Translandia and Nordlandia in Tallinn, 16 May 2012

Just a little something I stumbled on while looking though old photos. For some reason, I had never published this. Now seems as good a time as any to do so.

Translandia

IMO 7429229
Name history: Transgermania, Rosebay, Eurostar, Eurocruiser, Rosebay, Transparaden, Translandia
Built 1976, J.J. Sietas Werft Hamburg, West Germany
Tonnage 13 700 GT
Length 135,49 m
Width 21,71 m
Draugth 6,46 m
100 passengers
63 berths
1624 lane metres
2 MAN diesels, combined 9312 kW
2 propellers
Speed 19 knots

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Name history: Olau Hollandia, Nord Gotlandia, Nordlandia, Isabella I
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

Nordlandia and Translandia, the two Eckerö Line Helsinki-Tallinn ferries that were replaced by the arrival of the Finlandia at the end of 2012. For a brief history of the Translandia, see here. An even frisfer history of the Nordlandia can be found here. Today the Translandia is owned by the Salem Al Makrani Cargo Company of United Arab Emirates, retaining her Eckerö-era name. The former Nordlandia, meanwhile, was supposed to begin sailing in the Black Sea under the name Isabella I for Paradise Cruise & Ferry. However, the current situation between Russia and Ukraine seems to have put a spanner in the works and the ship remains laid up at Perama, Greece.

The photo below show the pair still in their Eckerö Line incarnations on the Bay of Tallinn, with the Nordlandia departing for Helsinki while the Translandia arrives. Photographed from Linnahall. Click on the image to see it in larger size.

Notice that despite the fact the ships sailed for the same company, they carried quite different liveries.

Next time: Artania

Nordlandia interiors, 4 March 2012

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Name history: Olau Hollandia, Nord Gotlandia, Nordlandia
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

While looking through old photographs I realised there was a bunch of interior shots from onboard Eckerö Line's Nordlandia that I had never put up. As the Nordlandia will be withdrawn from service later this year upon the arrival of the new Finlandia (ex-Moby Freedom), now would be an opportune moment to look at the Nordlandia's interiors.

As built, the Olau Hollandia's interior layout strongly resembled that of Silja Line's "second-generation French sisters" Svea Corona, Wellamo and Bore Star with cabins forward and public spaces after. The Olau Hollandia's interior design was subdued, with brown as the dominant colour - but at the same time the interiors drew their names and decor from fairytales, perhaps reflecting Olau Line owner TT-Line's tradition of naming their ships after fictional characters. Little to nothing of the original interiors remains today, Eckerö Line having given the interiors a gradual but thorough refit over the years. One thing that surprised me when I was onboard was how clean and well-kept the ship was on the inside - particularly considering the fact she's sailed for 14 years on the rather punishing Helsinki-Tallinn run.

In the current guide there are three decks with passenger facilities, each with a different purpose: Deck 5 houses a large supermarket, Deck 6 the restaurants and cafeteria and deck 7 the entertainment venues (such as they are). Further up, there is an array of conference rooms on deck 9. Unfortuantely I did not venture up to photograph these - a mistake, as I later learned from Eckerö's 50th anniversary book that the conference rooms are rather superb indeed.

Deck 7 is the topmost passenger deck, housing Pub Compass and Dancebar Horisont - plus additional conference rooms in the forward section, converted from original cabins.

Port cabin corridor, facing forward.

My tribute to the great Peter Knego: a random carpet shot.

The port forward staircase - although forward is a relative term, the aft staircase is across from the vestibule.

Pub Compass on the starbord side, facing port and forward.

Dancebar Horisont, facing aft and starboard.

Maria (my wife, that is) liked the upholstery - probably because it's blue.

The Finnish Tango King from the year 2009 (or something) performing in Horisont. (And yes, we crazy Finns elect a Tango King anda Tango Queen every year. Finnish tango has little to nothing to do with the better-known Argentinian variant however).

Aft decks, probably actually taken from deck 8 facing downwards. This is shortly after departing Tallinn, in the distance in the harbour you can see (from left to right): Translandia, Victoria I, Star, Viking XPRS and Princess Anastasia. A perfectly ordinary day in Tallinn as far as ships are concerned.

Deck 6 is the restaurant deck, housing the self-service Eckerö Buffet (the food was some of the best I've ever eaten on a ship), the waiter service Eckerö Bistro and cafeteria Café Arkad.

Eckerö Buffet on the starboard side of the ship, facing aft. Mrs Id makes a cameo appearance on the foreground.

Since I complimented the food, here is a "taster" from the buffet's main courses. The mushroom sauce, if I remember correctly, was particularly good.

On the port side of the ship is Café Arkad - this photo is taken facing starboard and aft. On the right side of the photo you can just see the service area of the cafeteria, located right aft and presumably served byu the same kitchen as the buffet.

Deck 5 is the entrance and exit deck. The aft half of the deck is given exclusively over to a large supermarket, neatly displaying the ship's main raison d'etre. Of course, it should be remembered that there are no tax-free sales on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.

Neon sign above the entrance.

Candy-filled teddy bears for sale, with the shop's real purpose visible on the left: cases of beer cans. I didn't take any other photographs inside the shop, alas, as usually onboard staff are not too keen on photography in the shopping areas.

So, that was my short tour of the Nordlandia. Her future after the arrival of the Finlandia remains to be seen. She will probably leave the Eckerö fleet as there simply isn't a need for her on Eckerö's routes: the Finlandia will take over the Helsinki-Tallinn run (and there isn't enough demand for two ships), and there is no need for a ship of the Nordlandia's size on the Eckerö-Grisslehamn route. Unless Eckerö plan on opening an entirely new passenger line (which I strongly doubt), the Nordlandia will be sold. "To where" is a very good question.

Nordlandia in Helsinki, 23 June 2011

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Former names: Olau Hollandia, Nord Gotlandia
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

For a very short history of the Nordlandia, see the first entry on her.

The photographs below show the Nordlandia arriving in Helsinki West Harbour on the evening on 23 June, sporting the new livery applied in spring 2011. Her being given a new livery means that at the moment at least all Eckerö Line ships are running with different liveries; the Eckerö still carries the traditional livery, while the Translandia has a livery similar to the one Stena Line had before they changed over to the one they're using now (in other words, the livery carried by the Stena Jutlandica in this entry - naturally with a yellow stripe on the hull instead of red). Despite the fact the Nordlandia has been given a stylish new coat of paint, Eckerö Line are reportedly actively looking for a newer ship to replace her on the Helsinki-Tallinn run.

Photographs taken from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the image(s) to see in larger size.

There she is, coming in from the distance... looking perhaps a bit overtly Finnish still, but at least there are no more embarrassing slogans painted on the forward superstructure.

Seriously though, I think the new livery is amazing. It doesn't clash with the ship's form at all, yet it makes it look much better. The forward superstructure looks particularly neat... reminds me of decorations on old trams and buses (okay, maybe those on a VW kleinbus too).

Passing Pihlajasaari.

This time when coming in the captain decided to turn the ship via the port side, which meant this is was the best aft view of the ship I could get. Still, especially with the new livery the fore is much more interesting anyway.

I love the contrast the red-sailed boat brings to this. I know the viewpoint of this photo is almost identical to the second from the top, but this just worked so well (but the above photo has a background bringing the ship better to front, hence my decision to include both).

Unsurprisingly, the starboard side looks pretty much the same as the port side. Still, what an amazing livery. It's slightly retro and as such it matches the ship so well, her being slightly retro in the general scheme of things too. Now if they'd only lose that Finnish flag from the hull. You have aflagpole for that, you know...

Nordlandia, 30 March 2008

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

Continuing our "one photo per entry" -weeks, this time with Eckerö Line's Nordlandia. For notes on her history see the previous entries about her.

During a docking in January 2010 the ship has been repainted, losing both the stripes from her hull. According to Eckerö Line's website she will be given a new livery, with blue and yellow stripes applied to her superstructure (in a rather neat retro style, see image) but this does not seem to have been carried out (yet anyway).

The photograph below however show her comfortably in the old livery on 30 March 2008, before Eckerö decided to apply the embarrassingly nationalistic "Only Finnish Ship to Tallinn" caption and Finnish flags to her superstructure. Photographed in Tallinn harbour from onboard Viking Line's Rosella.

Less than perfect lighting from the spring sun, but for whatever reason I think this is a very attractive photo, even if most of the ship is in the shade. Click on the image to view full size.

Nordlandia, 8 June 2009

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

Nordlandia arriving in Helsinki's Länsisatama from Tallinn on the evening of 8 June 2009, photographed from the breakwater in Vattuniemi. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

The only Finnish ship from Tallinn passing Pihlajasaari.

Blessedly at this time Eckerö had not yet painted a large Finnish flag on the forward superstructure. Pihlajasaari as usual in the background.

Past Pihlajasaari and towards the harbour.

About to turn and back into quay, with the now-disappeared bid mound of gravel on the left.

Nordlandia, 15 July 2009

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draugth 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

Although built in 1981, in terms of (exterior) design the Nordlandia looks more like the product of 1970s ferry design, with a low and slightly lifting bow (not that well visible in these photographs of course), a finely rounded and slightly streamlined forward superstructure, a terraced aft superstructure and even a neat smoke deflector in the funnel (though this was something of a trademark for Olau Line and their owner TT Line well after such deviced had disappeared from general use).

The Nordlandia is something of an unusual Baltic ferry in the sense that she was originally a cross-channel ferry (Olau Hollandia for Olau Line), when the general trend since the 1970s has been that old Baltic ferries are sold for further trading in the English Channel or the North Sea after being withdrawn from service in the Baltic. But then again, when Olau Hollandia was built she was an unusual channel ferry as well, offering standards of accommodation and service well above those of other cross-channel ferries of the time. Together with her younger sister Olau Britannia the Olau Hollandia begun a cruise/ferry type service and such their arrival was a revolution comparable to that of the Finnjet together with Silja Line and Viking Line's first generation cruiseferries in the north Baltic.

Photographs below are of the Nordlandia departing Tallinn Reisisadam on 15 July 2009, photographed from onboard Viking XPRS. Click on the images to view full size.

In the Reisisadam harbour pool moments after departure.

On the Tallinn bay soon afterwards, having passed the harbour breakwater.

Nordlandia, July 2010

Nordlandia

IMO 7928811
Built 1981, AG Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Tonnage 21 473 GT
Length 153,40 m
Width 24,70 m
Draft 8,80 m
Ice class 1A
2 048 passengers
938 berths
450 cars or 42 trucks
4 Pielstick diesels, combined 15 300 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 20 knots

Nordlandia was built in 1981 as Olau Hollandia for Olau Line's UK-Netherlands -service. Olau had originally been founded by the Danish Ole Lauritzen, but by this time the company had passed under the ownership of the West German TT-Line. Unconfirmed reports indicate she was built to be easily convertible into a troopship for NATO, but no official source has confirmed this (to my knowledge). In 1989 the Olau Hollandia was replaced by a larger ship (also named Olau Hollandia) and the old Olau Hollandia was sold to Nordström & Thulin, and renamed Nord Gotlandia for service with their Gotlandslinjen subsidiary. When N&T's concession to run the state-subsidised service to Gotland ran out at the end of 1997, the Nord Gotlandia was sold to Eckerö Line for their Helsinki-Tallinn service and her name shortened to Nordlandia (which in daily use is ofted further shortened to "Norsu", literally meaning "elephant").

Nordlandia arriving in Helsinki West Harbour on 10 July 2010. Unusually she came in via Harmaja instead of the normal deep shipping lane to give space for the departing Grand Mistral. The Grand Mistral's departure was delayed due to passengers arriving late, and resultingly Nordlandia's detour was useless (except for photo opportunities of course). Photographs taken from Vattuniemi.

Nordlandia arriving in Helsinki West Harbour on 17 July 2010. Photographed from Vattuniemi. The caption on the forward superstructure reads "The only Finnish ship to Tallinn".