Silja Europa in Helsinki, 28 August 2016

We deviate from the advertised programming as the Silja Europa made what is probably her last arrival in Helsinki Eteläsatama (South Harbour) tonight. I was in attendance and, for once, this blog is right on the pulse of things.

Silja Europa

IMO 8919805
Name history: Europa, Silja Europa
Built 1993, Meyer Werft, Germany
Tonnage 59 912 GT
Length 201,78 m
Width 32,60 m
Draught 6,80 m
Ice class 1 A Super
3 123 passengers
3 696 berths (as of 2013, may have changed)
350 cars
932 lane metres
4 MAN diesels, combined 31 800 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

For those interested, a relatively up to date history of Silja Europa can be read here. Since that entry was penned, the ship returned to the Helsinki-Tallinn route last spring, somewhat oddly offering day cruises of the kind that were popular before the introduction of the fast ropaxes like Tallink's own Star and Superstar. Tomorrow morning (29.8.) the ship will depart for Tallinn with passengers, then proceed for a docking (possibly in Muuga) and an extensive refit. Tallink have not yet revealed what happens when it returns from the refit (nor indeed how long the refit will be). Rumours suggest the ship is due to replace the Baltic Queen on the 22-hour cruise circuit from Helsinki - whether or not these are true remains to be seen.

The photos below show the Silja Europa arriving at, and moored in, Helsinki Eteläsatama (South Harbour) in the evening of 28 August 2016. Photographed from Kauppatori. As always, click on the images to see them in larger size.

It's coming straight at us!

Looking somewhat in need of a fresh lick of paint - presumably this will be accoplished in Poland.

Getting a more-or-less acceptable colour balance in these three shots was a challenge, but eventually it was accomplished.

The Silja Europa and the bunkering tanker Lotus, seen behind the pools of the recently opened Allas Sea Pool ("allas" is Finnish for "pool", so zero points for creativity).

Alas, the Lotus moved alongside immediately after the Silja Europa arrived, so no chance of photographing the hero of the day without the small tanker alongside.

I rather like the sculpted form of the stairs on the left.

Kships will return.