{{Short description |Shipping company}} {{Infobox company | name = Tor Line | logo = DFDS Tor Line logo.png | type = | genre = | fate = Integrated into DFDS Seaways | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1966 | founder = | defunct = 2010 | location = Copenhagen, Denmark<br />(As DFDS Tor Line)<br />Gothenburg, Sweden<br />(As Tor Line) | locations = | area_served = North Sea<br />Baltic Sea | key_people = | industry = Shipping | products = | services = Freight transportation | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | aum = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = DFDS A/S | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = www.dfds.com | footnotes = | intl = }}
thumb|240px|MS ''Tor Corona'' departing Copenhagen, March 2008.
The '''Tor Line''' was a freight shipping company. Together with its subsidiaries, the Tor Line operated a fleet of approximately 65 ro-ro, ro-pax and lo-lo ships, primarily on the North and Baltic Seas.<ref name=Presentation>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfdstorline.com/DfdsTorLine/EN/Presentation/ |title=This is DFDS Tor Line |accessdate=2009-03-04 |publisher=DFDS Tor Line |date= }}</ref> It was ultimately purchased by Denmark-based DFDS, which renamed it '''DFDS Tor Line''', and it operated as a freight-carrying division of DFDS along with DFDS Lisco, DFDS Lys Line and DFDS Container Line before retiring the brand.
'''Tor Line''' was founded as a joint venture between the Swedish Trans Oil Shipping and Rex Shipping to operate car-passenger ferries between Sweden, England and the Netherlands. The company name was an abbreviation of the founding companies' names, '''T'''rains '''O'''il and '''R'''ex Line.<ref name=Kommandobryggan>{{cite web |url=http://www.kommandobryggan.se/Bryggan/tor.htm |title=Tor Line |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Kommandobryggan |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref> Tor Line begun passenger operations in 1966 and freight operations in 1969.<ref name=Asklander1>{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_line.htm |title=Tor Line |last=Asklander |first=Micke |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref><ref name=Asklander2>{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_roro.htm |title=Tor Roro |last=Asklander |first=Micke |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref> In 1980 Tor Line formed a brief joint venture for passenger services, Sessan Tor Line, with Sessan Line. A similar joint venture was formed for freight services with Swedish Lloyd.<ref name=Boyle>{{cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/TOR_Line_PCs.html |title=Tor Line Page 1 – Passenger Ferries 1966–1981 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Simplon Postcards |publisher= |date= |language= }}</ref> Both proved short-lived: Stena Line acquired Sessan Line in 1981,<ref name=Kommandobryggan /> and during the same year Tor Line passenger services were sold to DFDS. A year later DFDS also acquired Tor Line's freight services.<ref name=Boyle /> Initially both divisions were marketed as DFDS Tor Line, but the passenger ferries were later moved under the DFDS brand.<ref name=Boyle2A>{{cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/DFDS_TOR_Line.html |title=DFDS Tor Line Page 2A – Freight Ferries up to 2000 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Simplon Postcards |publisher= |date= |language= }}</ref>
==History== ===Passenger operations 1966–1981=== Two Swedish shipping companies, Trans Oil Shipping and Rex Shipping, decided to form a new company for providing car/passenger ferry services between Sweden, England and the Netherlands. The new Tor Line (an abbreviation of Trans Oil and Rex) ordered the construction of two state-of-the-art ferries from Lübecker Flender-Werke in West Germany. These entered service on the Gothenburg—Immingham—Amsterdam route in 1966 and 1967 as {{MS|Tor Anglia}} and {{MS|Tor Hollandia}}, respectively.<ref name=Boyle /><ref name="Asklander Tor Anglia">{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_anglia_1966.htm |title=M/S ''Tor Anglia'' (1966) |last=Asklander |first=Micke |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref> Meanwhile, Bratt-Götha and the Dutch KNSM (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot-Maatschappij) joined as shareholders (25% each). Tor Line's main rivals on the Sweden—England route were England-Sweden Line (ESL), a joint service operated by Ellerman's Wilson Line, Swedish Lloyd and Rederi AB Svea.<ref name=Kommandobryggan /> The ESL partner companies had also brought new ships on the route in 1966, but these were slower than the Tor ships, had less modern furnishings and lacked full-height cardecks.<ref name=Boyle />
In 1975 Tor Line took delivery of the new, larger and faster {{MS|Tor Britannia}} for the Sweden—England—Netherlands service, followed in 1976 by {{MS|Tor Scandinavia}}, a second ship of the same design.<ref name="Asklander Tor Britannia">{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_britannia_1975.htm |title=M/S ''Tor Britannia'' (1975) |last=Asklander |first=Micke |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref><ref name="Asklander Tor Scandinavia">{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/tor_scandinavia_1976.htm |title=M/S ''Tor Scandinavia'' (1976) |last=Asklander |first=Micke |accessdate=2009-03-04 |work=Fakta om Fartyg |publisher= |date= |language=Swedish }}</ref> With the delivery of the new ships the ''Tor Anglia'' and ''Tor Hollandia'' were sold. Also in 1976 the English terminal of Tor Line's services was moved to Felixstowe. The new ships were arguably the finest ferries of the time, and served as the final blow to the ESL service. Ellerman's Wilson Line and Rederi AB Svea had already dropped out of the joint service previously, and in 1977 Swedish Lloyd also ceased their passenger operations. Despite their dominant position in the Sweden-England service Tor Line's financial position was precarious.<ref name=Boyle /> There was not enough passenger demand for two large ships on the service during the winter months; due to this the ''Tor Scandinavia'' was chartered out as an expedition ship during the winter seasons from 1979 onwards.<ref name="Asklander Tor Scandinavia" />
To improve their financial position Tor line sought out partnerships with other shipping companies. In 1979 {{MS|Espresso Olbia}} (the former ''Tor Anglia'') was chartered for a planned joint Gothenburg—Kristiansand—Newcastle with Fred. Olsen, but Fred. Olsen pulled out before the service could commence. Instead the ''Espresso Olbia'' was laid up in Gothenburg.<ref name="Asklander Tor Anglia" /> In early 1980 a more successful joint service was formed with Sessan Line, when Sessan Tor Line was established. Logos of the new joint service were painted on Tor Line's ships.<ref name="Asklander Tor Britannia" /> Sessan Tor Line proved short-lived as Sessan's main competitors Stena Line purchased Sessan in early 1981.<ref name=Kommandobryggan /> Subsequently, Tor Line entered negotiations to sell either the ''Tor Britannia'' or ''Tor Scandinavia'' to DFDS. Instead of buying just one ship DFDS purchased the entire Tor Line passenger division in late 1981. Initially the Tor ships were marketed as DFDS Tor Line, but were subsequently absorbed into DFDS' passenger division DFDS Seaways.<ref name=Boyle /> Despite this they kept their original Tor-prefixed names until 1990–1991.<ref name="Asklander Tor Britannia" /><ref name="Asklander Tor Scandinavia" />
===Freight operations 1969 onwards=== Tor Line first initiated freight services in 1969 with {{MS|Tor Mercia}}, and the company acquired a large fleet of freight-carrying vessels during the subsequent years.<ref name=Asklander2 /> In 1980, around the same time as the establishment of joint passenger services with Sessan Line, Tor Line established a joint freight service with their former competitors Swedish Lloyd, marketed as Tor Lloyd. During the Falklands War at least one of the Tor Lloyd ships, {{MS|Tor Caledonia}}, was chartered to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for service as a supply vessel.<ref name=Boyle2A />
Like the joint Sessan Tor service, the joint Tor Lloyd service proved short-lived, and in 1982 DFDS acquired Tor Line's freight operations. Following the acquisition the former Tor Line ships were rebranded DFDS Tor Line,<ref name=Boyle2A /> and subsequently the Tor division developed into DFDS' main freight-carrying subsidiary.<ref name=Presentation />
===Organisation changes 2010 onwards=== In 2010 DFDS acquired Norfolkline from Maersk. Following restructuring, the operations of DFDS Tor Line, DFDS Lisco and Norfolkline were integrated into DFDS Seaways. The merger led to changes and additions to freight destinations and an expansion in freight volumes. It is at this point that the historic Tor Line ceased to exist as a brand and entity, though its contributions to the legacy of North Sea and Baltic Sea maritime shipping remains.
==Fleet== {| class="wikitable" ! Ship || Built || Entered service || Gross tonnage || Flag || Notes |- | {{MS|Tor Belgia}} ||align="Center" | 1978 ||align="Center" | 1992 ||align="Right" | {{GT|21,491}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} || Under charter from Eidsiva Rederi. |- | {{MS|Tor Dania}} ||align="Center" | 1978 ||align="Center" | 1992 ||align="Right" | {{GT|21,850}} || {{flag|Norway|civil}} || Under charter from Doyen Shipping. |- | {{MS|Tor Humbria}} ||align="Center" | 1978 ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Right" | {{GT|20,165}} || {{flag|Norway|civil}} || Under charter from CS & Partners. |- | {{MS|Tor Neringa}} ||align="Center" | 1975 ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Right" | {{GT|12,494}} || {{flag|Lithuania|civil}} || Under charter from DFDS Lisco. |- | {{MS|Tor Selandia}} ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Right" | {{GT|24,196}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Suecia}} ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Center" | 1999 ||align="Right" | {{GT|24,196}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Baltica}} ||align="Center" | 1977 ||align="Center" | 2000 ||align="Right" | {{GT|14,374}} || {{flag|Belize|civil}} || Under charter from Balticum Shipping. |- | {{MS|Tor Britannia|1998|6}} ||align="Center" | 2000 ||align="Center" | 2000 ||align="Right" | {{GT|24,196}} || {{flag|Denmark|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Magnolia}} ||align="Center" | 2003 ||align="Center" | 2003 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Denmark|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Begonia}} ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Petunia}} ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Denmark|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Primula}} ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Center" | 2004 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Denmark|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Tor Bellona}} ||align="Center" | 1980 ||align="Center" | 2005 ||align="Right" | {{GT|22,748}} || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || Under charter from Eidsiva Rederi. |- | {{MS|Tor Freesia}} ||align="Center" | 2005 ||align="Center" | 2005 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Mermaid II}} ||align="Center" | 1972 ||align="Center" | 2006 ||align="Right" | {{GT|13,730}} || {{flag|Latvia|civil}} || Under charter from Skandia Liv. |- | {{MS|Tor Ficaria}} ||align="Center" | 2006 ||align="Center" | 2006 ||align="Right" | {{GT|32,289}} || {{flag|Denmark|civil}} || |- | {{MS|Ark Forwarder}} ||align="Center" | 1998 ||align="Center" | 2007 ||align="Right" | {{GT|21,004}} || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || Under charter from Stena Line. |- | {{MS|Tor Corona}} ||align="Center" | 2007 ||align="Center" | 2007 ||align="Right" | {{GT|25,600}} || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || Under charter from Macoma Shipping. |- | {{MS|Aegean Sky}} ||align="Center" | 1974 ||align="Center" | 2007 ||align="Right" | {{GT|13,436}} || {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|civil}} || Under charter from Crystalline Oceanway. |- | {{MS|Tor Finlandia}} ||align="Center" | 2000 ||align="Center" | 2009 ||align="Right" | {{GT|11,530}} || {{flag|Lithuania|civil}} || |}
===Former ships=== ====Passenger ferries==== {| class="wikitable" ! Ship || Built || In service || Tonnage || Flag |- | {{MS|Tor Anglia}} ||align="Center" | 1966 ||align="Center" | 1966–1976 ||align="Right" | {{GRT|7,042}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} |- | {{MS|Tor Hollandia}} ||align="Center" | 1967 ||align="Center" | 1967–1975 ||align="Right" | {{GRT|7,432}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} |- | {{MS|Tor Britannia}} ||align="Center" | 1975 ||align="Center" | 1975–1981 ||align="Right" | {{GRT|14,905}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} |- | {{MS|Tor Scandinavia}} ||align="Center" | 1976 ||align="Center" | 1976–1981 ||align="Right" | {{GRT|15,673}} || {{flag|Sweden|civil}} |}
====Freighters==== {{inc-transport|date=October 2021}} {| class="wikitable" ! Ship || Built || In service || Chartered/owned || Tonnage || Flag |- | {{MS|Loon-Plage}} ||align="Center" | 1991 ||align="Center" | 1999 || Chartered ||align="Right" | {{GT|4,962}} || {{flag|Cyprus|civil}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dfdstorline.com/DfdsTorLine/EN/ DFDS Tor Line official website]
{{DFDS}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Shipping companies of Denmark Category:Shipping companies based in Copenhagen Category:Ferry companies of Sweden Category:Danish companies established in 1966 Category:DFDS