Kalmarsund VIII, Car ferry museum ship in Färjestaden, Sweden.

The Kalmarsund VIII is a car and passenger ferry built in 1963 at the Kalmar shipyard for Ångbåts AB Kalmarsund. It is powered by a seven-cylinder Nohab diesel engine of 1220 hp and KaMeWa propellers. After restoration to its original appearance, it returned to Färjestaden in 2002 and has since operated summer trips in Kalmarsund.

Built in 1963 at the Kalmar shipyard for Ångbåts AB Kalmarsund, the vessel served the Färjestaden–Kalmar route until 1972, when it made the last car-ferry crossing before the Öland Bridge opened. Sold to Rijeka, Yugoslavia, it awaited scrapping in the late 1990s. In 1999 private owners bought it back to Färjestaden and restored it to its original appearance; from 2002 it sailed Kalmarsund for a few summers, on regular runs and charters.

The vessel reflects how ferry connections shaped daily life in this region, with locals depending on these routes for work and travel for generations. Walking through its spaces reveals how passengers and cars were accommodated together, showing how central this transportation method was to the community.

The Kalmarsund VIII returned to Färjestaden in 2002 and sailed for a few summers, making regular trips between Kalmar and Färjestaden and available for charter. Visitors today can see the ferry at Färjestaden; check locally for access, as it is not a permanently moored museum.

The vessel was built to carry about 640 passengers and 30 vehicles at once, revealing how heavily this route was used by local communities. This high capacity shows just how vital regular ferry service was for people's daily movement and connections.