrsö Nya Trafik AB and continued the combined operations under this name.

With the steamboats Styrsö, Styrsö II, Vira, and Vira II (formerly Falken), along with the motorboats Aldebaran and Neptun, the service further developed. The motorboats had a speed of about 7 knots, were uncomfortable, and vibrated significantly. However, they were cheap to operate and were mainly used during the off-season when goods transport and service for the island residents were most needed. The steamboats were quieter, relatively comfortable, and reached speeds of 10-12 knots, but were expensive to operate and were primarily used in the profitable summer season. During harsh winters with ice, the sturdy, ice-going steamboat Styrsö II handled the traffic.

The boat Disa at Vrångö, summer 1970

The 1930s were golden years for the archipelago traffic, but each summer, Styrsöbolaget faced competition from rivals who would deploy a boat on the most profitable routes. Styrsöbolaget had to manage the unprofitable winter traffic on its own, and the summer surplus intended to subsidize the winter service was insufficient. As a result, the owners chose to declare bankruptcy in May 1934. AB Styrsö Havsbad then rented the boats from the bankruptcy estate, allowing the traffic to continue.

Styrsö Havsbad was subsequently taken over by AB Långedrag, which sold its shares in Havsbadet in the autumn of 1935. However, AB Långedrag retained the boats and docks and formed a new shipping company named Styrsö Trafik AB, which took over the operations and vessels of the previous company as of October 1, 1935. The new company made significant investments, commissioning the construction of the ice-going and diesel-powered vessels Disa and Vesta at Lödöse Varf in 1936 and 1937, respectively. Equipped with a five-cylinder Nohab diesel engine producing 160 horsepower, they reached speeds of 10 knots and replaced the motorboats in winter service.

Two used vessels were purchased to replace older ships: the steamboat Göta in 1936 and the motor-powered passenger and cargo boat Hakefjord II in 1945. However, the planned further expansion of the fleet with more new builds was temporarily halted by the outbreak of World War II.

In 1949, the City of Gothenburg purchased AB Långedrag, becoming the owner of Styrsö Trafik AB at the same time. The company focused on commissioning new vessels to replace the steamships. The first of these was the sightseeing boat Långedrag, one of the country’s first aluminum boats, which entered service in 1950, offering tours of the southern archipelago from Långedrag.

In 1951, the ice-going Ylva was added, a larger and further developed version of the Disa type. At the end of 1951, the summer boat Fröja was delivered and entered service in 1952. The steamships Vira II and Göta were sold, Styrsö was motorized before the summer of 1952, and the last steamship, Styrsö II, was sold in 1954. Most of the traffic was operated from Skeppsbron, although some low-traffic trips had been running from Långedrag since the 1930s. In 1948, a new dock at Saltholmen was completed for these trips.

In the early 1960s, job opportunities in the fishing industry declined, leading to a need for commuting options to the city. Initially, two taxi boat companies on Styrsö and Donsö began offering scheduled trips for commuters to Saltholmen. Starting in 1965, Styrsöbolaget also focused on serving commuters by reducing the number of trips to Skeppsbron and reallocating resources to increase the number of trips to Saltholmen, all within roughly the same budget. The sightseeing boat Långedrag was incorporated into regular service and also transported schoolchildren to Styrsö.

At Saltholmen, competition was fierce between Styrsöbolaget and the taxi boats. In 1971, Styrsöbolaget introduced the fast ferry Harry Hjörne, which improved service and eventually outcompeted the taxi boats.

In 1969, responsibility for boat traffic was divided between the City of Gothenburg and Styrsö Municipality, leading to the formation of the current AB Göteborg-Styrsö Skärgårdstrafik, with both parties as equal owners. The new company took over the previous operations.

In 1972, Styrsöbolaget acquired the private company Charles Ericksson’s Boat Traffic, which included routes from Saltholmen to Asperö Norra, Brännö Rödsten, Knarrholmen, and Stora Förö. The purchase also included the boats Aina, Daga, and Roland, which were sold within a few years as they were replaced by newer, larger vessels.

Since the mid-1950s, Styrsöbolaget had been operating staff transportation across the river for Lindholmens Varv with the vessels Fröja and Ylva until 1963. In 1964, Styrsöbolaget took over staff transportation for Götaverken with the newly acquired ferry Göta. A few years later, Styrsöbolaget also took over the staffing and operation of Eriksberg’s staff ferry E M V 1. Staff transportation ceased when the shipyards reduced their operations around 1976.

In 1972, Styrsöbolaget also took over the Port Authority’s last remaining ferry line, Haket-Lindholmen, and the ferry Dan Broström. This line was the only one left of the five that had existed across the river less than ten years earlier.

In 1974, Styrsö Municipality was incorporated into the City of Gothenburg, and the archipelago traffic then adopted the same ticket pricing as trams and buses. This made travel cheaper for passengers. The population of the islands began to increase from around 2,700 to today’s 4,600. As travel increased, it became necessary to renew the fleet to accommodate higher capacity. A new generation of vessels replaced many of the older ones. The first was Ejdern in 1975 (now Älv-Snabben 3), followed by the first Silvertärnan (I) in 1976, Vipan in 1978, Fröja (II) in 1980, Skarven in 1981, and Silvertärnan (II) in 1986.

The old Styrsö from 1907 was refurbished for charter services and began commercial summer traffic to Marstrand in 1978, alongside Sällskapet Ångbåtens steamship Bohuslän. There had been no boat service from Gothenburg to Marstrand since 1963. The service with Styrsö to Marstrand soon became a daily summer route, also calling at Kalvsund, Björkö Framnäs, Öckerö, and Rörö. The Styrsö also initiated evening trips to dance at Brännö. Styrsöbolaget also experimented with commercial services some summers to Öckerö, Hönö, Fotö, and Vinga. After deciding to cease commercial traffic, Styrsö was sold to Norway after the summer of 1992 and has since been operating the Telemark Canal in heavily modified condition under the name Henrik Ibsen.

The need for greater capacity and more comfortable boats, even during icy winters, led to the introduction of new ice-going vessels Ylva (II) in 1989 and Vesta (II) in 1998. The old Vesta (I) was sold in 1995 and Disa in 1999.

In 2000, Styrsöbolaget was privatized after the City of Gothenburg decided to sell the company. Two years later, Västtrafik contracted out the passenger traffic that Styrsöbolaget was operating in the southern archipelago and on the Göta River. Styrsöbolaget won the new contract for the period 2004-2013. The next contract, starting in 2014, was also won by Styrsöbolaget. In 2004, Styrsöbolaget was acquired by the French group Connex, which later changed its name to Veolia Transport Sverige AB and then, from 2015, to Transdev Sverige AB.

Following an agreement with Västtrafik, Styrsöbolaget ordered two carbon-fiber catamaran fast ferries from the Norwegian shipyard Brødrene Aa in 2008. The goal was to reduce travel times on the long routes to Donsö and Vrångö, thereby supporting a vibrant archipelago with a substantial resident population. This order followed trial operations with the rented Norwegian fast ferry Rygerfjord.

The fast ferries Valö and Rivö entered service in 2010. They operate at speeds of 25-28 knots, which is twice as fast as the conventional vessels. For passengers, these fast ferries have reduced travel times and improved frequency of service. The result has been increased travel and more satisfied island residents.

Starting in 2016, certain summer schedule trips were extended from Saltholmen to Stenpiren to offer comfortable travel to and from the city, eliminating the need to transfer to trams or buses. This extension has been greatly appreciated by commuters for school and work, as well as by visitors to the archipelago who enjoy a pleasant boat ride through the harbor.

From December 10, 2017, some winter schedule trips were also extended to Lindholmspiren and Stenpiren to facilitate island residents’ commuting to work and school, especially during road and rail construction for the West Swedish Package, which caused disruptions and longer travel times by land.

Initially, goods to the southern archipelago were transported only on passenger boats. As the volume of goods increased, this method became unsustainable due to the space it occupied on board and the time it took at the docks. Starting in the 1930s, summer freight trips were operated using one of the motor ferries. These trips were later taken over by Hakefjord II, which ran year-round with freight services from the 1950s. In 1951, it was complemented by Aldo, an acquired former fishing boat used during the summer months. Aldo was replaced by the larger cargo vessel Solamit in 1966.

A new era began in 1978 when Göta, after being converted from a passenger ferry to a cargo ferry, was put into service. The cargo could then be loaded and unloaded using a forklift via a bow ramp, replacing the previous methods of manual loading, winches, and cranes. The car ferry Vira was purchased in 1979 from the Swedish Transport Administration and handled all vehicle transport in the southern archipelago. Vira was renamed Älv-Vira in 2003 when it received a removable passenger module to also be used in river traffic.

In 1990, the newly built car ferry Ärlan replaced Vira as the regular ferry in the southern archipelago. Ärlan was equipped with passenger space below deck to serve as a backup for passenger traffic during icy winters. In 2005, the car ferry Nordö II was purchased and, after being converted into a cargo ferry named Göta II, went into service in 2006, replacing Göta, which was sold. In October 2007, the freight traffic moved from Saltholmen to a new terminal in Fiskebäck, built by the City of Gothenburg, Traffic Office. Freight traffic is operated under contract on behalf of the City of Gothenburg, Traffic Office.

In the late 1980s, new residential areas, schools, and other developments were planned for the northern riverbank, replacing the old, partly abandoned shipyard areas. In 1990, Styrsöbolaget was commissioned by Eriksbergs Förvaltnings AB and Lindholmen Utveckling to operate their new boats on the newly established Älvsnabben line, which ran from Lilla Bommen via Lindholmen to Eriksberg. This marked the end of the old ferry service with Dan Broström to Lindholmen. The fare structure of the then Stadstrafiken was implemented on the Älvsnabben line. The line was extended to Klippan in 1991. Initially, the service was provided by the water-jet driven Älv-Snabben 1 and 2, each with a capacity for 54 passengers. The traffic was an immediate success, but the boats proved to be too small. However, they could be easily upgraded to accommodate 100 passengers. Disa was used as an additional boat during peak times.

In 1993, Älv-Snabben 3 (formerly Ejdern) was added to the fleet, but the capacity was still insufficient. Over time, the costs and responsibilities for the river traffic shifted from Eriksberg and Lindholmen to the then Stadstrafiken, which later became part of Västtrafik. Meanwhile, Styrsöbolaget purchased Älv-Snabben 1 and 2, as the task of operating the service remained with Styrsöbolaget. Two new, larger boats were ordered by Styrsöbolaget for delivery in 1994-1995 and were named Älv-Snabben 4 and 5. The first two boats were sold to the Stockholm archipelago.

In 2001, the river traffic was expanded with the short cross-line Rosenlund-Lindholmspiren, known as Älvsnabbare. Since spring 2011, the Älvsnabbare line has been fare-free to promote bicycle commuting, with the City of Gothenburg covering the revenue loss. After the line became free, ridership increased rapidly, and it is now served by two vessels at 7-8 minute intervals during peak traffic.

For the Rosenlund-Lindholmspiren service, Västtrafik ordered two new commuter ferries, which entered service in spring 2015 and are operated by Styrsöbolaget. On August 16, 2015, the Rosenlund terminal was replaced by the new terminal at Stenpiren, which is served by both lines 285 Älvsnabben and 286 Älvsnabbare. From December 13, 2015, traffic on line 285 Älvsnabben was increased with more frequent services. Typically, line 285 is served by Älv-Snabben 4, 5, and Skarven, while Älveli and Älvfrida operate on line 286. Älv-Snabben 3 and Älv-Vira are used as reserve vessels.

To carry out the traffic assignments that Styrsöbolaget has, a large number of vessels are required. Styrsöbolaget owns 16 vessels used for various traffic assignments for Västtrafik and the City of Gothenburg, Urban Environment.

In addition to the owned vessels, the ferries Älveli, Älvfrida, Elvy, and Eloise are also rented from Västtrafik for routes 286 and 287.

Most of the vessels operate according to schedule, but there are also reserve vessels available to handle additional trips or to cover for service and maintenance visits.

During the ice winters of the late 1970s, the three ice-going vessels Disa, Vesta, and Ylva proved too small for the ever-increasing number of passengers. Therefore, a new ice-going vessel was ordered from Djupviks Varv, with construction expedited ahead of the aluminum vessel Skarven, which had already been ordered from the same yard. The new vessel, Fröja, featured an underwater hull that was a further development of the ice-going Ylva from 1951.

Fröja, named after the Norse goddess of love and previously used for the 1951 Fröja, was the first modern Styrsö boat to have a salon on the upper deck to maximize indoor seating for winter traffic. The ship has a robust ice-classed steel hull built by Falkenbergs Varv as a subcontractor to Djupviks Varv. In 1993, it was upgraded with new interior fittings, a roof over the sun deck, and new engines. In the autumn of 2012, the salons received new seating.

Fröja is 29.19 meters long and 7.72 meters wide. It can carry a maximum of 382 passengers, with 200 seats in the salons. After an engine replacement in October 2014, Fröja is powered by two Volvo Penta D16 MH engines totaling 1,100 horsepower (808 kW), connected to a controllable pitch propeller. Its speed is 12.5 knots.

Göta II has been operating in freight traffic from Fiskebäck to the southern archipelago since the summer of 2006. The ferry was originally built in 1969 at Åsiverken in Åmål under the name Nordö II for Öckerö Municipality’s then traffic from Hälsö to Rörö for passengers and vehicles. The ferry was taken over by the Swedish Road Administration’s ferry fleet in 2000, and it was purchased by Styrsöbolaget in 2005. It was subsequently converted at Djupviks Varv into a combined vehicle and cargo ferry with covered spaces for goods and refrigerated compartments for foodstuffs. Loading and unloading are conducted with forklifts via a bow ramp.

Göta II is 30.03 meters long and 8.57 meters wide. Its hull is made of steel and is ice-classed. In the autumn of 2014, a new Caterpillar 3508C engine with 862 horsepower (634 kW) was installed, equipped with SCR exhaust cleaning and a particulate filter. The engine drives a controllable pitch propeller manufactured by Bergs. The ferry’s speed is 11.5 knots.

Kungsö was purchased by Styrsöbolaget in November 2017. Previously owned by Rederi AB Bohuslänska Kusten under the name Walona, the vessel is used for charter trips and services to Vinga from Stenpiren. Kungsö has been adapted for Styrsöbolaget’s operations. During the summer of 2018, it will operate a new line from Stenpiren to Eriksberg and Hönö Klåva under Styrsöbolaget’s own management and fare system. For more details, see Hönötrafiken!

Kungsö will continue to be available for charter trips. For inquiries, please contact fredrik.helm@styrsobolaget.se.

Kungsö was built in 1986 using fiberglass-reinforced plastic at Abelvaer Slipp & Mekanisk Verksted. The vessel is 29.98 meters long and 8.38 meters wide, with a capacity for 273 passengers. Onboard amenities include a café. It is propelled by three Scania V8 engines totaling 1,260 horsepower, each driving a controllable pitch propeller from Servogear. The vessel’s cruising speed is 13.5 knots.

In agreement with the traffic authority Västtrafik, Styrsöbolaget ordered two high-speed catamarans built in carbon fiber-reinforced sandwich construction at the Brødrene Aa shipyard in Hyen, Norway, for delivery in 2010. The need for faster service on the long route from Saltholmen to Donsö and Vrångö was the driving force behind this decision. The second catamaran, Rivö, was delivered on September 3 and entered regular service on September 27, 2010. Rivö is named after the lighthouse island located at the northernmost point of the southern archipelago, opposite Asperö.

Rivö measures 27.09 meters in length and 8.39 meters in width, with a passenger capacity of 163, which matches the number of seats in the salon. It is powered by two 6-cylinder Yanmar diesel engines, producing a combined total of 2,026 horsepower (1,498 kW), each driving a controllable Servogear propeller. The engines were replaced with new, Tier 3 environmentally classified engines in the fall of 2022. Rivö achieves a speed of 28.5 knots when fully loaded.

Silvertärnan, built in 1986 at Djupviks Varv, introduced a new and more comfortable standard among Styrsöbolaget’s vessels in the southern archipelago. The deck surfaces were flatter than on earlier ships, the salon partitions were light-colored, the seats were upholstered in fabric, and the salons were fitted with wall-to-wall carpeting. A café was installed on the upper deck. However, the wall-to-wall carpeting was not well received and was replaced with more practical flooring and new seating after a few years. Silvertärnan replaced an earlier vessel of the same name that had been built in 1976.

The aluminum hull is heavily dimensioned and reinforced for ice navigation. The vessel is 30.22 meters long and 7.72 meters wide, with a maximum passenger capacity of 389. There are 196 seats in the salons, including 47 in the café. A second upgrade with new seating occurred in 2007. Since 2020, Silvertärnan has been powered by two Volvo Penta D13 MH engines with a total output of 1,000 hp (735 kW). As part of the engine replacement in 2020, the main engines were fitted with catalytic converters to clean the exhaust gases. Each engine drives a controllable propeller manufactured by Bergs. The vessel has a speed of 13.5 knots.

Skarven was delivered in 1981 from Djupviks Varv and is constructed of aluminum. It was the first Styrsöboat to feature a café in the salon on the upper deck. The café was closed when Skarven was replaced by the new Ylva in 1989, and the vessel then became an evening boat. During the summer timetable, Skarven operates in the southern archipelago, and for the rest of the year, it is used on the Älvsnabben line.

The vessel is 28.80 meters long and 7.52 meters wide. It has 195 seats in the salons, with a maximum passenger capacity of 298. In 1991, Skarven was renovated, including new interior fittings. In 2021, it received new carpeting and seating in the salons. Since 2020, Skarven has been powered by two Volvo Penta D13MH engines with a total output of 900 hp (662 kW), each connected to a fixed propeller. The engines were equipped with particulate filters in the fall of 2016. The vessel’s speed is 13.5 knots.

Svea was purchased by Styrsöbolaget in November 2017. The ferry was adapted for Styrsöbolaget’s freight traffic in the spring of 2018 and renamed Svea, a name with historical significance in the archipelago traffic. The sister vessels Svea and Göta served the southern and northern archipelagos starting in 1895. Göta was withdrawn from service by Styrsöbolaget in 1951, while Svea continued with Öckeröbolaget until 1967. Both of the original vessels have been scrapped. Today, their successors operate in Styrsöbolaget’s freight traffic from Fiskebäck to the southern archipelago.

Svea was previously owned by Malmqvist Sjö- & Allservice under the name Lagnö and operated on the Norra Lagnö-Tynningö route in Stockholm’s archipelago from 2007 to 2012. The ferry was originally a Finnish road ferry named Korpo from its delivery in 1957 until 2006. It initially operated the Nagu-Korpo route in the archipelago southwest of Turku. In 1999, the ferry was renamed Inimo and retained this name until 2006 when it was sold to Sweden and renamed Lagnö.

The ferry was built in 1957 at Ahlströms Varv in Varkaus, Finland, which is located on the Saimaa lake system. It was transported by rail to the Gulf of Finland where it was completed, as the usual sea connection through the Saimaa Canal was closed due to wartime damage. The ferry underwent extensive modifications in 1969, including a 15-meter extension and modernization. Additional modifications were made when it arrived in Sweden in 2006.

Lagnö, now Svea, is 43.62 meters long and 8.10 meters wide. The steel hull is reinforced for ice conditions. The ferry is powered by two Volvo Penta D16MH engines, producing a total of 1200 hp (882 kW), each driving an Aquamaster propeller. The ferry’s speed is 8 knots.

Valö was ordered by Styrsöbolaget from Brødrene Aa shipyard in Hyen, Norway, following an agreement with the transport authority Västtrafik. The catamaran was built using carbon fiber-reinforced sandwich construction and was delivered in April 2010. It was put into regular service on June 20, 2010. The name Valö is derived from the lighthouse island located at the southernmost point of the southern archipelago before the open Kattegatt sea.

Valö is 27.09 meters long and 8.39 meters wide. It has a passenger capacity of 163, which matches the number of seats available in the salon. The vessel is powered by two MAN D2842 LE410 diesel engines, delivering a combined total of 2,038 hp (1,498 kW). Each engine drives its own adjustable Servogear propeller. The engines were replaced with new ones in December 2014. The ferry can reach a speed of 28.5 knots when fully loaded.

Vesta was constructed with a robust ice-class steel hull to ensure operation even during severe ice winters. It is an advanced version of the Ylva type and was built in 1998 at Båtservice Holding in Mandal, Norway. Onboard, there is a café located on the upper deck. The vessel is named after the Roman goddess of the “domestic hearth.” This is Styrsöbolaget’s second vessel to carry this name. The previous Vesta, also an ice-going ship, was built in 1937, extended in 1976, and sold in 1995. It is now known as **Rex** and belongs to Blidösundsbolaget in Stockholm.

Vesta is 34.42 meters long and 8.02 meters wide. It has a maximum passenger capacity of 447, with 246 seats available in the salons, including 68 seats in the café on the upper deck. The seating and carpets were renewed in October 2016. Since 2021, Vesta has been powered by two Volvo Penta D16 MH engines, delivering a combined total of 1,200 hp (882 kW). These engines drive a variable KaMeWa propeller via a gearing system, achieving a speed of 13.5 knots. The main engines are equipped with catalysts to clean the exhaust gases.

Vipan is a semi-fast aluminum boat delivered in 1978 from Djupviks Varv. Since the introduction of the fast ferries in 2010, Vipan primarily serves as a reserve vessel for these boats but also operates its own routes during the summer timetable.

Vipan measures 29.60 meters in length and 6.72 meters in width. It has a maximum passenger capacity of 300 people, with 154 seats available in the salon. The vessel was upgraded in 1992 with new interior fittings, and in 2002, new seats were installed in the salon.

In December 2015, two new Volvo Penta D16 engines were installed, providing a combined total of 1,200 hp (882 kW). The maximum speed of Vipan is 17.5 knots.

To increase capacity during severe winters, Styrsöbolaget ordered the vessel Ylva from Oskarshamns Varv for delivery in the fall of 1989. The vessel features an ice-classed steel hull with an aluminum superstructure.

The name Ylva is Old Norse, meaning “the wild” or “the furious.” The previous Ylva, also ice-going, was built for Styrsöbolaget in 1951 and was sold in 1985.

Ylva measures 34.15 meters in length and 7.75 meters in width. It offers 229 seats in its salons, including 75 in the café on the upper deck. The vessel was upgraded with new seating in 2008. The maximum allowed passenger capacity is 447.

Since December 2012, Ylva has been powered by a Caterpillar 3508C engine with 1,014 hp (746 kW), driving a variable KaMeWa propeller. The maximum speed is 13 knots.

Älveli and Älvfrida are double-ended passenger ferries designed for Västtrafik’s line 286 Älvsnabbare. These ferries are optimized for quick boarding and disembarking of passengers, including those with bicycles, on short trips across the river.

The ferries were commissioned by Västtrafik and constructed in 2014-2015 at Uudenkaupungin Työvene/Nystads Arbetsbåtar in Uusikaupunki/Nystad, Finland. Älveli was delivered to Västtrafik in Gothenburg on January 8, 2015, and Älvfrida on March 27, 2015.

Owned by Västtrafik, the ferries are leased to Styrsöbolaget, which handles their staffing, operation, and maintenance. The ferries began operating on line 286 on March 30, 2015, for Älveli and April 27 for Älvfrida. Prior to this, the ferries had been running sporadically on the line for crew training and technical adjustments.

Constructed from steel, the ferries are 32.99 meters long and have a maximum width of 8.71 meters. They are reinforced for ice navigation. They can carry up to 298 passengers and accommodate 80 bicycles.

The ferries are designed for low fuel consumption and are powered by diesel-electric machinery. The generator sets produce electricity for the propulsion motors and other onboard electrical systems. Each generator set is driven by a Scania DI09 engine with 350 hp (257 kW), equipped with a particulate filter.

Each ferry is equipped with a Rolls Royce Azimuth thruster propulsion system at both ends. These units are steerable through 360 degrees and have counter-rotating propellers. The ferries operate at a speed of 11 knots.

When Styrsö municipality was merged with the City of Gothenburg in 1974, a unified fare structure was introduced for the southern archipelago, aligning with the rates for trams and buses. This led to cheaper fares and an increase in the number of trips. The rise in population on the islands and the surge in travel demand quickly outstripped the capacity of the existing vessels. Consequently, Styrsöbolaget ordered a new ferry, which was delivered from Djupviks Varv in the summer of 1975 under the name Ejdern. The choice of name returned to a tradition dating back to the 1870s, when most of the archipelago boats in Gothenburg’s southern and northern archipelagos were named after birds.

Ejdern was considered very modern for its time, featuring a continuous main deck without stairs to the foredeck and with a bow extension. It was the first archipelago boat to be equipped with a bow thruster. In 1993, the hull was widened, and the ferry received a new wheelhouse and interior. In 1994, Ejdern was repurposed for river traffic and renamed Älv-Snabben 3. The original small waterjet-driven Älv-Snabben 1 and 2, which had been in service since the start of the traffic in 1990, were no longer sufficient. In 2011, the vessel was upgraded with new seating in the salon. After a few years as a reserve boat for river traffic, Älv-Snabben 3 became a regular vessel on the Älvsnabben line again when traffic was increased on December 13, 2015.

Älv-Snabben 3, constructed from aluminum, is 27.24 meters long and 6.92 meters wide. It has a passenger capacity of 298 and 134 seats in the salon. During an engine replacement in March 2015, two new Scania DI13 engines with a total power of 800 hp (588 kW) and particulate filters were installed. Each engine is connected to a fixed propeller. The maximum speed is 13.5 knots.

When Älvsnabben traffic began in 1990, the number of passengers grew rapidly. The first two boats, Älv-Snabben 1 and 2, which could each carry only 100 passengers, quickly became too small and were supplemented by Älv-Snabben 3 and Disa, which had previously served the southern archipelago. Älv-Snabben 4 was ordered from Båtservice Holding in Mandal, Norway, for delivery and service starting in the autumn of 1994. Built from aluminum and reinforced for ice navigation, the vessel was designed to carry at least 20 bicycles on the foredeck and featured wide bow doors for quick boarding and disembarkation. In 1995, a sister vessel, Älv-Snabben 5, was added.

The vessel is 31.55 meters long and 8.15 meters wide. It offers 158 seats in the salon, with a maximum passenger capacity of 448. The salon was upgraded with new carpets and seats in 2010. Since 2009, the vessel has been powered by two Volvo Penta D12 MH engines with a combined total of 900 hp (662 kW). Since 2014, the engines have been equipped with particulate filters. Each engine is connected to a fixed propeller via reduction gears. The maximum speed is 12.5 knots.

When Älvsnabben traffic began in 1990, passenger numbers increased rapidly. The first two boats, Älv-Snabben 1 and 2, each capable of carrying only 100 passengers, soon proved inadequate and were supplemented by Älv-Snabben 3 and Disa, which had previously served the southern archipelago. Älv-Snabben 4 was ordered from Båtservice Holding in Mandal, Norway, for delivery and service starting in the autumn of 1994, and the sister vessel Älv-Snabben 5 was delivered in the autumn of 1995. Built robustly from aluminum and reinforced for ice navigation, the vessel was designed to accommodate at least 20 bicycles on the foredeck and featured wide bow doors for quick boarding and disembarkation.

The vessel is 31.55 meters long and 8.15 meters wide. It offers 158 seats in the salon, with a maximum passenger capacity of 448. The salon was upgraded with new carpets and seats in 2011. Since December 2010, the vessel has been powered by two Scania DI12 engines with a combined total of 900 hp (662 kW). Since 2014, the engines have been equipped with particulate filters. Each engine is connected to a fixed propeller via reduction gears. The maximum speed is 12.5 knots.

In the spring of 2024, Älv-Snabben 5 was electrified as part of our environmental initiatives and adaptation to future transportation needs.

The ferry, which is a double-ended shuttle ferry, can also be referred to as a combination ferry. It serves as a reserve for the Lindholmspiren-Stenpiren line and is also used for freight traffic in the southern archipelago, where the passenger module is removed to provide an open deck for vehicles or cargo.

The ferry was built in 1954 at Bröderna Larssons Varv in Kristinehamn for Vägverket under the name Alnö 2. It operated between Alnö and Sundsvall until replaced by the Alnö Bridge. After being renamed Färja 190, it was used on ferry routes over the Ångermanälven River and was reinforced with a strengthened vehicle deck to accommodate heavy timber trucks on the Hemsö route. When the ferry was purchased by Styrsöbolaget in 1979, it was renamed Vira and tasked with transporting vehicles to the southern archipelago. In 2003, it was renamed Älv-Vira in connection with its conversion to a combination ferry.

Älv-Vira is 28.20 meters long and 8.09 meters wide, with an ice-reinforced steel hull. With the passenger module on board, the ferry can carry 300 passengers. There are 34 seats in the salon and ample standing space.

In the fall of 2015, two new Scania DI13 engines with a combined total of 800 hp (588 kW) were installed. These engines were equipped with particulate filters in the fall of 2016. Each engine drives a variable Jönköping propeller at either end of the ferry. The maximum speed is 11.5 knots.

Bilfärjan Ärlan levererades 1990 från Oskarshamns Varv för att hantera de ökade transportbehovet till södra skärgården, där den tidigare färjan Vira inte längre räckte till. Styrsöbolaget hade använt Vira för biltransporter sedan 1979. För livsmedel finns kylrum och godsrum på däck, och styckegods hanteras med hjälp av färjans gaffeltruck.

Ärlan är byggd som en dubbeländad pendelfärja med ramper och propellrar i båda ändar. Skrovet är tillverkat i stål och är isklassat. Fartyget är 36,18 meter långt och 9,18 meter brett. Sedan hösten 2013 drivs färjan av två Volvo Penta D13 MH-motorer med en sammanlagd effekt på 1 000 hk (736 kW). Motorerna är utrustade med SCR avgasrening och driver var sin Aquamasterpropeller som är omsvängbara 360 grader. Den maximala farten är 10 knop.

För att kunna fungera som en extra resurs under isvintrar är Ärlan klassad för 98 passagerare och har en salong under däck med 60 sittplatser.