Strömma Kanalbolaget

Strömma is an experience and shipping group; its present-day scale should be distinguished from the history of individual shipping companies. In Sweden, Rederi AB Göta Kanal is part of canal travel. It operates passenger services on the Göta Canal, while the independent AB Göta kanalbolag manages the canal, its facilities and surrounding properties. The two companies have related names but different responsibilities.

The group, the shipping company and the canal company

The shipping company was founded in 1869 under the name Ångfartygsaktiebolaget Motala Ström. Rederi AB Göta Kanal has been part of the Strömma Group since January 2001. The separate canal company, AB Göta kanalbolag, was established in 1810, when construction of the waterway began. It is responsible for maintaining and restoring the canal, as well as around 400 historic and practical buildings. Rederi AB Göta Kanal, by contrast, takes passengers through the locks and between towns aboard its canal boats.

A shipping company with 19th-century roots

The company’s first vessel was the Motalaström, built in 1855. After being refitted, it carried passengers in three classes in addition to deck passengers. The business got off to such a successful start that two more steamers, Venus and Juno, were ordered. Delivered in 1874, Juno is still sailing today; in 1876, the company began working with Thomas Cook & Co. to bring international travellers to Sweden. By the 1880s, eleven vessels were in service, including combined cargo and passenger ships.

After a hiatus during the First World War, the company resumed operations in the 1920s and promoted its trips with brochures in 16 languages. Diana joined the fleet in 1931; during the Second World War, the ships were taken out of service. Following several changes of ownership, shipowner Helge Källsson took over the company in 1957 and named it Rederi AB Göta Kanal. In 1986, his daughter Britmari Brax took over the shipping company. Today’s historic fleet includes the 1874 Juno, the 1912 Wilhelm Tham and the 1931 Diana. Their dimensions are tailored to the canal’s locks.

Today’s focus

Its integration into Strömma in 2001 brought the traditional canal shipping company into a broader Nordic tourism group. The fleet operates multi-day canal cruises and shorter sections of the route; day-trip boats on the canal may belong to other shipping companies. The distinction between the group brand, passenger operations and management of the waterway therefore remains relevant to trips today.