Brilliance of the Seas in Helsinki, 20 May 2013

Brilliance of the Seas

IMO 9195200
Built 2002, Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Tonnage 90 090 GT
Length 293,20 m
Width 32,40 m
Draugth 8,50 m
2 112 passengers (double occupancy), 2 500 passengers (maximum)
2 GE/Fincantieri gas turbines, combined 39 000 kW
2 azipods
3 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 25 knots

The Brilliance of the Seas was the second ship in Royal Caribbean's Radiance-class. There's nothing much else to say. She's just another standard mega cruise ship - while I have nothing against sailing on these, photographing them does get superbly boring in the long run. Anyways, the photographs below show the Brilliance of the Seas departing from Helsinki West Harbour on the afternoon of 20 May 2013, photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

The water levels were unusually low on this day, which allowed - in addition to walking to Sisä-Hattu with dry feet - intersting photos showing the foreground rocks.

I think I've taken this photo before. But it's a good-looking one never the less.

Lovely rocks.

More lovely rocks. And the algae gives it a nice added touch.

Next time: Silja Europa

Karolin in Helsinki, 14 May 2013

Kships finally returns from it's travelling hiatus (slightly later than originally planned). We resume scheduled programming with Linda Line's Karolin.

Karolin

IMO 9124433
Name history: Caraibe Jet, Polarstern, Karolin
Built 2000, International Shipyards Henderson, Australia
Tonnage 636 GT
Length 45,40 m
Width 12,32 m
Draught 2,02 m
354 passengers
4 MTU diesels, combined 7 840 kW
4 KaMeWa waterjets
Service speed 37 knots

For a short history of the Karolin, see the previous entry on her. The photographs below show the Karolin arriving in Helsinki South Harbour on the afternoon of 14 May 2013, photographed from Kaivopuisto. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Neoclassical buildings of Suomenlinna in the background. If I have understood correctly, those particular buildings are still in use by the Finnish navy.

I can't help it, the Karolin really reminds me of a seagoing version of a VW beetle. Faster, certainly.

I like that fact how the red stripes on the side lines up when viewed from the side but is more dynamic in other views.

Old and new.

Next time: Brilliance of the Seas.

Amorella in Helsinki, 2 June 2013

Kships returns from briefly from its travelling hiatus. I recently returned from a four-night Baltic Sea cruise on St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia, and will be starting the day after tomorrow for a week in Latvia. Photos from the Princess Anastasia will be fortcoming later (alongside a trip report over at MaritimeMatters). In the meantime, we will be looking at Viking Line's Amorella, which unusually sails on the Helsinki-Stockholm run at the moment.

Amorella

IMO 8601915
Built 1988, Brodogradiliste Split, Yugoslavia
Tonnage 35 384 GT
Length 169,40 m
Width 27,60 m
Draught 6,35 m
2 480 passengers
2 046 berths
350 cars
900 lane metres
4 Wärtsilä-Pielstick diesels, combined 23 760 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
Speed 21,5 knots

For a short history of the Amorella, see the first entry on her. Between 30 May and 5 June this year the Amorella sails on the Helsinki-Stockholm run, covering for (a part of) the duration that the Gabriella is in drydock. This meant that there were/are three chances to photograph her in Helsinki in her new Grace-striped livery (31 May, 2 June and 4 June). I had a chance to go and photograph her yesterday, and of course I took it.

The photographs below show the Amorella in and departing from Helsinki South Harbour on 2 June 2013. Photographed from onboard the Suomenlinna II and from Kustaanmiekka. Click on the images to see in larger size.

I'm not normally one for photos taken at quay but this does look good. Plus it's the quay in Helsinki and thus relevant.

Panorama with the Helsinki cathedral in the distance.

Sailing towards Kustaanmiekka.

Clearing the Kustaanmiekka strait.

More panoramic fiddling with fortifications in the foreground.

The weather was amazing, hence all the spectators on the ramparts.

To be seen in Helsinki one more time tomorrow.

Kships will return next week!

Delphin in Helsinki, 10 May 2013

Delphin

IMO 7347536
Name history: Belorussiya, Kazakhstan II, Delphin
Built 1975, Wärtsilä Turku, Finland
Tonnage 16 214 GT
Length 156,27 m
Width 21,90 m
Draugth 6,20 m
556 passengers
2 Pielstick-Wärtsilä diesels, combined 13 240 kW
2 propellers
1 bow thruster
Speed 21 knots

The Delphin continues still to be my favourite cruise ship I've never been on. Earlier this month she made the first of her two 2013 calls in Helsinki and of course I was there to photograph her. In an attempt to squeeze both the Delphin (departing from he South Harbour) and the Queen Elizabeth (departing from the West Harbour) in the same afternoon session. While this didn't really work for the QE, I did get some interesting photos of the Delphin.

Hence then the photographs below show the Delphin departing from Helsinki South Harbour on the afternoon of 10 May 2013, photographed from Kaivopuisto Click on the images to see them in larger size.

Pulling away from quay at the now-demolished Kanavaterminaali. Two Helsinki landmarks in the background: Enso-Gutzeit headquarters on the left and the Uspensky Cathedral on the left.

Sexy sleek ship. If I was starting my own cruise line and could choose any ship I wanted, regardless of financial or other concerns, I'd go with one of the Delphin's sisters (but not the Delphin herself, as she seems to be doing fine as it is).

Two generations of Finnish ferry design: the Delphin from 1975 and the Mariella from 1985.

That little red house on the island is probably the most stereotypically Finnish thing ever.

On Kruunuvuorenselkä and bound for Kustaanmiekka.

Kships will probably take the rest of the month off, as I shall be leaving on a four-night Baltic Sea cruise on St. Peter Line's Princess Anastasia next Monday. You can expect photos from that trip here and a full cruise report at MaritimeMatters.

Brahe in Helsinki, 14 May 2013

Brahe

IMO 5345065
Name history: USS PCE 830, HMS Kilchernan, Sunnhordland, Kristina Brahe, Brahe
Built 1943, Pullmann Standard Car Manufacturing Co. Chicago, United States
Tonnage 1 105 GT
Length 56,49 m
Width 10,09 m
Draught 2,80 m
200 passengers
110 berths
2 Caterpillar diesels, combined 1 735 kW
Speed 14 knots

For a history of the Brahe, see the previous entry on her. This year marks her 70th anniversary since she was built in Chigago during World War II. The small escort has come a long way since then.

The photographs below show the Brahe departing Helsinki South Harbour on the afternoon of 14 May 2013, photographed from Kaivopuisto. Click on the images to see them in larger size.

The Brahe passing out of the harbour basin with Helsinki's best-known landmark, the Mariella, in the background.

A neat little thing. I had to take a ton of photos as ships rarely use this particular route when outbound from the harbour.

The delightful little building on Klippan makes a neat backdrop...

...twice during the same session.

Standard aft view.

Two veritable old timers in one photo: The Brahe (1943) and in the background the Suokki (1952).

The waymarker really makes this shot!