Vaasanlaivat - Vasabåtarna
 
Vaasanlaivat - Vasabåtarna - Page 3
Wasa Line
Silja Line
 
 
This is the third of three pages devoted to postcards of services between Vaasa (Finland) and Umeå (Sweden) operated by Vaasanlaivat (Vasabåtarna in Swedish - the ships carried different names on each side of the hull). Earlier ships on this route are covered on Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 1 and Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 2.
 
An alphabetical list of ships covered on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in chronological order.
 
The company was originally known as Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab, but later changed its name to Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna (in Finnish/Swedish). Vaasanlaivat was bought by Sally Line, part of the Silja Line consortium, in 1982. The title was later changed to Wasa Line, and finally the route was integrated into the main Silja Line fleet until its closure in 2001. Following Silja Line's withdrawal from the Vaasa-Umeå route, a service has been operated by RG Line using the Casino Express (ex-Fennia) which had served on this route since 1986.
 
 
Ships on Page 1- 1955-75:-
Botnia Express (1) - 1965-75
Fenno Express - 1971-85
Korsholm II - 1958-67
Korsholm III - 1958-67
Örnen (1) - 1959-66
Örnen (2) - 1969
Polar Express - 1968-82
Scania Express - 1971-76
Vaasa - 1962-62
Wasa Express (1) - 1964-75
 
Ships on Page 2 - 1976-84:-
Botnia Express (2) - 1979-92
Fenno Express - 1971-85
Sally Express - 1983-84
Wasa Express (2) - 1976-83 and 1984-88
Wasa Express (3) - 1983-84
Wasa Star - 1981-82
 
Ships on This Page - 1985-2001:-
Bolero - 1985 (chartered)
Casino Express - RG Line, 2001-
Fennia - 1986-2001
Fenno Star - 1991
Jet Cat - 1988 (charter)
Sally Star - 1987
Silja Festival - 1994/94
Wasa Express (4) - 1987
Wasa Jubilee - 1998
Wasa King - 1991-92
Wasa Prince - 1989-91
Wasa Queen - 1991-92
Wasa Sun - 1993
 
Associated Pages:-
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 1 - Ships acquired before 1976
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 2 - Ships acquired 1976-86
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 3 - Ships acquired after 1986 - this page!
Estline
Jakob Lines
Scandinavisk Linietrafik
Sally Line UK
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-
Silja Line - Page 5 - Seawind Line
Viking Line - Page 1 - Viking Line Ships 1959-1978
Viking Line - Page 2 - Viking Line Ships 1979-1980
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
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Table of Ship Histories

Name

Other names

 Built
 Bolero  Prince of Fundy II, Scandinavica, Jupiter, Crucero Express, Seminole Express, Magic I

 1973
 Botnia Express (2)  Diana, Alandia

 1972
 Fennia  Casino Express

 1966
 Fenno Star  Viking III, Terje Vigen, Scandinavia, Sandefjord, Sagafjord

 1965
 Sally Express  Viking 5, The Viking, Bolette, Boughaz

 1974
 Sally Star  Travemünde, Travemünde Link, Wasa Express (4), Thjelar

 1974
 Scania Express  Scania, Polheim, Nereus

 1963
 Silja Festival  Wellamo (4)

 1986
 Wasa Express (2)  Viking 3, Roslagen

 1970
 Wasa Express (3)  Viking 1, Khalid 1, Mecca 1, Al Hussein II, etc

 1970
 Wasa Express (4)  Travemünde, Travemünde Link, Sally Star, Thjelar

 1974
 Wasa King  Viking Sally, Silja Star, Estonia

 1980
 Wasa Prince  Kalle III, The Viking, Peder Olsen, Moby Lally

 1974
 Wasa Queen  Bore Star, Finnpartner, Silja Star, Orient Express, Eurosun, Orient Sun

 1975
 Wasa Sun  Stena Normandica, St Brendan, Moby Vincent

1974
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna Fleet List
Part 3 - 1985-2001
 
 
 
Bolero
(Charter: 1985)
 
Through the summer on 1985, Bolero was chartered to Oy Vasabåtarna Ab, for service between Sundsvall-Vasa, afterwards returning to Fred Olsen services.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Bolero in Vasabåtarna service.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Bolero in Vasabåtarna service.
Photo: © Håkan Bruér.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fennia
(Wasa Line: 1986-2001)
 
Fennia was built by Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona in 1966 for Silja Line services, beginning a long career through many owners without a name change until 2001. She remained in service with her original owners Silja Line until 1984 (including a charter to B&I in 1983). Between 1984-86 she operated for Jakob Lines, before she joined Silja Line subsidiary Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna. She was not sold by Silja Line until 2001, when RG Line took over the Vaasa-Umeå route, and she was renamed Casino Express.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna (Mainos-Varteva) postcard of Fennia.
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 221.
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 246.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 251.
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 260. Photo: Hannu Vallas.
 
Official Wasa Line postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 343.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 398.
 
Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 704.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casino Express
(RG-Line: 2001- )
 
An RG-Line brochure for Casino Express.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jet Cat
(Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna: 1988)
 
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna chartered Jet Cat during summer 1988.
 
 
An official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Jet Cat.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 263).
 
An official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Jet Cat.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 262).
 
Official Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna postcard of Jet Cat and Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 251.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa Prince
(Wasa Line: 1989-91)
 
Wasa Prince was built Schichau Unterweser, Bremerhaven, in 1974 for use on Juelsminde-Kalundborg Line services as the Kalle III. Between 1983-89 she was chartered to Sally UK for Ramsgate-Dunkerque service as The Viking. Between 1989-91 she ran for Vaasanlaivat as the Wasa Prince. From 1991 to 2000 she served Bornholm as the Peder Olsen, and was then sold to Moby Lines as the Moby Lally, for whom she remained in service in 2002.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Prince.
Niklas Vykort serial number 265.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Prince.
Niklas Vykort serial number 266.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Prince.
Niklas Vykort serial number 276.
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S101 of Wasa Prince.
Photo: Mike Louagie.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa King
(Wasa Line: 1991-92)
 
Viking Sally was built 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 EFFOA in 1987. Rederi AB Sally was forced out of the Viking Line consortium in 1987, 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.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on on this link.
 
 
An official Wasa Line postcard of Wasa King (plus card back).
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 329).
 
An official Wasa Line postcard of Wasa King.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 330).
 
An official Wasa Line postcard of Wasa King.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 342).
 
Chantry Classics postcard CC/S244 of Wasa King.
Photo by Dieter Streich.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa Queen
(Wasa Line: 1991-92)
 
Wasa Queen was built as the Bore Star in 1975 by Dubigeon-Normandie SA, Nantes. She was one of four sisters built for Silja Line services, being owned by Silja Line consortium member Bore. In 1980 she was sold to Silja Line and renamed Silja Star, 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. This service was short lived, and she operated as the cruise ship Club Sea and then Eurosun between 1986 and 1992. She was reacquired by Silja Line for their Wasa Line subsidiary, serving as Wasa Queen, initially in Wasa Line colours, but more recently in Silja Line service.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
An official Wasa Line postcard of Wasa Queen.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 376).
 
An official Wasa Line postcard of Wasa Queen.
Printed by Niklas Vykort.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Queen.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 397).
 
An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Queen.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 705).
 
An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Queen.
Printed by Niklas Vykort.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Laatukortti postcard 108007 of Vaasa/Vasa in 1994 showing Wasa Queen (right) and Silja Festival on the left.
Photo: Raimo Ketola.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fenno Star
(Silja Line: 1991)
 
Fenno Star was built as the Viking III in 1965 by Orenstein-Koppel und Lübecker Mach A/G, Lübeck, for Otto Thoresen for service between Southampton to Cherbourg/Le Havre. During the winter of 1965, Viking III was chartered to Atlantic Steam Navigation for services from Tilbury to Rotterdam and Antwerp. In 1968, Thoresen merged with Townsend to form Townsend Thoresen Car Ferries. Viking III worked regular charters for other companies such as Lion Ferry , Fred Olsen, Larvik Lines, Sealink and Stena Line etc.
 
In 1982 Viking III was sold to Da-No Linjen for service between Frederikstad-Frederikshavn as the Terje Vigen. She passed through various other Scandinavian owners as Scandinavia until spending 1990/91 with Vasabåtarna and Jakob Lines as Fenno Star. In 1992, Fenno Star was sold to Scandi Line as the Sandefjord, running between Sandefjord-Strömstad. Scandi Line became part of Larvik Line in 1994, and then Color Line in 1999. In 2003 she was sold to Saga Linie and adopted the name Sagafjord for a service Moss-Skagen.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Photograph of Fenno Star, (ex-Viking III) by Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent
(Silja Line: 1993)
 
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.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Sun/Moby Vincent.
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 396).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Silja Festival
(Silja Line: 1993/94)
 
Silja Festival was built as Wellamo by Oy Wärtsilä Ab for 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 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. ilja 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.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Laatukortti postcard 108007 of Vaasa/Vasa in 1994 showing Wasa Queen (right) and Silja Festival on the left.
Photo: Raimo Ketola.
 
An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, as she looked the first summer 1993 in Vaasa, with red stripes on her sides.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
An offical Silja Line postcard of Silja Festival, as she looked the last summer 1994 in Vaasa, without the red stripes.
Scan supplied by Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa Express (4)/Sally Star
(Silja Line: 1997)
 
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 remaned 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 and 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. In November 2003, Thjelvar was chartered to Color Line. She entered service with Color Line as Color Traveller in March 2004 between Larvik and Hirtshals.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
An official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Express (4), (not officislly renamed from Sally Star).
Printed by Niklas Vykort (serial number 806).
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Photograph of Sally Star as Wasa Express.
Photo: © Marko Stampehl.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
Photograph of Sally Star as Wasa Express.
Photo: © Mikael Blomberg.
 
Photograph of Sally Star as Wasa Express.
Photo: © Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wasa Jubilee/Stena Invicta
(Silja Line: 1998)
 
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. In 2001 she was sold to Color Line and continues in service in 2002 as the Color Viking.
 
 
This is an official Silja Line postcard of Wasa Jubilee, plus the card back with ship's stamps.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 1 - Vaasanlaivat/Vasabåtarna - Page 2
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