Silja Europa in Turku, 9 August 2011

Silja Europa

IMO 8919805
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
350 cars
932 lane metres
4 MAN diesels, combined 31 800 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 22 knots

For a history of the Silja Europa, see this previous entry on her.

The photographs below show the Silja Europa arriving and berthed in Turku harbour on the evening if 9 August 2011. The first two images have been taken from the bridge connecting the mainland to Ruissalo island, while the last one has been taken from Ruissalo itself. Click on the individual images to see them in larger size.

This Finnish expression just doesn't translate: Ihan puun takaa tuli toi laiva!

Not the ideal spot to photograph from (I had not properly checked at what time the ship came in and was therefore delayed), but I have to admit the resulting image is in fact very, very neat.

Moored in Turku harbour. For such a big, bulky ship the Silja Europa carries her size well. Whoever designed her did a very fine job on the exterior.

Bore in Turku, 6 August 2011

Bore

IMO 5048485
Previous names: Bore, Borea, Kristina Regina
Built 1960, Oskarshamns varv, Sweden
Tonnage 4 295 GT
Length 99,83 m
Width 15,28 m
Draugth 5,25 m
Ice class 1A
245 passengers
2 Wärtsilä-Vaasa diesels, combined 3 240 kW
1 propeller
1 bow thruster
Speed 17 knots

My most recent contribution to Maritime Matters is a a detailed photographic tour of the Bore in her current state as a hotel/museum ship. You can see the text here. For a history of the ship, see either the Maritime Matters article or this entry on the Kristina Regina. To go with that, here are photographs of the Bore at her permanent mooring by the River Aura, taken on 6 August 2011. Click on the individual images to see in larger size.

The ship does look rather splendid restored to her original livery (not that the Kristina Cruises livery wouldn't also have been brilliant). Notice that some of the outer decks are painted brown and others green; brown in the original colour and the green decks are awaiting restoration to the orignal shade.

The quayside area behind the ship belongs to Viking Line, who are letting the Bore use their land free of charge. Also notice the Turku castle in the background on the far left.

Spirit of Adventure in Helsinki, 28 June 2011

Spirit of Adventure

IMO 7904889
Former names: Berlin, Princess Mahsuri, Orange Melody
Built 1980, HDW Kiel, West Germany
Tonnage 9 570 GT
Length 139,30 m
Width 17,51 m
Draugth 4,98 m
352 passengers
352 berths
2 MaK diesels, combined 7 060 kW
2 propellers
1 bow thruster
Speed 18,3 knots

As the name implifies, the Spirit of Adventure is an expedition cruise ship and the sole ship of the Spirit of Adventure cruise line. At a tad under 10 000 GT she is very small cruise ship by today's standards. She was even smaller when built, as she underwent a crop and stretch operation in 1986. But perhaps we ought to start at the beginning.

The Berlin, as the ship was originally known, was ordered in 1979 by a consortium of owners. The main figure behind ordering the ship was Peter Deilmann, but he only had a minotiry share in the ship. Deilmann had previously operated coastal ships from West Germany to Denmark and East Germany. In 1979 Deilmann decided to enter the cruise business. In addition to the share in the Berlin, Deilmann acquired a second-hand cruise ship, the Regina Maris.

It appears that the Berlin, when delivered in 1980, did not join the Regina Maris in Deilmann's cruise line but was instead chartered to Neckermann Seereisen. In 1982 the Berlin was chartered to Blue Funnel Cruises and renamed Princess Mahsuri (the next year the Regina Maris was sold and Peter Deilmann was briefly without a cruise ship). In 1985 the Princess Mahsuri returned from her charter and begun cruising for Peter Deilmann for the first time, reverting to her original name Berlin. In late 1986 she was lenghtened by 17 metres at Werft Nobiskrug in Rendsburg, West Germany.

The Berlin spent twenty years in Peter Deilmann service, being joined in 1998 by the new Deutschland. During her time with Deilmann she was also one of the ships featured in Das Traumschiff, the German version of The Love Boat. In 2005 the Berlin was sold to Saga Shipping, but she did not enter service with Saga Cruises. Instead, she was chartered to the Russian cruise operator Metropolis Tur for a year as the Orange Melody.

Saga Cruises had until this point concentrated on a somewhat exclusive market, as only people aged 50 and over were allowed onboard their ship. However, when in 2006 Carnival Corporation made public their intention to close down their Swan Hellenic expedition cruising brand, Saga Cruises saw a market opening for their latest acquisition. A new cruise line named Spirit of Adventure was founded and the Orange Melody, when returned from the Metropolis Tur charter in 2006, was renamed Spirit of Adventure. Unlike Saga Cruises, Spirit of Adventure Cruises adopted a more conventional age limit of 21. Apparently the Spirit of Adventure venture was a success, and in 2009 the Spirit of Adventure was reported to soon be replaced by Saga Cruises' next acquisition, Transocean Tours' Astoria, that was to become the Quest for Adventure.

However, the bankruptcy of the Astoria's owner Club Cruise put a spanner in the works. Saga eventually acquired the Astoria, but several months later than intended and in the interim it had been decided to use her as a replacement for the Saga Rose (that had to be withdrawn due to SOLAS 2010). The Astoria therefore became the Saga Pearl II and the Spirit of Adventure continued sailing for Spirit of Adventure Cruises. However, in May 2012 when the new Saga Sapphire is delivered, the Saga Pearl II will transfer to Spirit of Adventure Cruises as the Quest for Adventure, as planned in 2009. At the same time the Spirit of Adventure will be withdrawn and the Spirit of Adventure cruise line will be turned into a sub-brand of Saga Cruises, adopting the same age limit as the parent company.

It is not yet known (at least to me) what will become of the neat little Spirit of Adventure after the end of her last scheduled cruise in Port Kelang, Malaysia in mid-March. I can't help thinking she would make an excellent ship for Kristina Cruises... had the said company not just spent a small fortune in acquiring and refitting the Kristina Katarina.

The photographs below show the Spirit of Adventure in and departing from Helsinki on 28 June 2011. Photographed from one of the ferries to Suomenlinna (either Suokki or Tor) and from Kustaanmiekka. Click on the individual images to see in larger size.

At the Kanavaterminaali quay on Kustaanmiekka. This quay was previously used by Nordic Jet Line until they closed down their service in 2008. It had originally been converted for passenger use in the 1970s for Viking Line, but they later relocated to the nearby Katajanokka terminal.

Spirit of Adventure, the Helsinki edition. On the left the Helsinki Cathedral and closer to the camera the Market Square.

A little while later on Kruunuvuorenselkä, bound for the Kustaanmiekka strait.

Douglas Ward described the ship as "somewhat angular", but I don't really see the angularity here.

I don't know what to say about this one, really. I rather like the background cloud formations in this pic, they give a nice atmosphere to what is already a quite good pic.

Nicely terraced aft superstructure. I admit the overall design lacks any specially notable features, but that is not always a bad thing.

Heading out to the open sea, while the bros having an outdoors party look on.

Information sources:
Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, 2008 edition
Fakta om Fartyg
Simplon Postcards
Spirit of Adventure Cruises

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...

Marina in Helsinki, 23 June 2011

Marina

IMO 9438066
Built 2011, Fincantieri Genoa, Italy
Tonnage 66 084 GT
Length 239,30 m
Width 32,19 m
Draugth 7,60 m
1 258 passengers
1 258 berths
4 Wärtsilä diesels, combined 24 000 kW
2 propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Speed 19,5 knots

The Marina is Oceania Cruises' first newbuilt ship, completed this year by Fincantieri. She bears a passing resemblance to the company's pre-existing trio of ships (the Regatta, Insignia and Nautica), originally built for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises as a part of their eight-ship R-class. This semblance is particularly unsurpsing when you remember that many of the same people who were behind Renaissance are also behind Oceania. However, where the R-class ships were fairly small and capable of entering smaller harbours off the beaten path, the Marina and her upcoming sister Riviera are fairly large at 66 084 gross tons - as testified by the fact the Marina's 240 metre lenght barred her from entering Helsinki's South Harbour.

For a detailed look inside the Marina I strongly recommend Peter Knego's two-part Decked! tour of the ship at Maritime Matters.

The photographs below show the Marina departing Helsinki West Harbour on 23 June 2011 on her second (and to date last) visit to the city. Photographed from Sisä-Hattu. Click on the individual images to see larger size.

Seen from this direction the Marina for some reason reminds me of a 1970s sportscar. Not an unpleasant assiciation, as I'm quite fond of 70s cars as design objects.

There is, however, an odd design discrepancy between the forward and aft halves of the ship, with the aft looking far less thought-out.

Evening sun reflecting from the windows and doors of the private balconies. The ship was scheduled to depart at 18.00 but it was almost seven in the evening before she finally left.

The traditional pic with Pihlajasaari in the background.

More panoramic fiddling with sailboats and also the Harmaja lighthouse in the background on the left.

The more you see of the rear superstructure of the ship, the worse she looks. This viewpoint is still alright, but further on her aft bears an unfortunate resemblance to a ship made of Lego blocks.