Silja Line - Page 4 - Ferry Postcards and Photographs

This page is the fourth in a series devoted to postcards and photographs of ships working under the Silja Line banner. In many cases, the ships will be dealt with in more detail on pages devoted to the subsidiary companies, but these pages give an overview of Silja operations. The Silja Line - Header Page lists the ships on all Silja Line pages. Other Silja Line Pages: Header Page, Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. Below this is a Fleet List in chronological order.


When the 1975 sisters Svea Corona (1), Wellamo (3) and Bore Star needed replacement with larger tonnage, two ships, the Finlandia (2) and Silvia Regina were delivered to EFFOA (Finland SS Co) and Svea in 1981. In the same year, Johnson Line took on the remaining 50% share in Svea, and the Silvia Regina swapped her black and white Svea funnel colours for those of Johnson Line. Johnson's ferry interests from Svea extended beyond Silja Line, including part shares in TT-Saga Line and SFL, but these were sold in soon afterwards. When the Viking Line partner Rederi Sally AB ran into difficulties, Johnson Line and Effoa formed a joint company Rederi AB Effjohn to acquire the majority of the Sally shares in 1987, buying the rest the following year. They were forced to sell their stake in Viking Line to the remaining partners Slite and SF-Line, but retained the Wasa Line service, Sally UK, and Sally cruise operations in the Baltic with Sally Albatross, and Commodore Cruises in the Caribbean. Johnson Line funnel colours disappeared on Silja Line ships in 1992, when ownership of both Johnson and Effoa ships passed to Oy Silja Line. In 1999, 51% of Silja Line was acquired by Sea Containers.

Ships on This Page:-
Finlandia (2) (1981-1990)
Finnjet (1986- )
Sally Albatross (1992-1994) - later Silja Opera
Silja Europa (1993- )
Silja Festival (1992- ) - ex-Wellamo
Silja Karneval (1992-1994) - ex-Svea
Silja Opera (2002- ) - ex-Sally Albatross
Silja Scandinavia (1994-1997, on charter)
Silja Serenade (1990- )
Silja Star (2) (1990, on charter)
Silja Symphony (1991- )
Silvia Regina (1981-1991)
Svea (1985-1992) - later Silja Karneval
Wasa Express/Sally Star (1997, on charter)
Wasa Jubilee/Stena Invicta (1998, on charter)
Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent (1993- )
Wellamo (4) (1986-1992) - later Silja Festival

Fast Ferries on This Page:-
Seacat Danmark (2000)
Superseacat Three (2003- ) Superseacat Four (2000- )

Silja Line Pages:-
Silja Line - Header Page
Silja Line - Page 1 - The Early Years 1957-60
Silja Line - Page 2 - First Generation Car Ferries 1961-70
Silja Line - Page 3 - Second Generation Car Ferries 1971-80
Silja Line - Page 4 - Third Generation Car Ferries 1981- - This Page!
Silja Line - Page 5 - Seawind Line
Bore Line - Höyrylaiva Oy Bore/Ångfartygs Ab Bore
Finska Ångfartygs Ab - Finland SS Co
Rederi AB Svea

Associated Pages:-
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

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powered by FreeFind Silja Line Fleet List Part 4 - Third Generation Car Ferries 1981- Finlandia (2) (1981-1990)

Finlandia was built in 1981 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab for Finska Ångfartygs Ab. She entered service between Stockholm-Helsinki for Silja Line. Finlandia was sold to DFDS in 1990 for use on their Copenhagen-Helsingborg-Oslo overnight service as Queen of Scandinavia. In 2001 she switched to the Newcastle-Ijmuiden route, replaced by the Pearl of Scandinavia between Oslo-Copenhagen. Withdrawn by DFDS in 2008 and laid up in Korsør and Klaipeda. In 2010 chartered to St Peter Line as Princess Maria for a service between Helsinki and St Petersburg. Ownership and ship management remains with AB DFDS LISCO.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official Silja Line postcard of Finlandia, with original bow profile.


Official Silja Line postcard of Finlandia, with original bow profile.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Finlandia at Helsinki.
Note redesigned bow profile on subsequent cards.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Finlandia at Helsinki.


Image from an oversized official Silja Line fleet postcard, showing Finlandia at Helsinki.







Silvia Regina (1981-1991)

Silja Regina was built in 1981 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab for Oy Svea Line. She entered service between Stockholm-Helsinki for Silja Line. In 1987 she was sold to Johnson Line Ab (Oy Silja Line Ab), followed a year later by sale to Stena Line Ab, with charter back to Johnson Line until 1991. She remained in the Silja Line Stockholm-Helsinki service as the Silja Regina throughout this time. In 1991 Silja Regina was chartered to Stena Line BV and renamed Stena Britannica (2) for services between Harwich-Hook of Holland. She was not economic on this service, and in 1994 she was switched to the Oslo-Frederikshavn service (Oslo-Frederikshavn-Göteborg in winter) as the Stena Saga. Her replacement on the Harwich-Hook route was the Stena Europe.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official Silja Line postcard of Silvia Regina in Svea colours, with original bow profile.


Official Silja Line postcard of Silvia Regina in Johnson Line colours.
Note redesigned bow form on this and subsequent cards.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Silvia Regina in Johnson Line colours.


Image from an oversized official Silja Line fleet postcard, showing Silvia Regina in Johnson Line colours.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Silvia Regina in Johnson Line colours.







Svea (1985-1992)
Silja Karneval (1992-1994)

Svea was built in 1985 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Helsinki, for Johnson Line of Stockholm. She entered service with Silja Line on the route Stockholm-Mariehamn-Åbo. In 1987 registered owners became Oy Svea Line. Svea was upgraded at Lloyds Werft, Bremerhaven, in 1992, and renamed Silja Karneval. In 1994 she was sold to Color Line, and renamed Color Festival, for use between Oslo-Hirtshals. Sold to Corsica Ferries in 2007 (delivered 2008) and renamed Mega Smeralda.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Oversized official Silja Line art card of Svea.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Svea.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Svea.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Svea.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Svea.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Svea.


Official Silja Line postcard of Silja Karneval.
Niklas Postcard 374.


Official Silja Line postcard of Silja Karneval.
Niklas Postcard 701.







Wellamo (4) (1986-1992) Silja Festival (1992- )
Wellamo was built by Oy Wärtsilä Ab for the Silja Line services run by Finska Ångfartygs Ab (FÅA), renamed Effoa Oy before Wellamo was delivered. Wellamo entered service in 1986 between Stockholm-Helsinki. In 1991, ownership passed to EffJohn International Oy (Helsinki), a combination of the Finnish Effoa and the Swedish Johnson Line. In 1992 Wellamo was refurbished in Bremerhaven, and returned to service between Åbo-Mariehamn-Stockholm in a new livery as Silja Festival. Ownership then passed to Silja Line Oy. Silja Festival operated on the Vaasa-Umeå route between March and May 1993, followed by service on the Euroway route between Malmö-Travemünde/Lübeck and Copenhagen-Malmö-Travemünde/Lübeck. This route closed in April 1994, and Silja Festival returned to Vaasa-Umeå and also Vasa-Sundsvall. Winter 1994/95 was spent on a Helsinki-Tallinn service, followed by another return to Vaasa-Umeå during the summer months before a return to Helsinki-Tallinn until 1997, when she transferred to Åbo-Mariehamn-Stockholm. In 2001 Silja Festival received a further rebuild at Finnyards, Rauma. In 2006 Silja Line was taken over by the Tallink Group, registered owners initially Tallink Silja Oy. Subsequently used on various Tallink/Silja routes under various internal Tallink company names.
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Oversized official Silja Line postcard of Wellamo.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, with red stripes on her sides.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival.
Niklas postcard 369.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, without the red stripes.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.


S+S postcard Tra1648 of Silja Festival, in Euroway colours during charter in 1993/94.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard 815.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.







GTS Finnjet (1986-2005)

32490grt - 212.96m long - 1686 passengers - 1550 berths - 390 cars

Finnjet was built by Wärtsilä in Helsinki in 1977 for Enso Gutzeit, Finnish owner of Finnlines. She was fitted with two Pratt & Whitney FT 4C-1 DLF gas turbines, developing 55200hp, giving a speed of 30.5 knots. At the time of building, she was the largest, longest and fastest car ferry in the world. Finnjet entered service on Finnlines' Helsinki-Travemünde route, replacing two conventional ferries. In 1981, additional 18-cyl Pielstick-Wärtsilä diesels were installed of 23040 kW, which could achieve a speed of 18.5 knots. This allowed Finnjet to make slower off peak journeys to reduce fuel consumption. In 1986 Finnjet was sold to EFFOA (Finska Ångfartygs Ab) subsidiary Oy Finnjet Line. She was marketed as Finnjet Silja Line. In later years she added calls at Tallinn, and the German port changed to Rostock. During the winter 2003/4 she sailed just between Helsinki-Tallinn. During summer 2005 operated Helsinki-Tallinn-St Petersburg, but in September 2005 was withdrawn and sailed to Baton Rouge for use as an accommodation ship. In early 2008 renamed Da Vinci and bought by MV Cruise Ship Holdings Four Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas. She sailed for Genoa in January, calling at Gibraltar, but planned rebuilding failed for financial reasons. Sadly this fascinating ship was sold for breaking up, arriving at Alang, India on 19th June 2008.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


S+S postcard Tra1435 of Finnjet in Silja Line colours.


S+S postcard Tra1435 of Finnjet in Silja Line colours.


Official Silja Line of Finnjet.


Official Silja Line of Finnjet.


Official Silja Line of Finnjet.


Niklas postcard of Finnjet.


Niklas postcard A105 of Finnjet.







Silja Star (1990, charter)

Silja Star was built as the Viking Sally for Rederi AB Sally, part of the Viking Line consortium, in 1980 by Meyer of Papenburg. Sally were the dominant partner in the Viking Line consortium at this time, with three large ferries delivered in the same year. However, the company was soon in financial difficulties, having branched out into other unprofitable areas, and was taken over by Silja Line partners Effjohn in 1987. Sally was forced out of the Viking Line consortium, although Viking Sally remained in Viking Line service on charter until 1990. She then became the Silja Star, operating from Turku, until transferred to Wasa Line (ex-Vaasanlaivat) as Wasa King. She was sold to Estline as the Estonia in 1992. Estonia was lost in heavy seas in the early hours of 28th September 1994, whilst on passage from Tallinn to Stockholm.

A complete history of this ship is available on on this link.


This is an official (oversized) Silja Line postcard.







Silja Serenade (1990- )

58376 grt - 203.3 m long - 32500 kW=21.5 knots - 2626 passengers/berths (later 2852) - 950 lanemetres

Silja Serenade was built by Masa-Yards Oy for Effjohn Oy, Helsinki. Her sistership was Silja Symphony. She entered Silja Line service between Helsinki and Stockholm in November 1990. In 1992, ownership was passed to Oy Silja Line. Silja Serenade transferred to the Åbo/Turku-Mariehamn-Stockholm route in 1993, before moving back to Helsinki-Stockholm in 1995. A call at Mariehamn was added in 1999. Passed to Tallink ownership in 2006, registered with Tallink Silja Oy, Mariehamn.

A complete history of this ship is available on on this link.


Oversized Silja Line postcard of Silja Serenade.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Serenade.
Niklas Vykort 360.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Serenade.
Niklas Vykort 399.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Serenade.
Niklas Vykort 740.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Serenade.
Niklas Vykort 907.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Serenade, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Serenade, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.







Silja Symphony (1991- )

58376 grt - 203.3 m long - 32560 kW=21.5 knots - 2626 passengers/berths (later 2852) - 950 lanemetres

Silja Symphony was built in 1991 by Masa-Yards Oy for Oy Svea Line, Helsinki. Her sistership was Silja Serenade. She entered Silja Line service between Helsinki and Stockholm in May 1991. A call at Mariehamn was added in 1999. In 2003, ownership was passed to Silja Oy Asp, Stockholm. Passed to Tallink ownership in 2006, registered with Tallink Silja Oy, Mariehamn.

A complete history of this ship is available on on this link.


Oversized Silja Line postcard of the inauguration of Silja Symphony, 30/05/1991, with Silja Serenade.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Symphony.
Niklas Vykort 358.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Symphony.
Niklas Vykort 700.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Symphony, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Symphony.
Niklas Vykort 908.


An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Symphony, without the red stripes.
Niklas postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.







Sally Albatross (1992-1994)
Silja Opera (2002- )

Viking Saga was built in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally, part of the Viking Line consortium, and used on their Helsinki-Stockholm service. Her sistership was Viking Song. She was replaced in 1986 by Olympia, and was modified for cruising out of Helsinki as the Sally Albatross. She was burnt out whilst undergoing a refit in Stockholm in 1990. By this time Rederi Ab Sally had been acquired by Effjohn International, owners of Silja Line. Although declared a total constructive loss, the lower hull was used to create a new ship, also called Sally Albatross, reappearing in 1992. In 1994, she grounded whilst on a cruise, suffering major damage. After repairs, she was chartered to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) as the Leeward. The Baltic cruise market had been hit badly by the Estonia disaster in September 1994. In 1999 the charter was transferred to NCL's owners, Star Cruises, for service in the Far East as SuperStar Taurus. The charter was terminated by Star Cruises in 2002, and she returned to her owners Silja Line for service as Silja Opera. Subsequently sold to Louis Cruises as Cristal and later Louis Cristal.

A complete history of this ship is available on on this link.


Official Sally Ab postcard of Sally Albatross, issued whilst the ship was being rebuilt, with full technical details on the reverse. Click on the image of the card back to open a larger view in a new window.


Official Sally Ab postcard of Sally Albatross.
Published by Niklas Postcortti Oy, serial number 362.


Official Sally Ab postcard of Sally Albatross.
Published by Niklas Postcortti Oy, serial number 373.


Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Sally Albatross.
Published by Niklas Postcortti Oy, serial number 378.


Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Sally Albatross.
Published by Niklas Postcortti Oy, serial number 394.



The Star Cruises charter of SuperStar Taurus was terminated in 2002, and she returned to her owners for service as Silja Opera.


Niklas postcard A101 of Silja Opera.







Silja Europa (1993- )

59912 grt - 201.78 m long - 31800 kW = 21.5 knots - 3000 passengers - 400 cars

Silja Europa was ordered from Jos L Meyer Werft, Papenburg-Ems, by Viking Line partner Rederi AB Slite, for 1993 delivery as the Europa. The order was cancelled before delivery, and the builders took ownership. On completion, she was chartered to Silja Line as Silja Europa, entering service in March 1993 between Stockholm and Helsinki. Silja Europa has since served on many other routes for Silja Line. Passed to Tallink ownership in 2006, registered with Tallink Silja Oy, Mariehamn.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


This official Viking Line postcard of Europa was issued before cancellation of the order.



Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Europa.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Europa.
Niklas Vykort 702.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Europa.
Niklas Vykort 742.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Europa.
Niklas Vykort 921.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Europa.
Niklas Vykort A102.







Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent (1993, charter)

Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent was built as the Stena Normandica in 1974 for Stena Line, one of a series of four ships intended for charter work. her initial charter was to Enterprise Nationale de Transport Maritime des Voyageurs (E.N.T.M.V.), Algeria, for a service between Marseille-Alicante-Algiers. In April 1975 Stena Normandica briefly served as relief on on Stena Line's Göteborg-Kiel and Göteborg-Frederikshavn routes, before returning to the E.N.T.M.V. route. The Stena Line relief work was repeated in 1976, followed by six months charter to Gedser-Travemünde Ruten. The early months of 1978 were spent on a more extended period out of Göteborg, plus a brief stint for Normandy Ferries between Southampton-Le Havre. July-December was again spent with E.N.T.M.V.

In 1979, Stena Normandica received a longer term charter with Sealink UK, followed by sale in 1985 and renaming as St Brendan. In 1989, St Brendan was sold to Moby Lines, and entered service as Moby Vincent in March 1990. She operated between Genoa-Bastia and Livorno-Bastia. During the summer of 1993, Moby Vincent ran for Silja Line between Umeå-Vasa under the marketing name of Wasa Sun.

An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 396).







Silja Scandinavia (1994-1997, charter)

Silja Scandinavica was built as the Frans Suell by Brodogradiliste Split, Croatia. Frans Suell entered service in May 1992 on the Euroway service between Malmö-Travemünde/Lübeck. In 1993, the route changed to Copenhagen-Malmö-Travemünde-Lübeck, and marketing was undertaken by Silja Line, who provided their Silja Festival to run in partnership. The Euroway service was closed in March 1994, and Frans Suell was chartered to Silja Line for service between Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku/Åbo as the Silja Scandinavica. In 1996, she was sold to Viking Line for delivery in April 1997, joining sisterships Amorella and Isabella. She was renamed Gabriella, entering service between Stockholm and Helsinki. She subsequently served on other Viking Line routes.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Scandinavia.
Niklas Vykort 709.


Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Silja Scandinavia.
Niklas Vykort 712.


Silja Line postcard of Silja Scandinavia.
Niklas Vykort.







Wasa Express (4)/Sally Star (1997, charter)

Wasa Express(4) was built in Helsinki as the Travemünde, for Gedser-Travemünde Ruten of Denmark, in 1981. In 1986 the company's name was changed to GT-Linien, and Travemünde was renamed Travemünde Link. The company name was changed again in 1987, to GT-Link. In 1988, Travemünde Link was purchased by Rederi AB Gotland, but remained in service with GT-Ruten. Later in 1988, she was chartered to Sally Ferries for service as the Sally Star between Ramsgate-Dunkirk. In 1997, she was transferred to Silja Line for use between Vaasa-Umeå, under the marketing name Wasa Express, although the name was not officially changed. She entered Destination Gotland service later the same year as Thjelvar.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Express (4), (not officially renamed from Sally Star).
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 806).
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.







Wasa Jubilee/Stena Invicta (1998, charter)

Wasa Jubilee was built in 1985 by Nakskov Skibsværft A/S, Denmark as the DSB ferry Peder Paars. She was sold to Stena Line in in 1991 for use as the Stena Invicta on Dover-Calais services. She was withdrawn in 1998, and chartered to Silja Line under the marketing name Wasa Jubilee during that year only, the name commemorating 50 years of services on the Vaasa-Umeå route. In 2001 she was sold to Color Line and continued in service in 2002 as the Color Viking.

This is an official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Jubilee.








HSC Superseacat Four (2000- )
HSC Seacat Danmark (2000)
HSC Superseacat Three (2003- )


Silja Line postcard of Superseacat Four.
Niklas Vykort A107.







Fleet Postcards








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