IMO 8320573
Built 1985, Wärtsilä Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 37 860 GT
Length 175,70 m
Width 28,40 m
Draugth 6,78 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 500 passengers
2 500 berths
400 cars
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 23 008 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots
The grand old lady of the Baltic Sea. This year marks not only her 28th anniversary in the Viking Line fleet, but also the 28th year she has been in service between Helsinki and Stockholm. No other Baltic Sea ferry can boast a comparable record - and it can be said with a 99% certainty that the Mariella will continue to serve on the route for at least two more years and hence be the first Baltic ferry to break the 30-year mark.
The photos below show the Mariella departing from Helsinki in the evening of 15 March 2013. Winter lingered long this year, which meant that for once it was possible to take photos of the Helsinki-Stockholms ferries in the ice. Usually the times when there's enough light in the evening and when there's still ice do not mingle. Photos taken, as per the usual, from Kustaanmiekka.
Click on the images to see them in larger size.
 |
| The challenge here were the shadows; with the sun so low, the various structures of Suomenlinna cast extremely long shadows. As did the Mariella herself; I won't be lying if I say her shadow saw several hundred metres long. |
 |
| This photo really requires no caption, does it? |
 |
| Past the strait and into the still partially icy Baltic Sea. |
Lovely photos Kalle, miss sailing on her sister ship when she was the PRIDE OF BILBAO, they are solid build ships, sailed three times on a force 9/10 on the Bay of Biscay and she behaved impeccably, fond memories
ReplyDeleteBR
They are indeed very solid ships. As for the ex-Pride of Bilbao, you can always come to the Baltic and do a Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn-St.Petersburg circuit on her. I'll actually be doing one of those in late May.
Deletethat's a great idea Kalle, maybe one day, hope she stays in service for many years
Delete