Euroway

Euroway was a Swedish shipping company that was active during the years 1992 to 1994. The company by the Norwegian businessman Elling Ellingsen and his company Sea Link Shipping AB with the aim of building between Malmo in Sweden and Lübeck in Germany a cruise - ferry service was established. Euroways business model consisted in offering a cruise experience similar, comparable with those in the northern Baltic Sea on routes between Stockholm and Turku or Helsinki Viking Line and Silja Line already established connections.

The first plans for the foundation created in 1989 and were presented as Hansa project on 21 June 1989, the public. According to the original plan it was envisaged that Euroway should begin operation in mid-1991, however, already delayed the delivery of the first of two ferries ordered. The first ship, M / S Frans Suell at the shipyard Brodogradilište Split in Split, Croatia delayed due to the Yugoslav wars for several months, the delivery of the vessel was only in May 1992.

The launch of Euroway proved too difficult because in addition due to lack of marketing long time it was unclear when the link between Malmö and Lübeck can be recorded. May 19, 1992 finally served the Frans Suell first scheduled routes, the route from Malmö to Travemünde for the time being only; then the route was extended to Lübeck on September 1. For an easy ride for the whole journey, the vessel took about 15 hours. All vehicles on board, however, had already left the ship in Travemünde, as the city of Lübeck wanted to meet the expected additional traffic from the city center. At the newly built Euroway terminal at Lübeck city - port Konstinkai only passengers were thus dispatched. Initially, no trucks were also generally promoted as Euroways target group cruise and conference guests in the first place. In addition, there was already a cargo route for trucks between Malmö and Travemünde by the then also to Sea Link Shipping AB belonging Nordö link.

A second, identical in construction with the Frans Suell ship had already been ordered. This should M / S Frans Kockum hot, due to the delay on the part of the yard and poor profitability of the new connection canceled Euroway but this order and did not decrease the ship. The shipyard the ship already under construction, completed anyway and eventually sold it to the shipping company DFDS, which it then took in 1994 operating under the name of M / S Crown of Scandinavia. Since Euroway but a second ship needed in order to achieve a pairing of traffic, so a daily departure to offer both from Malmö and from Lübeck, talking with Rederi AB Slite have now been performed with respect to a charter of M / S Olympia which, however, were not successful.

Economic difficulties and end

Due to management problems and the poor economic situation in Europe, the Sea Link Shipping AB had in 1992 to sell the Nordö link, but decided to continue operation of Euroway. However, they sought a necessary for this partner. As a result, 1993 was added to the Finnish Silja Line and the company changed its name to Silja Line Euroway. With the entry of Silja Line now came as a second ship, the M / S Silja Festival are used. In September 1993 the route was extended to the Danish Copenhagen, and henceforth also trucks were accepted for carriage.

However, as required for economical operation passenger numbers have not been reached and also were added financial difficulties on the part of Silja Line, had to cease operation on March 12, 1994 Silja Line Euroway.

Ships

• M / S Frans Suell (1992-1994)
• M / S Silja Festival (1993-1994)
• M / S Frans Kockum ( canceled order )