Baltic Queen on the Bay of Tallinn, 14 May 2019

Last Tuesday, I had the chance to do a shot trip on the Megastar and try out the special Tallink 30th anniversary menu in the gourmet restaurant. Those of you who speak Finnish can read my review of the menu on the Ulkomatala website here. In this entry, however, we will be looking at photos of the Baltic Queen – which has finally received the current-style Tallink logos – taken during the same trip.

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

The story of the Baltic Queen is succint so far: it was delivered in 2009 as the last ship of Tallink's three-strong Galaxy class. On delivery, the ship was placed on the Tallinn-Stockholm run, on which it stayed (excepting occasional deputising on the Turku-Stockholm route) until 2014. The charter of the Silja Europa as an accommodation ship to Australia that year resulted in the Baltic Queen moving to take over the Helsinki-Tallinn 22 hour cruise circuit in what seemed like a permanent solution. However, when the Silja Europa's charter ended after just one year, Tallink were left in a conundrum of what to do with an extra ship, with the Silja Europa temporarily placed on day cruises from Helsinki to Tallinn (not as a second 22 hour cruise ship on that route as some sources have erraneously claimed). Rumour has it that DFDS invested the Baltic Queen for purchase in 2016, but if this really happened, nothing ever came of it. Instead, in December 2016 a radically refitted Silja Europa returned to take over the Helsinki-Tallinn 22-hour cruise circuit, and the Baltic Queen returned to the Tallinn-Stockholm run.

In January 2019, the Baltic Queen sailed to the Remontowa shipyard in Gdansk for a change of the unreliable original reduction gears, in a similar refit to what had been carried out the year before on the sister ship Baltic Princess (I was onboard the Baltic Princess for that ship's hourney from Turku to Gdansk, of which you can read more here). At the same time, the Baltic Queen was repainted with the current-style Tallink logotypes – no less than seven years (!) after they had been taken into use.

The photos below show the Baltic Queen on the Bay of Tallinn, outbound from Tallinn to Stockholm on the evening of 14 May 2019, photographed from onboard the inbound Megastar. As per the usual practice, click on the images to see them in larger size.

Contemporary Estonian dry-land architecture meets contemporary Finnish maritime architecture.

Coinciding with the painting of the new-style logotype, they also painted over the red "Cruise" text that was next to it, improving the looks of the ship if you ask me.

However, I do wonder who at Tallink thought it was still nescessary to keep the www.tallink.com text on the hull in the year 2019?

Sailboats, always pictoresque.

Stockholm calling.

Kships will return.

Baltic Queen in Helsinki, 22 January 2016

Since I took these pictures of the Silja Europa three years back, I've been on the lookout for good weather at the same time of the month to get more photos in the same vein. 2014 never gave me the weather needed, in 2015 sunny days arrived too late... but today in 2016 was perfect, resulting in images that are arguably better than the Silja Europa ones from three years ago.

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

Nothing new to say about the Baltic Queen, really. Her history is quite succint: she was delivered in 2009 for the Tallinn-Stockholm run, on which she stayed (excepting occasional deputising on the Turku-Stockholm route) until 2014, when she moved to the Helsinki-Tallinn 22 hour cruise circuit, replacing the Silja Europa. The latter ship is due to return to the Tallink fleet, and the Helsinki-Tallinn route, later this spring, but she will joint the route as a fouth vessel and as such will not be replacing the Baltic Queen.

The photographs below show the Baltic Queen arriving at Helsinki Länsisatama (West Harbour) on the afternoon of 22 January 2016. Photographed from Hernesaari. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Peeking from behind Pihlajasaari.

The Baltic Queen's livery is my personal favourite of the Galaxy-class. The added blue and orange stripes really improve the ship's looks compared to the Baltic Princess.

Not only did we have ice and a neat sunset, but also a decent amount of sea smoke.

The columns of water vapour were really quite magical.

A lightly different point of view.

Then the ship moved a bit further from the sun and the whole colour palette changed.

Ice ice baby.

I love how you can see the livery, just in different shades from normal.

Next time: I'll do my best to make the next update next week, but after the recent track record I'm not making any promises on what it will be about.

Kships exclusive: Tallink reveals the new livery of the Baltic Queen!

The Estonian ferry operator Tallink Grupp today revealed that they will renew the liveries of the Baltic Queen (sailing under the Tallink brand on the Helsinki-Tallinn route) and the Baltic Princess (sailing under the Silja Line brand on the Turku-Stockholm route) when the ships are next docked. "The Galaxy has been since the beginning in a livery designed by the Estonian artist Navitrolla. We have decided to honour Swedish and Finnish artists in the new liveries of the Galaxy's sisters, thus our three main markets will be present on the sides of our largest and newest ships", says Tallink's managing director Janek Nalmeister.

The first ship to be repainted is the Baltic Queen, which will receive artwork designed by the Finnish war veteran and internationally renowned artist Touko Laaksonen in its docking next autumn. The Baltic Princess will receive artworks by the Swedish painter Hilma af Klint at a later date.

An artit's impression the Baltic Queen's new livery, by Touko Laaksonen, better known under the stage name Tom of Finland. Photo copyright AS Tallink Grupp/Jani Nousiainen/Kalle Id.

Baltic Queen in Helsinki, 18 March 2015

As you may have noticed, this blog hasn't been updated very often recently. One of the reasons for this (apart from my being lazy) has been the fact that I've been putting finishing touches on my second book, tentatively titeled Tallink: The First 25 Years (though at this rate, it'll be out on Tallink's 26th anniversary at earliest). Obviously, Silja Line from De Samseglande to Tallink included a short look at the history of Tallink, but the new book takes a more detailed look at the history of Tallink, as well as the history of the Helsinki-Tallinn passenger services before Tallink, and the history of Estline (which was absorbed by Tallink in 2000). So, if all goes well, the new book will be with us later this year. Meanwhile, here are some photos relevant to the upcoming book, taken earlier today:

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

We've been experiencing some unseasonably warm and sunny days of the late, and with this in mind I decided to head to Vattuniemi for a spot of photography. The main attraction was the arrival of the Baltic Queen - despite the fact she has been sailing from Helsinki for over six months now, I haven't put any photos of her in Helsinki up here. This shall now be rectified.

As always, click on the images to see them in larger size.

The weather was beautiful.

And I have to admit I actually quite like the Baltic Queen (though I've never actually been onboard her). The Galaxy-class ships have a nice, unpretentious profile and the Baltic Queen has the best livery of the three - I especially like the orange bits.

Yeah, I didn't bother with too many closeups this time. Or more to the point, I did take them, but vetted them all out when choosing what to put up here - these all look so much nicer.

The white line on the sky is not the trail of an airplane, but rather a fisherman's line. Fishers tend to congregate at Vattuniemi this time of the year, which makes photography more challenging than normally.

No chance for rear-view photos this time... but let's admit, the aft is not the best angle of these ships anyway.

Next time: ...I think I'd better not make any promises.

Baltic Queen in Tallinn, 11 March 2014

Before we get on with the regular programming, for those interested in my visit to the Gann, my report from the visit is now up at MaritimeMatters for your reading pleasure.

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

The big news on the Baltic Sea this week was of course Tallink's announcement that the Silja Europa is to be chartered to Bridgemans Services as an accommodation vessel in Australia for 14 months, with a possible extension to 48 months. (Bridgemans are of course also chartering the Silja Festival). In August, the Silja Europa's place on the Helsinki-Tallinn 22-hour cruise service will be taken over by the Baltic Queen, transferring from the Tallinn-Stockholm service. The Romantika will in turn transfer back to the Tallinn-Stockholm service, and the Stockholm-Riga route will, at least temporarily, revert into a single-ship service. (Interestingly, after these changes all three ships of Tallink's Galaxy-class will have sailed on the Helsinki-Tallinn route at some point during their careers).

With this in mind, I decided it's time to post something relevant about these changes. The Silja Europa has been widely covered here, especially after her move to sail from Helsinki, but images of the Baltic Queen are fewer - and as it happened, I have a few nice previously unpublished ones sitting on the computer. So here they are: The Baltic Queen departing from Tallinn in the evening of 11 March 2014, photographed from onboard the Finlandia. As always, you can see the images in larger size by clicking on them.

The near-nocturnal photo session required heavy but straightforward adjustments to brightness and contrast... but the result is rather worth it, I think.

Alas, from the position that we were at there weren't too many different views to photograph the ship before she slipped behind the breakwater and out of range.

Baltic Queen in Stockholm, 28 May 2013

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

I don't remember if there has been a history entry for the Baltic Queen before. There probably hasn't, because there's so little to say. The ship was built in 2009 by STX Europe in Rauma as the third and last unit of Tallink's Galaxy-class. On delivery in April 2009 she was placed on the Tallinn-Mariehamn-Stockholm route. In November-December 2009 and again in October-November 2010 she briefly moved to Silja Line's Turku-Långnäs-Stockholm -run, allowing the Silja Europa to move to the Helsinki-Mariehamn-Stockholm run to cover for the docking periods of the Silja Serenade and Silja Symphony. Apart from these occasions, Tallink's newest ship has stayed exclusively on the Tallinn-Stockholm run.

The photographs below show the Baltic Queen departing from Stockholm Värtahamnen in the afternoon of 28 May 2013, photographed from onboard St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

The lighting obviously wasn't ideal when approaching from this direction, but on the other hand it's not every day you can even photograph the ship from this particular point of view in this place.

As fashionable as it is to dislike the Tallink ship artworks, I must say I quite like the one on the BQ. It's not overdone and the colours used work surprisingly well together. I wouldn't mind seeing Tallink repaint some of their ships, but this one should stay exactly as it is.

The remains of a double-ended local Stockholm ferry in the foreground.

Departing view framed by harbour buildings. Notice the map of the Baltic Sea on the warehouse on the left.

Next time: Galaxy

Baltic Queen in Mariehamn, 25 June 2012

I apologise for the recent pause in updates to this blog. I have, somehow, managed to be frightfully busy for the past two weeks - quite an archievement considering I'm currently technically unemployed and hence I should have all the time in the world. But, onwards to the point and the last photographs (worth of publishing) from my midsummer visit to Mariehamn with Bruce Peter.

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

The Baltic Queen is probably the least-covered Northern Baltic ferry in this blog. For whatever reason, I never manage to find myself in a location that allows good photography of the ship. Except on the recent midsummer trip with Bruce, where the night between 24 and 25 June allowed for rather splendid nocturnal photography of the ship (and when I say nocturnal, do remember that this was midsummer - the photos were around 1 AM and as you can see, a part of the sky was still quite light). The photographs below show the BQ arriving at, and departing from, Mariehamn on her nocturnal tax-free visit. Click on the images to see in larger size.

Feel free to disagree, but personally I think the Baltic Queen has the best-looking livery of the Galaxy-class ships. Of course, these photos don't exactly do the livery justice...

One in the morning and you can see the sun setting. Finnish summer is quite awesome (winter, not quite so).

Turning to reverse into the quay.

Twenty minutes later, the Baltic Queen is outbound towards Tallinn.

Tallink have not skimped on the budget for lamps to light up the sides. Nice for photography purposes.

Next time: (probably) Fjärdvägen.

Baltic Queen & Victoria I, 23 March 2009

Baltic Queen

IMO 9443255
Built 2009, STX Europe Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draft 6,42 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 500 berths
600 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 32 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 24,5 knots

Victoria I

IMO 9281281
Built 2004, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 40 975 GT
Length 193,80 m
Width 29,00 m
Draft 6,50 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 500 passengers
2 252 berths
400 cars
1 000 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

Victoria I (referred to in Tallnk marketing material as "Victoria" without the number, but Victoria I is her registered name) was Tallink's second new-built ship, delivered in 2004 from the Aker Finnyards shipyard in Rauma. She is a sister ship of the Romantika delivered two years previously. Since her entry into service the Victoria I has sailed on the Tallinn-Stockholm route, but her running mates have changed several times. Originally she ran parallel to the Regina Baltica, but in 2006 following the delivery of the new Galaxy the Romantika moved on the Tallinn-Stockholm service replacing the Regina Baltica.

In 2009 the Baltic Queen, the third ship of the Galaxy-class (that one in itself an enlarged version of the Romantika/Victoria I design) was delivered from the Rauma shipyard, which meanwhile had passed under the ownership of STX Europe. The Baltic Queen was placed on the Tallinn-Stockholm service, replacing the Romantika and running parallel to the Victoria I. (The Romantika transferred to the Riga-Stockholm route, where she again replaced the Regina Baltica).

Photographs below were taken in Tallinn on 23 March 2009, the day before the Baltic Queen entered service. Resulting she was in port at the same time as her running mate Victoria I. Photos taken from onboard the Viking XPRS. Click on the individual images to view full size.

Brand new Baltic Queen in the afternoon sun.

Aft of the Baltic Queen, the Victoria I is preparing to leave for Stockholm.