The route is part of the regional public transport network and is operated on behalf of Västtrafik. Västtrafik is responsible for tickets, timetables and customer service, while Molslinjen runs the ferries. Västtrafik awarded the contract for 15 years, and it was originally due to start on 1 January 2026. The previous operator, Koster Marin, had served the islands since the mid-1980s.

The Koster Islands are made up of Sydkoster and Nordkoster. They lie in the Kosterfjord, Sweden's deepest fjord, close to the Norwegian border, and are part of Kosterhavet National Park. Few people live on the islands all year, but visitors to their summer houses, hotels and guesthouses fill them between Easter and autumn. The islands are car-free, so the ferries carry passengers, hand luggage, pets, mopeds and bicycles.

"These are the only ferries in the whole of Molslinjen that carry no cars at all, so it is a different and exciting task that we look forward to taking on," said Molslinjen CEO Carsten Jensen.

Molslinjen is taking over two existing vessels, KOSTERSUND and KOSTERBRIS, both of which run on biofuel. KOSTERSUND (305 GT, 177 passengers) was built by Båtservice in Norway in 1992, and KOSTERBRIS (232 GT, 180 passengers) was delivered by Oma Baatbyggeri in 2005.

Two new electric vessels are being built in Finland for delivery in early 2027. Each will carry 255 passengers, with seating indoors and outdoors, and at least 30 bicycles. Torghatten ordered the pair from Työvene in Uusikaupunki in February 2025. The vessels are built to a Multi Maritime design, and the contract is worth more than EUR 20 million. According to Västtrafik, the ferries will be charged at Norra hamnen in Strömstad.

© Shippax

The new electric vessel design