Fram in Helsinki, 8 May 2012

Fram

IMO 9370018
Built 2007, Fincantieri Trieste, Italy
Tonnage 11 647 GT
Length 114,00 m
Width 20,20 m
Draugth 5,10 m
Ice class 1 A
500 passengers
318 passenger berths
4 MaK diesels, combined 7 924 kW
2 azipods
2 bow thruster
Speed 16 knots

The Fram was the second cruise ship to call in Helsinki for the 2012 summer cruise season on 8 May 2012. Unusually she came during the afternoon and departed late in the evening. My original plan was to photograph her from Kustaanmiekka, giving the somewhat unusual perspective of a ship arriving through the Kustaanmiekka strait (okay, ships do this every day - I'm just never up early enough to photograph them), but the Fram came in about an hour earlier than scheduled. Hence I was forced to photograph her from onboard the Suokki instead.

Click on the images to see in larger size.

On Kruunuvuorenselkä, inbound towards the South Harbour.

Passing bahind the fortification island Lonna - notice that the spring hasn't gotten very far yet.

I should take more vertical photographs - although getting the horizon straight in them is even more challenging than in horizontal shots.

Had the ship come in a earlier still (or a bit later) I could have taken fine photos in close quarters from the Suokki. Well, you can't always win.

And a bit later, the Fram at Pakkahuoneenlaituri about to discharge her passengers.

Fram, 13 May 2011

Fram

IMO 9370018
Built 2007, Fincantieri Trieste, Italy
Tonnage 11 647 GT
Length 114,00 m
Width 20,20 m
Draugth 5,10 m
Ice class 1 A
500 passengers
318 passenger berths
4 MaK diesels, combined 7 924 kW
2 azipods
2 bow thruster
Speed 16 knots

Hurtigruten's Fram making her second visit to Helsinki during 2011 on 13 May 2011. She is one of the few cruise ships large enough to use the Pakkahuoneenlaituri quay, making for interesting views. Click on the individual images to view larger size.

It was a neat sight, watching the ship with azipods and two bow thrusters pull away sideways from the quay against a strong wind.

To top off the performance, the Fram made a superb over 180 degrees turn, offering very neat photo opportunities.

Since I last saw the ship in 2009 Hurtigruten have painted the company name on the side of the ships. Looks quite neat, actually.

Still more to turn, though the ship looks like she's about to head out through Särkänsalmi. I think she actually has a shallow enough draught to use the särkänsalmi shipping lane, but never the less she left through the normal Kustaanmiekka route.

Fram, 3 May 2009

Fram

IMO 9370018
Built 2007, Fincantieri Trieste, Italy
Tonnage 11 647 GT
Length 114,00 m
Width 20,20 m
Draugth 5,10 m
Ice class 1 A
500 passengers
318 passenger berths
4 MaK diesels, combined 7 924 kW
2 azipods
2 bow thruster
Speed 16 knots

Fram (Norwegian for "Forward") is named after polar exporer Fridtjof Nansen's schooner that was used on Nansen's Arctic expedition, Otto Sverdrup's expedition to Canadian Arctic islands and on Roald Amundsen's famous expedition to the South Pole. The newer Fram is the first purpose-built cruise ship belonging to the Norwegian Hurtigruten company, designed specifically for cruising on the Arctic and Antarctic waters. She was also the first ship ever to have been delivered to the present-day Hurtigruten company that had been formed in 2006 when the last two surviving Hurtigruten partners, Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskab (TFDS) and Ofotens og Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab (OVDS) merged to form Hurtigruten Group.

Unlike other Hurtigruten ships, that have usually been ordered from Norwegian (or sometimes German) shipyards, the Fram was built at Italy's Fincantieri yards, possibly due to Fincantieri's large-scale experience in building cruise ships. However, despite her cruise ship status the Fram is certified to carry 182 deck passengers in addition to the 318 passenger she carries while cruising, making it possible to use her on the Bergen-Kirkenes coastal trade that Hurtigruten's other ships ply.

Photographs below are from the Fram'svisit to Helsinki on 3 May 2009. Click on the individual images to view full size.

The "pretty ugly" Fram shortly after departing from Helsinki.

Entering the Kustaanmiekka strait.

Sailing through the strait in a healthy southern breeze.

Past the narrowest point of the strait.

Forward to the open sea.