Our history

Our journey towards truly sustainable shipping never ends and the 2020s will be dominated by the Oceanbird concept, developed by Wallenius Marine, SSPA and KTH.

Huge focus lies on operating the fleet as efficient as possible, both environmentally and financially. New global emission regulations sets a whole new maritime standard creating a race to find the most sustainable way to operate.

The partnership with Wilh.Wilhelmsen develops into more joint ventures. All commercial activities are performed by the various subsidiaries under their own brand names. Wallenius Lines focuses on optimising its fleet. An extensive newbuilding programme is launched. When the first vessels starts to arrive, the world is hit by financial turmoil, something many companies would suffer from under several years.

Huge focus lies on operating the fleet as efficient as possible, both environmentally and financially. New global emission regulations sets a whole new maritime standard creating a race to find the most sustainable way to operate.

The global economy is booming and vehicle transportation expands internationally. Wallenius Lines grows dramatically, modernises and expands its fleet and continues to lead technological developments in transoceanic car carrying. A number of PCTC’s are delivered and a number of charter arrangements are being made. Wallenius Lines consolidates its global operations by acquiring several of its agents.

Olof Wallenius passes away quite unexpectedly. Wallenius Lines carries out the earlier decision to phase out the tanker business in favour of car carriers. A whole new vessel type is developed to make transportation of cars but also other rolling cargo more efficient. When small, efficient Japanese cars become even more popular during the oil crisis, Wallenius Lines is ready to deliver and for the first time Wallenius Lines carries more than 500,000 vehicles a year.

Wallenius Lines is alone at the cutting-edge of the car-carrying industry and develops the roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) cargo systems. The company moves into Japan-Europe traffic.

The world begins to recover from the war and industries work at full speed. Motoring makes its big breakthrough and the consumption of all kinds of petroleum products increases. Olof Wallenius, with an eye on the future, develops an entirely new kind of vessel for carrying cars. Wallenius Lines is also one of Sweden’s largest bulk and tanker companies and carries vegetable oils, petroleum products and ore between destinations all over the world.

Despite the Second World War, vessels are operated and traded. The business expands and dry-cargo vessels named after well-known operas are added to the fleet. Many countries lose much of their merchant fleet in the war which means the demand for tonnage and transport facilities are enormous after the declaration of peace in 1945.

Olof Wallenius was born in 1902. His first company, Grosshandelsfirman Olof Wallenius, was founded already in 1922 and traded in empty barrels. Olof Wallenius eventually became an agent for Karlshamns Oljefabriker and expanded his business to include transportation of soya oil in barrels by truck.