Silja Symphony & Silja Serenade in Helsinki, 15 October 2014

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Serenade

IMO 8715259
Built 1990, Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 376 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

The Silja Symphony returned from a long drydocking at Naantali on 15 October. During the refit she was given a new livery, with the new-style smiling seal in the funnel, while her interiors were given a similar overhaul as the Silja Serenade, but more extensive, with a redecorated promenade, a sushi bar and a new, larger children's playroom, in addition to the new shops and restaurants already introduced onboard the older sister.

The ship's arrival in Helsinki also meant that it was possible - for the third time in history, to my knowledge - to photograph the two sisters in port at the same time. And the first time this was possible with the new livery, obviously. The overcast weather was far from ideal... although still better than the previous time they were together in Helsinki, when there was thick fog that made it impossible for both ships to be visible at the same time.

The seal sisters: smiley (right) and serious (left). Alas, treating this for publication was so much work I couldn't be arsed to retouch any of the other images showing both ships.

After the Serenade departed, the Symphony shifted to the normal quay at Olympiaterminaali.

Since I was out with my tripod, I hund around long enough to take some dusk lighting photos.

Next time: Highspeed 4.