Silja Line
Oy Siljavarustamo - Ab Siljarederiet Ab
Page 3 - Second Generation Car Ferries 1971-80
This page is the third 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 the
Fleet List - Part 3
in chronological order.
In 1970, a closer agreement was reached between the three founding companies (
Finland SS Co
,
Bore SS Co
and
Rederi AB Svea
), and Silja Line became became a traffic coordinating and marketing unit. The ships of the three fleets were united under the famous seals' head logo, and the remaining ships of the fourth company Oy Siljavarustamo/ Ab Siljarederiet Ab were distributed amongst the other three.
Fennia
joined
Svea
,
Botnia
joined
Bore
. and the new
Floria
joined the
Finland
fleet. Each carried their owners funnel colours, but were united by the Silja Line hull markings. Up until this time, the Helsinki route had been summer-only, but began all year operation on the delivery of two French-built sisters the
Aallotar (3)
and
Svea Regina
in 1972, owned by
Finland SS Co
and
Svea
respectively. A different Finnish-built ship,
Bore I
, joined the
Bore
fleet the following year. Traffic growth was such, that three larger French-built sisters,
Svea Corona (1)
,
Wellamo (3)
and
Bore Star
replaced the 1972/73 ships after only three years in 1975/76. In 1975, the Swedish parent of Johnson Line took a 50% interest in
Svea
.
Bore
withdrew from passenger services at the Silja Line group at the end of the decade.
Ships on This Page:-
Bore I
(1973-1980) - later Skandia (2)
Bore Star
(1976-1980) - later Silja Star, Wasa Queen
Aallotar (3)
(1972-1978)
Holmia
(1971-1973)
Regina
(1978) - ex-Svea Regina
Silja Star
(1980-1986) - ex-Bore Star - later Wasa Queen
Silvia
(1972-1973)
Skandia (2)
(1980-1983) - ex-Bore I
Svea Corona (1)
(1975-1984)
Svea Corona (2)
(1984-1985, on charter)
Svea Regina
(1972-1978) - later Regina
Wasa Queen
(1993- ) - ex-Bore Star, Silja Star
Wellamo (3)
(1975-1981)
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 - This Page!
Silja Line - Page 4
- Third Generation Car Ferries 1981-
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
Search This Website:-
powered by
FreeFind
Silja Line Fleet List
Part 3 - Second Generation Car Ferries 1971-80
Holmia (2) (1971-1973)
Färjeminnen postcard of
Aallotar
in Bore Line colours.
Photo: © Bernt Fogelberg.
A postcard from the port of Norrtälje, Silja Lines
Holmia
alongside.
Published: J. O. Krantz, Norrtälje (serial 1981).
Photo: C.G. Bäckström.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
Aallotar (3) (1972-1978)
7800grt - 126.8m long - 16000hp=21 knots - 1000 passengers/439 berths - 170 cars
Aallotar
was built by Dubegion-Normandie, Nantes, for
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
. She entered service for Silja Line in 1972 between Stockholm-Helsinki. Her sistership was the
Rederi AB Svea
Svea Regina
of 1972. In 1977,
Aallotar
was chartered to Polska Zegluga Baltycka (Polferries) for Helsinki-Gdansk service, followed by sale the following year when she was renamed
Rogalin
.
Rogalin
was used on routes Ystad-Swinoujscie, Helsinki-Gdansk, Copenhagen-Swinoujscie and Copenhagen-Travemünde. During the summers of 1987, 1988 and 1991
Rogalin
was chartered to Swansea-Cork ferries as the
Celtic Pride
.
Rogalin
was laid up in July 2003.
Official Silja line postcard of
Aallotar
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Aallotar
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Aallotar
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Aallotar
.
Silvia (1972-1973)
Svea Regina (1972-1978)
Regina (1978)
8020grt - 126.9m long - 16000hp=21 knots - 1000 passengers/412 berths - 170 cars
Svea Regina
was built by Dubegion-Normandie, Nantes, for
Rederi Ab Svea
. She entered service for Silja Line in 1972 between Stockholm-Helsinki. Her sistership was the Finska Ångfartygs Ab
Aallotar
of 1972. In 1978,
Svea Regina
was also sold to
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
, and renamed
Regina.
Charters followed to Polska Zegluga, Brittany Ferries and Karageorgis Lines, who renamed her
Mediterranean Sun
. In 1982 she was sold to Greek owners and renamed
Odysseas Elytis
. In 1985,
Odysseas Elytis
was sold a DFDS subsidiary and renamed
Scandinavian Sky
for cruising out of Florida for
SeaEscape
. In 1989 she became the
Tallink
, serving for various owners between
Helsinki-Tallinn
until 1996. Since then she has carried the names
Mama Tanzania, Eltor, Monte Carlo
and
El Safa.
There is a complete history of this ship available
on this link
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Regina
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Regina
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Regina
.
Postcard of
Svea Regina
in Stockholm archipelago, at Furusund.
Published: J:O Krantz, Norrtälje (serial 252).
Photo: C.G.Bäckström.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
Regina
in Finland SS Co colours.
Bore I (3) (1973-80)
Skandia (1980-1983)
8528grt - 127.8m long - 18000hp=19 knots - 1200 passengers/432 berths
Bore I
was ordered by Oy Siljavarustamo/Ab Silja Rederiet (Silja Line) in 1969. In 1971 the contracted was taken over by
Höyrylaiva Oy Bore/Ångfartygs Ab Bore (Bore Line)
, and she was completed as
Bore I
in 1973 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab. She operated on the Silja Line services between Åbo-Mariehamn-Stockholm and also Helsinki-Stockholm. In 1980
Bore I
was sold to
Suomen Höyrylaiva Oy/Finska Ångfartygs Ab (FAÅ)
and renamed
Skandia
, remaining on the same Silja Line route. In 1983,
Skandia
was sold to
Stena Line
, and renamed
Stena Baltica,
before a rapid sale to the Baltic Shipping Corporation (Leningrad) and renaming as
Ilich
. She operated a route from Stockholm to Leningrad (later renamed St Petersburg) and also Stockholm-Riga.
Ilich
was sold in 1996 to a Maltese company, becoming the
Anastasia V
, and then again to Windward Venture Shipping in 1997 as the
Windward Pride
, intended for a service between Barbados and Venezuela. In October 1997 she became the
Baltic Kristina
in service with
Estline
and then
Tallink
. She ceased service with
Tallink
in 2000, and has since served Riga Sea Line between Riga-Stockholm and Paldiski-Kapellskär.
There is a complete history of this ship, including additional Silja postcards, is available
on this link
.
Official Silja Line photograph of
Bore I
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Bore I
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Bore I
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Bore I
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Skandia
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Skandia
, leaving Mariehamn.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
Svea Corona (1) (1975-1984)
13275 grt - 153m long - 24000hp=21 knots - 1200 passengers/674 berths - 240 cars
Svea Corona was built by Dubigeon-Normandie SA, Nantes. She was one of three sisters built for Silja Line services, and was owned by Silja Line consortium member
Rederi AB Svea
. The other sisters were delivered as the
Wellamo
of
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
and the
Bore Star
of
Bore Line
. Svea Corona entered service in 1975 between Stockholm and Helsinki, moving to the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Åbo/Turku route in 1980. In 1981, ownership passed to Johnson Line AB. In 1984, Svea Corona was sold to Sundancer Corporation and renamed Sundancer for use as a cruise ship. However on her third cruise on the US/Canadian west coast, Sundancer was declared a TCL (total constructive loss) after hitting a submerged object on 30th June 1984. She was driven ashore by the captain, and was later sold to Greek owners for rebuilding, reappearing as the Pegasus of Cosmos Cruises. In 1987, Pegasus was acquired by
Epirotiki Lines
, retaining her name. On 2nd June 1991 there was a fire on board whilst in Venice. Pegasus sank to the harbour bottom, and was declared a TCL for the second time. In 1994 the remains were sold to
Strintzis Lines
, and given the name Ionian Express. Following rebuilding, the intention was that she would be used on the Swansea-Cork Ferries service. This was not to be, since on 20th November 1994 another fire broke out, and the ship was declared a TCL for the third time. She was broken up in Turkey in 1995.
A complete history of this ship is available
on this link
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Corona
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Corona
.
Official Silja line postcard of
Svea Corona
in Johnson Line colours.
Wellamo (3) (1975-1981)
Svea Corona (2) (1984-85, on charter)
12348 grt - 153.12m long - 24000hp=21 knots - 1200 passengers/799 berths - 240 cars
Wellamo was built for
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
, part of the Silja Line consortium, by Dubegion-Normandie, Nantes. She entered service between Stockholm-Helsinki in 1975. Her sisterships were
Svea Corona
and
Bore Star
. In 1979 Wellamo was sold to
DFDS
and renamed Dana Gloria for Esbjerg-Newcastle services. From 1984 Dana Gloria was moved to the Copenhagen-Oslo route. Between March 1984 and May 1985 Dana Gloria was chartered back to Silja Line partner Johnson Line for use between Stockholm-Mariehamn-Åbo, for which she was renamed Svea Corona, a name previously held by one of her sisters. In June 1985, Dana Gloria returned to the Copenhagen-Oslo route with
DFDS
. In 1988, Dana Gloria was lengthened by 22.3m at Jos L Meyer Werft, Papenburg Ems, re-appearing in service as the King of Scandinavia in February 1989. From June 1990, services also called at Helsingborg. In 1994, King of Scandinavia was sold to
Color Line
and renamed Color Viking, for service between Bergen-Stavanger-Newcastle. In 1998, the route and ship were transferred to
Fjord Line
, and was Color Viking was renamed Jupiter.
A complete history of this ship is available
on this link
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Wellamo.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Wellamo.
Photograph of
Svea Corona (2).
Photo: © Marko Hänninen
Scan:
Fakta om Fartyg
.
Photograph of
Svea Corona (2).
Photo: © Marko Hänninen
Scan:
Fakta om Fartyg
.
Bore Star (1976-80)
Silja Star (1980-1986)
Wasa Queen (1993- )
Bore Star
was built in 1975 by Dubigeon-Normandie SA, Nantes. She was one of three sisters built for Silja Line services, being owned by Silja Line consortium member
Bore Line
. The other sisters were delivered as the
Svea Corona
of
Rederi AB Svea
and the
Wellamo
of
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
. During the winters of 1975/76 and 1976/77 she was chartered to
Finnlines
for cruises around the Canary Islands and African coast. These were marketed as the
Finnpartner
, although her official name was unchanged.
In 1980
Bore Star
was sold to Silja Line consortium member
Finska Ångfartygs Ab
, and renamed
Silja Star
. She remaining with them until replaced by larger tonnage in 1986, when she was sold to Sea Containers for use as the cruise ferry
Orient Express
, on a service between Venice-Piraeus-Istanbul. She operated under charter as the cruise ship
Club Sea
in the winter of 1986-87 and then became
Eurosun
under charter and then sale to an Effjohn subsidiary in November 1989. She ran as
Orient Express
again during the summer of 1990 under charter, before transfer to another Effjohn subsidiary as
Orient Sun
for cruises out of Singapore. In 1992 she was sold to a further Effjohn company for use as the
Wasa Queen
between Sundsvall-Vasa and Umeå-Vasa.
There is a complete history of this ship, including additional images in Silja colours,
on this link
.
Official Silja Line postcard of
Bore Star
.
Official
Silja Line
postcard of
Bore Star
.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.