Galaxy in Mariehamn, 30 October 2015

Before we move to today's actual entry (which I planned to post before midnight, but promptly forgot), a little announcement.

As you know, I have been a regular contributor on Cruise Business Review since beginning of this year. However, the plan is that my association with CBR isn't solely limited to my writing to them; rather, the plan is that Kships will also occasionally include contributions from the good folk at CBR. If all goes to plan, within the next few weeks our collaboration will bring its first fruit for you, CBR editor Teijo Niemelä's look at Viking Cruises brand new Viking Sea.

But, before that, we shall go back to the old Baltic Sea haunts for a look at Silja Line's Galaxy:

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

For a brief history of the Galaxy, see here.

Like the Baltic Princess images from the previous post, these are perhaps not my best photos of this ship ever, but I think it's high time I posted shots of the ship with the current Silja Line hull markings. As you maybe already guessed, the photos below show the Galaxy departing Mariehamn on the afternoon of 30 October 2015, photographed from onboard the Viking Grace. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

The continuing adventures of rush hour in Mariehamn: the Galaxy depart while Amorella arrives.

Showing the new Silja Line hull markings.

Some nice autumn foliage in the background, too.

Next time: either Skiftet or Viking Sea.

Galaxy in Stockholm, 28 May 2013

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

For a short history of the Galaxy, see this entry. The photographs below show the Galaxy arriving at Stockholm's Värtanhamnen on the evening of 28 May 2013, photographed from onboard St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

I wouldn't mind living in Lidingö - at least not the highbuildings visible here. Imagine the photo opportunities during the morning arrivals! Okay, it might cost a bit.

The photogenic local ferry wreck in the foreground again.

Starting to turn in order to reverse to the terminal...

...which also leads to the ship being positioned rubbishly for the lighting.

Next time: Grand Mistral

Galaxy off Kobba Klintar, 24 June 2012

Apologies for posting some of the pictures from the same day in two parts. The previous Galaxy entry was of the ship arriving in Mariehamn on 24 June, this one is of her departing from the same port.

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

About an hour after the photos posted in the previous Galaxy entry, the ship (and her running mate Silja Europa) departed Mariehamn again, to continue towards Stockholm and Turku, respectively. Photographed, again, from the Kobba Klintar ex-pilot station island outside Mariehamn. As always, click on the images to see in larger size.

This photo gives you some idea of how busy Mariehamn is during the mid.day Turku-Stockholm ships' calls: the Galaxy and Silja Europa depart in tandem, having passed the Amorella and Isabella which are inbound - you can just see their funnels above the trees between the Galaxy and Silja Europa.

The Galaxy is, thanks to her unusual livery, one of the few ships that actually photographs better against a clouded background than clear skies.

Very neat red granite the foreground. This photo also gives you a good view of the details of the unsual livery: notice the five-legged cow below the lifeboats (I'm fairly certain it used to have six legs...) and the stange winged beast below and aft of the bridge wing.

Art imitating life: painted sky versus the sky.

Sailing onto the short stretch of open sea before the Stockholm archipelago.

Next time: Silja Europa

Galaxy off Kobba Klintar, 24 June 2012

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draught 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

More from Kobba Klintar, the Galaxy inbound to Mariehamn. Not the best photos ever, thanks to the lighting. It seems that I'm posting the arrivals and departures as separate entries, so expect more Galaxy goodieness later on.

Artist's impression of the Galaxy.

Inbound to Mariehamn; Europa leads and Galaxy follows.

Next time: Isabella.

Galaxy, 30 March 2008

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draft 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

For history of the Galaxy, see the previous entry on her. Though I admit in the photo below it is a bit hard to identify the ship, but I assure you it's the Galaxy during her time with Tallink, sailing on the Bay of Finland southbound toward Tallinn, photographed from onboard Viking Line's Rosella.

Galaxy, a ferry to the sun. ;) Click on the image to view full size.

Galaxy, 13 September 2008

Galaxy

IMO 9333694
Built 2006, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 48 915 GT
Length 212,10 m
Width 29,00 m
Draft 6,40 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 800 passengers
2 138 berths
420 cars
1 130 lanemeters
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 26 240 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 22 knots

Galaxy was the third newbuilding ever built for Tallink. She was based on the same construction as the company's two previous newbuilds Romantika and Victoria I, but with 20 metres added length. The ship's most notable exterior feature, the unusual livery, was designed by the Estonian naivist artist Navitrolla who is a personal friend of Tallink CEO Enn Pant. Navitrolla's work also carried on to the interior of the ship, where the staircases are adorned by his paintings (in my humble opinion the paintings in the interior work much much better than the exterior, where the practical demand of large fields of even colour takes away much of the adge of Navitrolla's style). Reportedly Enn Pant asked his friend to provide liveries of Tallink's subsequent newbuildings but the artist declined.

The Galaxy entered service on Tallink's Helsinki-Stockholm service in May 2006, replacing the Romantika. During the same month Tallink purchased the competing Silja Line and soon rumours begun flying that the Galaxy's then-under-construction sister ship would enter service not for Tallink but on Silja Line's Turku-Stockholm service. In the end when the new ship, eventually named Baltic Princess, entered service in July 2008 she replaced the Galaxy and it was the Galaxy that in turn moved to the Turku-Stockholm service, replacing the ageing Silja Festival.

In preparion for her new service the Galaxy was docked at Luonnonmaan telakka in Naantali and given a minor rebuild. At the same time her original Tallink Cruise hull markings were replaced by a Silja Line text. However, she retained her Tallink funnel symbol abd Silja Line's famous seal's head symbol was not painted anywhere on her hull or superstructure, making her the first major Silja Line ship since the company's formation in 1970 not to carry the seal. In marketing material the Galaxy has often been marketed as Silja Galaxy since the transfer. Her registered name however remains Galaxy.

The photographs below show the Galaxy in the Stockholm archipelago inbound to Stockholm in the afternoon of 13 September 2008. Photographed from onboard either Silja Serenade or Silja Symphony. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Not a bad-looking ship at all if you ask me. At least once the livery has had some time to grow on you.

Before the Galaxy entered service on the Turku-Stockholm route some voiced doubts about the ability of a 212-metre-long ship to perform on the twisty archipelago route. She has however performed amiably during the past two years.

Noticed the six-legged cow (yes, count them, six) and the giraffe with it's head above the clouds in addition to the penguins.