Upcoming Silja Line/Tallink book & other updates

I haven't been updating this blog too much recently, for which I apologise. In my defence, I have a good excuse as I've been spending time working on the photographs that will illustrate my upcoming book Silja Line - From De Samseglande to Tallink, which will be out from Ferry Publications in October (if all goes well, that is). You can see some more details on the book (including the first draft of the cover) at Ferry Publications' website here. (Should the direct link not work, just go to the FerryPubs main site; The book is displayed as the second item of the "New Titles for 2013" list).

The c. 200-page book will cover an extended history of Silja Line and their current owners Tallink, starting from the first Finland-Sweden joint service in 1904 by the Finland Steamship Company and Steamship Company Bore - 50 years later this collaboration led to the formation Siljarederiet and later Silja Line. Also covered are the various other passenger shipping operations of Silja's owners that in some way or another had an effect on Silja itself, including Sally Like UK, Commodore Cruise Line, Crown Cruise Line and Vaasanlaivat.

I obviously hope that many of you readers will buy the book, or borrow it, and most importantly read and enjoy it. If you're certain you're going to buy it - after all, I know it's going to be an awesome book - you can preorder it on Ferry Publications' website.

Incidentally, I am still looking for photos of certain more elusive ships to be featured in the book. If, by any chance, you happen to have good-quality photos of Silja Line ships of the 1960s and 1970s, or photos of the ships of Commodore & Crown Cruise Lines, drop me an e-mail in the adress kalle.id [ät] gmail.com.

In other, completely unrelated news, my previously mentioned review of my trip on St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia is up at MaritimeMatters (actually has been for some time). Part one can be read here and part two here. Finally, for those of you who speak Finnish, the latest issue of the Ulkomatala web magazine is up at the magazine's website.