Polferries and Unity Line
Polferries (Polska Żegluga Bałtycka) is Poland's state ferry operator and has linked the Polish Baltic coast with Sweden since 1976. Since March 2026 it has operated alongside Unity Line under the joint POLSCA Baltic Ferries umbrella. Here's more about both brands and their routes to Sweden.
About Polferries and Unity Line
Table of Contents
About Polferries
Polferries is the trading name of Polska Żegluga Bałtycka, Poland's state ferry operator based in Kołobrzeg on the Baltic coast. The company has linked the Polish coast with Sweden since 1976 and is today part of a joint-stock company of the Polish State Treasury. Its fleet of five ferries sails between Poland and Sweden.
For your trip to Sweden, two routes matter most: the overnight link from Gdańsk to Nynäshamn near Stockholm, and the route from Świnoujście to Ystad in southern Sweden; Gdańsk - Karlshamn was added in 2026. On the two older routes, Polferries carries cars, motorhomes and bicycles alongside foot passengers.
History
Polska Żegluga Bałtycka was founded in Kołobrzeg on 31 January 1976. Over the following decades the company expanded ferry traffic between Poland and Scandinavia, reaching a record 655,617 passengers carried in 1989. On 31 December 1991 the state enterprise became a joint-stock company of the Polish State Treasury, the structure under which it still operates today.
The company has carried the Polferries brand since its founding. In 2026 it marks fifty years in business, making it one of the most established ferry operators on the Baltic. Since 30 March 2026, Polferries, Unity Line and EuroAfrica have pooled their ferry operations under the joint POLSCA Baltic Ferries umbrella; the Polferries brand and its routes continue unchanged.
Polferries to Sweden
For the crossing to Sweden, Polferries offers three routes. The overnight Gdańsk - Nynäshamn ferry links the Gulf of Gdańsk with Nynäshamn, just over sixty kilometres south of Stockholm, in around eighteen hours. You board in the evening and arrive just outside the Swedish capital by midday. The M/F Nova Star and M/F Wawel sail this route, both offering cabins from simple inside cabins up to Owner Class.
Further south, Świnoujście - Ystad crosses the open Baltic to Scania in around seven and a half hours, with several sailings a day. From Ystad it's just under an hour's drive to Malmö, and about two hours to Copenhagen via the Öresund Bridge. Polferries shares this route with sister brand Unity Line; under the Polferries flag, the M/F Varsovia and M/F Mazovia sail here.
The newest addition to the network is Gdańsk - Karlshamn, Polferries' second route from Gdańsk. It sails almost daily to Blekinge in around thirteen and a half hours, mostly overnight, and appears in Polferries' timetable and booking system. It's run within the POLSCA group, which Polferries has been part of since March 2026; the route is served by the passenger ferry Skania and the Copernicus, which was built mainly for freight. From Karlshamn, the E22 follows the coast to Karlskrona, Kalmar and on towards Stockholm.
Unity Line
Unity Line is a Polish shipping company based in Szczecin and one of the established ferry operators on the southern Baltic. Founded in 1994, it began ferry services between Świnoujście and Ystad in southern Sweden in 1995. The company is closely linked to Polska Żegluga Morska, the Polish state shipping company based in Szczecin that trades internationally as Polsteam. Backed by this corporate group, Unity Line expanded its fleet over the years: alongside its passenger ferries came rail and ro-ro freight ferries, which also serve the freight route to Trelleborg.
The ro-pax ferries Polonia and Skania run the passenger service. The Polonia, in service since 1995, is regarded as the company's flagship; the Skania joined in 2008 and has also sailed Gdańsk - Karlshamn since 2026. Both ships carry vehicles and foot passengers and offer cabins in several categories, restaurants, a bar and an onboard shop.
Since 30 March 2026, Unity Line has been part of the joint POLSCA Baltic Ferries group together with Polferries and EuroAfrica; the Unity Line brand and its route continue unchanged. For your trip to Sweden, Świnoujście - Ystad remains the relevant route, sailing year-round several times a day, both by day and overnight, in around seven and a half hours. On the overnight sailings, a cabin is the sensible choice, so you arrive in Scania well rested in the morning. Ystad is a convenient arrival port: the railway station sits right next to the terminal, Malmö is just under an hour's drive away, and Copenhagen around two hours via the Öresund Bridge. Since both brands sail the same route, it's worth comparing departures before you book.
FAQ Polferries and Unity Line
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and answers about Polferries, Unity Line and the ferry routes to Sweden
Which ferry routes does Polferries operate to Sweden? +
Polferries runs three ferry routes from Poland to Sweden. The overnight Gdańsk - Nynäshamn route runs from the Gulf of Gdańsk to the greater Stockholm area. Świnoujście - Ystad sails to southern Sweden, both by day and overnight; Polferries shares this route with sister brand Unity Line. The new Gdańsk - Karlshamn route runs to Blekinge, mostly overnight.
Which ferry route does Unity Line operate to Sweden? +
For travel to Sweden, the key route is Świnoujście - Ystad. Unity Line has run it year-round since 1995, alongside Polferries. For travellers from Berlin and eastern Germany, Świnoujście is the nearest ferry port.
When were Polferries and Unity Line founded, and who owns them? +
Polska Żegluga Bałtycka was founded in Kołobrzeg on 31 January 1976 and has operated under the Polferries brand ever since. At the end of 1991 the state enterprise became a joint-stock company of the Polish State Treasury; the company remains state-owned to this day. Unity Line was founded in Szczecin in 1994, began ferry operations between Świnoujście and Ystad in 1995, and is a subsidiary of Polska Żegluga Morska (Polsteam). Since 30 March 2026, both companies have pooled their ferry operations under the POLSCA Baltic Ferries umbrella.
Which ships do Polferries and Unity Line use? +
The Polferries fleet comprises five ferries. M/F Nova Star and M/F Wawel sail Gdańsk - Nynäshamn, while M/F Varsovia and M/F Mazovia sail Świnoujście - Ystad. There's also the M/F Cracovia. Unity Line brings the ro-pax ferries Polonia (flagship since 1995) and Skania into the group. These are classic Baltic ferries with a car deck, cabins, restaurants and an onboard shop.
Can I bring a car, motorhome or pet? +
Yes. On all their Sweden routes, Polferries and Unity Line carry motorhomes, cars, motorbikes, trailers and bicycles; you give the vehicle's length and height when booking, and the fare is set accordingly. Pets can travel too, but must be registered in advance as space is limited.