The Swedish tanker shipping company Stena Bulk is reflagging further vessels. Following the reflagging of the “Stena Superior” under the Swedish flag in Shenzhen, China, last month, the “Stena Imperator” has now followed suit.
This move strengthens the Scandinavian country’s crisis preparedness and strategic resilience.
The two tankers represent the fourth and fifth vessels to be reflagged under the programme announced by Stena Bulk in July 2025 to bring vessels onto the Swedish Ship Register.
According to the shipping company, the reflagging of the “Stena Imperator” was completed in San Francisco. The product and chemical tanker, with a deadweight of 49,690 dwt, was built by Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) and delivered in 2017. It is the first vessel of Stena Bulk’s IMOIIMAX design to be reflagged as part of the programme.
When Stena Bulk announced the programme, there were no large tankers registered in the Swedish Ship Register. Launched last year, the programme aims to strengthen the Swedish maritime sector and Sweden’s competitiveness as a flag state, support the country’s national preparedness and strategic resilience, and create employment opportunities for Swedish seafarers.
The programme followed reforms that have made the Swedish Ship Register more competitive, including the abolition of stamp duty, a competitive tonnage tax and improvements to the ship register.
“With the ‘Stena Superior’ and the ‘Stena Imperator’, our reflagging programme now comprises five vessels,” says Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk. “The inclusion of an IMOIIMAX tanker in the Swedish register alongside our Suezmax tankers is an important step. The fact that we were able to carry out these reflagging operations in China and the United States in parallel with regular vessel operations demonstrates how well established this process has become. The fact that everything went so smoothly is thanks to our crews and shore-based teams, as well as the close cooperation we continue to maintain with the Swedish authorities and the maritime unions.”
Every vessel entered in the Swedish register strengthens Sweden’s presence in international tanker shipping, its national preparedness and its maritime expertise, according to the CEO. “We are proud to be able to continue contributing to this.”
“Stena Suède” is one of the tankers registered under the Swedish flag (© Stena Bulk)
“Stena Sunrise” leads the way
The Swedish government and the business community are working together to expand the merchant fleet with more ships flying the Swedish flag. In the summer of 2025, the “Stena Sunrise” was reflagged in Singapore, leading the way. It was followed by the “Stena Suède”.
In December 2025, in the presence of Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carlson, the CEO of the Stena Group, Dan Sten Olsson, and the CEO of Stena Bulk, Erik Hånell, the Suezmax tanker “Stena Surprise” was entered in the Swedish register as the third vessel in the programme.
On the occasion of the “Stena Surprise” being registered under the Swedish flag, Carlson said: “Today’s registration is proof that the government’s shipping policy is having an effect. This strengthens Sweden’s security, redundancy and crisis preparedness. Given the tense international situation, a strong Swedish merchant fleet is crucial to our crisis preparedness, as it increases the state’s control over the vessels.”
Carlson went on to say that he valued the close cooperation with the industry to improve the competitiveness of the Swedish shipping sector. He also welcomed the fact that several Swedish shipping companies are now once again opting for the Swedish flag.
Since the government took office, several measures have been taken to reverse the trend of a shrinking merchant fleet. These include the abolition of stamp duty on ship mortgages, improved regulations regarding the Swedish tonnage tax and a new register that facilitates bareboat chartering. Furthermore, the government has adopted new regulations designed to simplify recruitment in the shipping sector.
