Mein Schiff 6 in Helsinki, 31 July 2017

Mein Schiff 6

IMO 9753208
Built 2017, Meyer Turku, Finland
Tonnage 99 526 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 35,80 m
Draugth 8,05 m
2 534 passengers (lower beds)
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 28 00 kW
2 propellers
3 bow thrusters
Speed 21,7 knots

I always like it when a new Mein Schiff comes to Helsinki (especially as I've usually had the chance to visit them beforehand at the shipyard on delivery - in fact, I have a bunch of interior photos of the Mein Schiff 6 on the computer waiting for me to bother looking through them and editing for publication) and, of course, the Mein Schiff 6 is no exception. As testified by the fact her maiden call in our fair city was one of the few times that I actually managed to go out and photograph ships this summer.

As she entered service only a few months ago, there's very little to say about her history, so let's get straight down to the photos, which show the ship departing Helsinki Länsisatama (West Harbour) in the afternoon of 31 July 2017, photographed from Vattuniemi. As per the usual, you can click on the images to see them in larger size.

Two generation of Finnish-built ships in the Finnish capital: the Mein Schiff 6 and the Costa Mediterranea.

I continue to think there is a nice clarity to the design of the Mein Schiff 3 -class.

Construction of a new cruise quay underway on the left.

If I recall correctly, there was a Tallinn-Helsinki regatta on this particular day, hence the abundance of pictoresque sailboats.

MORE SAILBOATS!

Next week, it'll be time for the 500th entry into this blog. If I receive my copies of Innovation and Specialisation: The Story of Shipbuilding in Finland, I will be writing a little bit about the book; if not, I was thinking of doing a short guide to the different ship photo locations in Helsinki, which some of you have requested. So stay tuned!

Mein Schiff 5, Megastar and Mein Schiff 6 at Meyer Turku, 20 June 2016

Triple ship galore!

Mein Schiff 5

IMO 9753193
Built 2016, Meyer Turku, Finland
Tonnage 99 526 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 35,80 m
Draugth 8,05 m
2 534 passengers (lower beds)
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 28 00 kW
2 propellers
3 bow thrusters
Speed 21,7 knots

Mein Schiff 6

IMO 9753208
Built 2017, Meyer Turku, Finland
Tonnage 99 526 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 35,80 m
Draugth 8,05 m
2 534 passengers (lower beds)
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 28 00 kW
2 propellers
3 bow thrusters
Speed 21,7 knots

Megastar

IMO 9773064
Built 2017, Meyer Turku, Finland
Tonnage 49 000 GT
Length 212 m
2 800 passengers
4 Wärtsilä LNG/diesel hybrid engines
2 propellers
Speed 27 knots

On 20 June. when the Mein Schiff 5 was delivered, three ships in various stages on construction could be seen at the Meyer Turku shipyard: the complete Mein Schiff 5 for TUI Cruises, Megastar for Tallink almost ready for float-out, and the Mein Schiff 6 for TUI Cruises in early stages of assembly.

The Megastar will be named and floated out Friday this week, with the naming ceremony to be carried out by Finland's former president Tarja Halonen; I will be in Turku to witness the ceremony, so look forward to more photos later this week. The ship will be delivered early next year, if all goes well. The Mein Schiff 6, on the other hand, is slated for a spring 2016 delivery.

As per the usual, click on the individual images to see them in larger size.

From left to right Mein Schiff 6, Megastar and Mein Schiff 5.

A solo shot of the Mein Schiff 5. The general opinion seems to be that the ship looks awful, but I think she's quite alright in terms of exterior design. A nice, simple design that avoids trying too hard.

Another shot showing all three, because why the hell not?

The Megastar will be an interesting one, her exterior design is a radical departure from the style of Tallink's previous Finnish-built newbuilds, and the dSign Vertti Kivi & Co -designed interiors promise to be different from her predecessors too.

Kships will return.