Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 19 July 2016

This blog is not dead, though you could be forgiven for thinking so. I have been very busy for the last few weeks putting the finishing touches on my & Bruce Peter's magnum opus, Innovation and Specialisation: The Story of Shipbuilding in Finland. The concentration on that project also created an impressive backlog of work for other projects, and the blog was the loser in the struggle for my time. I have several interesting photo sets to post, including no less than three interior tours... but since I don't have time to edit those into publishable form right now, there are instead images of the Silja Symphony tasken from Vallisaari last summer; these are a set I edited for publication in another project, so they might as well go up here, too.

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

So, the photos below show the Silja Symphony arriving at Helsinki in the morning of 19 July 2016, photographed from Vallisaari. As per the usual, click on the images to see them in larger size.

The no entry -bit of Vallisaari looks rather impressive indeed in the foreground.

This could be a cover for an updated version of Silja Line from De Samseglande to Tallink, if I ever have the chance to make one.

Impressive exterior design on thse sisters, even if the current style hull texts don't quite match the rest of the livery as well as the original.

Entering the Kustaanmiekka strait.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 20 May 2015

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

The Silja Symphony is obviously familiar to readers, as she has been featured here often - actually more often than any other Silja Line ship. I have posted images of her in the new livery applied last autumn before, but these are the first photos showing her in the new livery in more normal lighting, showing her new livery to the best effect.

So, these are from the very conventional vantage point of Kustaanmiekka, showing the ship passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait. As per the usual, click on the images to see them in larger size.

The light was really surprisingly harsh, but with a little post-photography fiddling these turned out alright.

I wasn't the only one drawn out on this day, even though it was actually rather cold in Suomenlinna.

Traditional "on to the open sea" pic.

Next time: Since we're in the heat of the summer cruise season, I shan't make any precise promises. Photos of the Mariella in her new livery from the same day as these await editing on the computer, and both the Serenissima and the first visit of the Ocean Dream in Helsinki are in the pipeline for near-future photoshoots.

Silja Symphony & Silja Serenade in Helsinki, 15 October 2014

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Serenade

IMO 8715259
Built 1990, Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 376 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

The Silja Symphony returned from a long drydocking at Naantali on 15 October. During the refit she was given a new livery, with the new-style smiling seal in the funnel, while her interiors were given a similar overhaul as the Silja Serenade, but more extensive, with a redecorated promenade, a sushi bar and a new, larger children's playroom, in addition to the new shops and restaurants already introduced onboard the older sister.

The ship's arrival in Helsinki also meant that it was possible - for the third time in history, to my knowledge - to photograph the two sisters in port at the same time. And the first time this was possible with the new livery, obviously. The overcast weather was far from ideal... although still better than the previous time they were together in Helsinki, when there was thick fog that made it impossible for both ships to be visible at the same time.

The seal sisters: smiley (right) and serious (left). Alas, treating this for publication was so much work I couldn't be arsed to retouch any of the other images showing both ships.

After the Serenade departed, the Symphony shifted to the normal quay at Olympiaterminaali.

Since I was out with my tripod, I hund around long enough to take some dusk lighting photos.

Next time: Highspeed 4.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 11 October 2013

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Since were in autumn, it's a good time to look though the autumnal photos from last year, that for some reason or another were not put up here at the time. Even though the Silja Symphony was recently featured here, here's some more. The photos below show the ship passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait shortly after departing Helsinki on the afternoon of 11 October 2013. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Quite heavy editing was involved in order to bring out the vibrant autumn shades of the foliage... but I think the end result speaks for itself.

Alas, I should have been out a few days earlier for these, to get the ship photographed without the shadows on the hull.

This shot really looks like the way crisp autumn air feels.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 7 October 2013

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

At the time of writing the Silja Symphony is in the Turku Ship Repair Yard in Naantali, Finland, undergoing a refit where her interiors will be given a similar refit to what the Silja Serenade recieved in the spring (it seems I haven't bothered putting up images of her refit interiors here. Err... oops). The Silja Symphony will also recieve the new-style Silja Line hull and funnel logos - but with a twist. Originally, the new Silja Line logo featured a heavily simplified seal, that according to the general concensus appeared rather serious (whereas the older design was percieved as "smiling"). The good folks at Tallink Grupp turned this to victory when a smiling variant of the new-style seal was produced for marketing coinciding with the refit of the Silja Serenade. Now, the smiling seal has become the official version, and the Silja Symphony is the first ship to be painted with that version.

The photos below, meanwhile, still show the Silja Symphony with the original (and, I have to say as my own opinion, still the best-looking) Silja Line funnel symbol and hull markings. On this particular occasion, the Silja Symphony skipped one Helsinki-Stockholm return trip for a repair day in Helsinki. This would have meant a chance to photograph both of the sisters in Helsinki simultanuously - had the actual day when they were here together not been so incredibly foggy. But, I was also out the previous evening, lured by the chance of taking night-time photos of the ship in an unusual location.

So, the photograph below shows the Silja Symphony in Helsinki on the evening of 7 October 2013, unusually berthed at Katajanokka. Click on the image to see it in larger size.

I really don't know what to say about this one. A fine photo, even if I may say so myself.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 9 July 2013

I had lined up images of the Silja Symphony to post today. These turned out doubly fitting as I recieved information last night that my upcoming book on the history of Silja Line, Silja Line from De Samseglande to Tallink, has come out of the printers. I shall make a more detailed post about the book once I get an actual, physical copy in my hands. If you already know you want to buy one, the book can be ordered from from the website of the publishers, Ferry Publications.

We now return to normal programming.

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Why yet another set of photos of the Silja Symphony, you may ask. Well, apart from the fack that I rather like this particular set of images, there is also a different reason. As most of you probably are aware, Silja Line introduced a new graphic identity in 2013. Most of the fleet have kept the old logos until recently, but now things are changing: the Silja Serenade was repainted with the new logos earlier this year, and the Symphony will follow this autumn. Thus, the ship as she appears in these images will soon be history.

The photos below show the Silja Symphony departing Helsinki South Harbour in the afternoon of 9 July 2013. Photographed from Kustaanmiekka. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Peeking behind the trees.

Out of the strait.

Unsuspecting bystandars find themselves as foreground objects in a photograph.

Next time: Serenissima.

Victoria I in Helsinki, 6 January 2013

Victoria I

IMO 9281281
Built 2004, Aker Finnyards Rauma, Finland
Tonnage 40 975 GT
Length 193,80 m
Width 29,00 m
Draugth 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

Contrary to the advertised programming I did have the time today to visit the South Harbour and photographs the Victoria I on her winter cruise visit to the city. As those who follow this blog reguarly perhaps remember, in the Baltic Sea there are two distinct cruise seasons: the self-explanatory summer season and the more unusual winter season around new year, when Russian travel agencies charter local cruiseferries to do longer cruises from St. Petersburg. The logic behind this is the fact that due to the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars, Eastern Orthodox countries celebrate Christamas on 7 January. Hence these are in fact Christmas cruises.

One of the ships chartered this year to do Christmas cruises for the Russian market has been Tallink's Victoria I, which did a four-night and a five-night cruise from St. Petersburg. The second of these will terminate in SPB tomorrow, but today the ship was in Helsinki and I had a chance to photograph her.

For a brief history of the Victoria I, see this entry.

Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Winter Victoria.

Backlit by the neat trick of positioning myself so that the sun is behind the funnel. Note that these photos were taken at around 14.00 and yet the sun was already that low.

The ice cover was far from even, thanks to us having "enjoyed" several days of slightly-above-zero weather.

Victoria I and Silja Symphony are usually in Stockholm at the same time, but getting them into the same photo in Helsinki is much rarer.

I admit I did some fidgeting to get the hues in the clouds to stand out better. But in this case the ends justify the means I think.

Next time: In all likelyhood the Silja Festival I already promised in the previous entry.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 16 October 2012

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

The Silja Symphony seems to be in fashion these days (so to say) . The previous entry was about her, this entry is about her, and yesterday I returned from a two-night ferry cruise to Stockholm with her. I had hoped that the said trip would have yielded some interesting photographs (as we are nearing the end of my photos taken during this year), but alas the weather was quite bad during the entire trip and hence very few photos worth of posting were taken.

But regardless of that, do enjoy thesephotos, which show the Silja Symphony in and departing from Helsinki on the afternoon of 16 October 2012. Click on the imaes to see them in larger size.

Hiding behind firey trees.

Pictoresque fishermen's huts right outside the harbour.

Some time later at the Kustaanmiekka strait, with impressively lit clouds in the background. Unfortunately the impressive lighting didn't really extended to the ship itself.

Dark cloud formations in a somewhat atypical Finnish autumn weather. Usually there's just a mat of completely even light grey which makes photographing predominantly white ships extremely difficult.

I admit to cheating with this one: the ship and the rest of the image were treated separately, as that was only way to light up the ship without losing the dramatic dark clouds in the background.

Out of the strait, with even a little bit of setting sun reflecting from the windows.

Stockholm awaits.

Next time: Mariella

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 17 September 2012

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Nothing much new to say about the Silja Symphony. Still a fine ship. The photographs below show her after passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait on the afternoon of 17 September 2012, sailing outbound from Helsinki. Click on the images to see in larger size.

I presume the smoke is from firing up an additional engine after passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait out to the open sea.

The autumn wind created some very dramatic waves...

...and the ship's passing created some additional dramatic waves ashore.

Next time: probably some more Silja Symphony from later in the autumn.

Silja Symphony in Helsinki, 29 May 2012

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

It seems that the last time I posted a new entry about the Silja Symphony was spring 2011, so I guess it's high time to make another one. Especially as Silja Line have started introducing their new logotype on the hulls of their ships (the Silja Europa already has it, though I have not had the chance to photograph it in the new livery yet), and hence there might not be that many chances to photograph the ship in her current appearance. Okay, I admit I might already have hundreds of photos of her in the current livery...

But still. Silja Symphony passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait, outbound from Helsinki to Stockholm on the afternoon of 29 May 2012. Photographed from Kustaanmiekka. Click on the images to see in larger size.

In our ongoing series of"obscured but good": the Silja Symphony.

The Helsinki archipelago is decidedly not as impressive as the Stockholm and Turku variants.

Silja Symphony, 29 April 2011

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draught 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Symphony once again passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait, en-route to Stockholm on 29 April 2011. Click on the individual images to view full size.

The Finnish spring is short, cold and brown. Although actually this particular day was fairly warm, even if trees were not yet in bloom.

Notice the small logos on the hull: Silja Line is both the official seacarrier of the Moomin and the official seacarrier of Santa Claus (even if Viking Line would have a more suitable colour scheme). Before Tallink took over the company, the Santa Claus logos were only on the ships around Christmas, but Tallink have decided to keep them there all year round.

The funnel symbol obscured by the sun.

The warm spring day wasn't enough to lure tourists to the ramparts, even though the ferry to Suomenlinna was surprisingly full with a fair number of people speaking non-local languages.

Silja Symphony, 31 July 2008

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draft 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

I guess there isn't much top say about the Silja Symphony that hasn't already been said in this blog. So I'll just let the photographs speak for themselves.

Silja Symphony passing through the Kustaanmiekka strait on 31 July 2008. Click on the images to view full size.

No, the picture isn't crooked. The ship on the other hand is.

Dynamic through the strait.

Silja Symphony, 13 September 2010

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draft 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Symphony at the Kustaanmiekka strait on 13 September 2010, photographed from the ramparts of Kustaanmiekka. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Entering the Kustaanmiekka strait...

In the strait, with the King's Gate in the foreground.

Lit by the evening sun with more ramparts of Kustaanmiekka in the foreground.

Silja Symphony interiors, December 2009-February 2010

Silja Symphony

IMO 8803769
Built 1991, Kvaerner Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland
Tonnage 58 377 GT
Length 203,03 m
Width 31,93 m
Draft 7,12 m
Ice class 1A Super
2 852 passengers
3 001 berths
410 cars
1 600 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Vasa diesels, combined 32 580 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 21 knots

Silja Symphony and her older sister Silja Serenade were the result of Silja Line's attempt (and a successful one at that) to present something entirely new to the Northern Baltic cruiseferry scheme, in the form of the six-deck high centerline promenade, running through most of the lenght of the ship. The promenade is usually mentioned as a unique, never-before-seen feature, though it must be noted that Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique's ocean liner L'Atlantique from 1931 had a very similar arrangement, albeit only two decks high.

Silja Symphony & Serenade's design team was led by Harri Kulovaara and Kai Levander, with the design of the interior spaces being trusted to Rupert Gardner Design, FFNS Atkitekter, Studio Tomevsk, Leber Plan, Yran & Storbraaten and Vuokko Laakso. During their careers the interiors of both ships have been heavily rebuilt (most recent large-scale changes being carried out in early 2006). I have not been able to discover who were responsible for the current outlook of many of the spaces; only the promenade itself and the Atlantis Palace night club have been mostly unaltered since 1991.

Photographs below are from two cruises I made on the Silja Symphony in December 2009 and February 2010 (precise date appended under each photo). This is not a complete review of the ship's interiors, rather it's just a random selection of photos. Click on the image(s) to view full size.

Club Bali discotheque on the base of the funnel on deck 13, facing port. Photographed 4 December 2009.

Club Bali again, now facing starboard. 4 December 2009.

The funnel photographed frosted in the morning after a cold Februaury crossing. The green sofas of Club Bali are visible though the windows on the base of the funnel. 15 February 2010.

The Promenade facing forward, photographed from deck 12. 5 December 2009.

The forward starboard stair lobby on deck 11 retains the original 1991 carpeting. 5 December 2009.

The bow bar in the Atlantis Palace night club/casino complex, on the fore of deck 8. Although a very pleasant space, it's fairly small considering it's the only forward-facing public space for most of the 2800 passengers carried. 13 February 2010.

The dance floor and terraced seating in the Atlantis Palace. The dance floor can be hydraulically raised for twice-nightly cabaret acts. 13 February 2010.

Atlantis Palace's terraced seating, facing the dance floor. 13 February 2010.

Starboard bar in the Atlantis Palace on deck 8, with a ghost image of the photographer (who couldn't resist some long exposure fiddling) on the left. 13 February 2010.

The casino part of Atlantis Palace, located aft and partially below the night club section on deck 7. 13 February 2010.

And now for something completely different: the winding corridor leading down to the C-class cabins on deck 2. 4 December 2009.