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Viking Line
 
Page 1 - 1959-78
 
 
This page is the one of a series devoted to postcards of the Viking Line, and covers ships delivered up to 1978. An alphabetical list of ships covered on this page is shown below. The Viking Line - Header Page has brief history of the company and a table of individual ship histories. Below the table are official postcards of the fleet in alphabetical order. Other Viking Line pages are:- Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4.
 
 
Ships on This Page:-
Ålandsfärjan (1) - Ålandsfärjan/SF Line 1963-72
Apollo (1) - Slite 1964-67
Apollo (2) - Slite 1970-76
Apollo III - Slite 1976-89
Aurella - SF Line 1973-82
Boge - Slite 1963-63
Diana - Slite 1972-79
Drotten - 1963-64
Kapella - Ålandsfärjan/SF Line 1967-79
Marella - SF Line 1970-81
Panny - Slite 1963-64
Slite - Slite 1959-64
Viking - Vikinglinjen/Sally 1959-70
Viking 1 - Sally 1970-82
Viking 2 - Sally 1968-78
Viking 3 - Sally 1972-76
Viking 4 - Sally 1973-80
Viking 5 - Sally 1974-81
Viking 6 - Sally 1974-80
Visby - chartered 1967-70
 
Ships on Page 2:-
Dancing Queen - SF Line 1979-
Diana 2 - Slite 1979-92
Rosella - SF Line 1979-
Turella - Slite 1980-
Viking Saga - Sally 1980-86
Viking Sally - Sally 1980-91
Viking Song - Sally 1980-90
 
Ships on Page 3:-
Ålandsfärjan (2) - 1987- (built 1972)
Amorella - 1988-
Isabella - 1989-
Mariella - 1985-
Olympia - 1986-
 
Ships on Page 4:-
Athena - AB Slite 1989-93
Cinderella - 1989
Europa - AB Slite 1993 (sold before entering service)
Gabriella - built 1992
Kalypso - AB Slite 1990-93
 
Associated Pages:-
Viking Line - Header Page
Viking Line - Page 1 - Viking Line Ships 1959-1978 - this page!
Viking Line - Page 2 - Viking Line Ships 1979-1980
Viking Line - Page 3 - Viking Line Ships 1981-1989
Viking Line - Page 4 - Viking Line Ships 1989-
Viking Line - 2005 Fleet - Viking Line Fleet in 2005
Viking Line - 2009 Fleet - Viking Line Fleet in 2009
www.vikingline.fi - Official Viking Line Website
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
References:-
 
 
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Viking Line
 
Fleet List Part 1: 1959-80
(Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4)
 
 
 
Viking (1959-70)
 
Dinard was built in 1924 by Denny (Dumbarton, River Clyde) for the Southern Railway. As built, she was 2294 gross tons and carried 1300 passengers (354 in berths). She served on the night route between Southampton and St Malo, for which a speed of 19 knots was adequate. She served with distinction in World War 2, being both at Dunkirk and Normandy, but required major refurbishment after being returning to civilian service. The demand for the transportation of cars to France was increasing, so Dinard was rebuilt as a car-ferry, returning to service in June 1947 between Dover (and Folkestone) and Boulogne, with tonnage reduced to 1769grt, and a capacity of 363 passengers and 70 cars. She passed to the nationalised British Railways in 1948. At this stage cars were still crane-loaded aboard, but in 1953 she received modifications to the stern, allowing cars to be loaded over a ramp, inaugurating the drive-on service between Dover and Boulogne on which Dinard remained until withdrawn in 1958. Instead of being scrapped, Dinard was sold to become the first ship of Viking Line, whose operations began on 1st June 1959 between Gräddö and Korppoo, for Åland owners Gunnar Eklund and Henning Rundberg. They renamed her Viking, after further modifications to car capacity and appearance had been made.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Company postcard of Viking.
Scan: Susanne Stenius.
 
 
Postcard of Viking.
Scan: Peter Therkildsen.
 
 
Postcard of Viking at Mariehamn.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
Postcard of Viking.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg
 
 
Postcard of Viking.
Publisher: Färjeminnen - Photo: © Bernt Fogelberg - Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
Postcard of Viking.
Publisher: Färjeminnen 2735 - Copyright: © Michael Schneiter-GOTH/HAULER Stockholm
Photo: Eric Johansson - Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slite (Rederi AB Slite: 1959-64)
 
A Rederi A.B.Slite official postcard of Slite (built 1955).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Rederi AB Slite postcard of Slite (built 1955).
 
 
Publisher: Färjeminnen.
Photo: © Hans Schneiter - Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boge (Rederi AB Slite: 1961-63)
 
A modern Färjeminnen postcard, by Michael Schneiter, of Boge (built 1956).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Rederi AB Slite postcard of Boge (built 1956).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Panny (Rederi AB Slite: 1963-64)
 
I do not have a postcard of Panny.
If you can help, please email: simplon@simplon.co.uk.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ålandsfärjan (1963-72)
 
Ålandsfärjan was built as the Southern Railways cross-channel ferry Brittany in 1933 by Denny (Dumbarton, River Clyde). She was 1522 gross tons and carried 845 passengers (62 in berths). Brittany was specially built to operate year round services from the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) to various French ports (St Malo, Granville, Cherbourg etc). She rarely returned to her home port of Southampton in summer, but would regularly meet the Southern Railway cross-channel steamer Dinard at St Malo. Brittany would later rejoin Dinard as part of Viking Line.
 
At 1522 tons, Brittany was much smaller than other passenger ships in the Southern Railways fleet, and her turbines gave her a speed of only 16 knots. Brittany was withdrawn at the end of 1962, and was sold the following year to Gunnar Eklund, who had formed Ålandsfärjan after disagreements with his Viking Line partners. She operated as the Ålandsfärjan between Mariehamn and Gräddö (later Kapellskär), having been converted to carry cars. Ålandsfärjan later became SF Line 1970, and rejoined the Viking Line consortium in 1967. She was finally withdrawn in 1972, following replacement by more modern tonnage.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
An official Ålandsfärjan postcard of Ålandsfärjan.
 
 
An official Ålandsfärjan postcard of Ålandsfärjan.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Paletti postcard 2643/10 of Ålandsfärjan.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
Enlarged image from the Paletti postcard above of Ålandsfärjan.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn route, 800 passengers, 80 cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Apollo (1) (1964-67)
 
Apollo (1) was the first purpose-built ferries acquired by any of the Viking Line partners, being delivered to AB Slite in 1964. She carried the logo Ålandspilen (Åland Arrow) on her hull, and was ice-strengthened for all-year service. Apollo (1) was used mainly on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Parainen route, and from 1967 on Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali. She rapidly became too small for the service, and carried subsequent names Manic (in Canada), Ainos (for Strintzis Line), Neraia II, Ydra and Agios Nektarios.
 
 
An official Ålandspilen art postcard of Apollo (1).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
An official Ålandspilen postcard of Apollo (1).
 
 
An official Ålandspilen postcard of Apollo (1).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
An unidentified postcard of Apollo (1).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
An unidentified postcard of Apollo (1).
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
Ultra postcard Apollo in Mariehamn.
Photo: O.T. Beckman, Mariehamn.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.

An unidentified modern postcard of Apollo (1).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drotten (1963-64)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visby
(chartered: 1965, 1967-70)
 
Visby was built in Holland in 1964 for Rederi Ab Gotland. In 1965 and 1967-70 she was chartered to Viking Line for the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Pargas service. In 1966 she was chartered to TT-LIne for their Trelleborg-Travemünde service. She was sold to Polferries in 1970, becoming the Skandynawia on the Ystad-Swinoujscie service. In 1981 Skandynawia was sold for further service in the Far East.
 
 
An official Viking Line postcard of Visby.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
A modern Färjeminnens postcard of Visby. Foto Bernt Fogelberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kapella (1967-79)
 
Kapella was the first large purpose-built ferry delivered to one of the Viking Line partners, delivered to Ålandsfärjan (SF Line from 1970) in 1967. Kapella was 3159 gross tons and carried 220 cars and 1200 passengers, with 108 berths. Kapella was used on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Parainen route, later Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali. She was replaced by larger tonnage in 1979, and subsequently served as the Greek Nissos Chios. She has been laid up since 1994.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 220 cars.
 
 
Official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
O.T. Beckman, Mariehamn, postcard 1418 of Kapella.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
J.O. Kranz, Norrtelje, postcard 2123 of Kapella.
Photo: C. G. Bäckström.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.

Postcard of Kapella.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
Grako postcard of Mariehamn, with Kapella and Aurella (background).
Photo: Fotoatelje Alandia
Scan: Mikael Blomberg..
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 2 (1968-78)
 
Viking 2 was built as the Marsk Stig, in 1940, for the Grenå-Hundested Line of Hundested. Between 1966-68 she served as the Varberg for Europafärgens (Grenå). From 1968-78 she was the Viking 2 of AB Sally, part of the Viking Line consortium. She ran on the Mariehamn to Kapellskär route, carrying 600 passengers and 60 cars.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line card of Viking 2.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn route, 600 passengers, 60 cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Apollo (2) (1970-76)
 
Apollo was the first of a series of six similar ships delivered to Viking Line partners by the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg (a further three ships were delivered to a Mexican company). Apollo carried 1200 passengers and 260 cars. She served on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, but was old after only six years as traffic grew. She later served as Olau Kent (1976-80), Gelting Nord (1980-84), Benodet (1984-85), and Corbiere (1985-90), before returning to her original name of Apollo in 1990.
 
A complete history of Apollo is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 260 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 260 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 1 (1970-82)
 
Viking 1 was the second of the six Papenburg sisters, delivered to Viking Line partner Sally in 1970, for the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route. She was laid up in 1982, then transferred to another Sally company, Vaasanlaivat, as the Wasa Express between 1983-84. She then went to Middle-East, serving as Khalid 1, Mecca 1, Al Hussein II, Al-Qamar Al-Saudi Al-Misri 1 and Mecca 1. In 2002 she is listed as the Fagr, of operator Fouda, sailing between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
 
A complete history of Viking 1 is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 260 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 260 cars.
 
 
Viking 3 (left) and Viking 1.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard, showing extra accommodation added aft.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marella (1970-81)
 
Marella entered service in December 1970 on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route for Viking Line partner SF Line. She carried 1000 passengers and 225 cars. She later served on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Turku route, where postcards described the passenger capacity as 1200. Marella was sold in 1981 and served as the Alcaeos with NEL Lines until 2002, when she was sold to a Turkish company and renamed Sochi Express.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1000 passengers, 225 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Turku route, 1200 passengers, 225 cars.
 
 
Grako postcard 922 of Marella.
Photo: Fotoatelje Alandia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
Enlarged image from the Grako postcard above of Marella.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 3 (1972-76)
 
Viking 3 was the third of the six Papenburg sisters, delivered to Viking Line partner Sally in 1970, for the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route. She was transferred to another Sally company, Vaasanlaivat, as the Wasa Express between 1976-83, and again from 1984-88. In 1983-84 she returned to her original name of Viking 3 (whilst Viking 1 took her place as Wasa Express). In 1988 she was sold to Eckerö Line and served as the Roslagen.
 
A complete history of Viking 3 is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 265 cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diana (1972-79)
 
Diana was the fourth of the six Papenburg sisters, delivered to Viking Line partner Slite in 1972, for the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route. She also served on the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku route. In 1979 she was sold to Vaasanlaivat as Botnia Express. In 1982, Vaasanlaivat were bought by Viking Line partner Sally. In 1992 she was sold to Eckerö Line and served as the Alandia.
 
A complete history of Diana is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1200 passengers, 265 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali and Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku routes, 1200 passengers, 265 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route, 1320 passengers, 265 cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 4 (1973-80)
 
Viking 4 was the fifth of the six Papenburg sisters, delivered to Viking Line partner Sally in 1973, for the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route. She also served on the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku route. In 1980 she was sold to Sealink and served as the Earl Granville on Portsmouth-Channel Islands services. In 1990 she was sold to Greek owners as the Express Olympia.
 
A complete history of Viking 4 is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali and Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku routes, 1200 passengers, 265 cars.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
 
 
 
 
Aurella (1973-82)
 
Aurella was built by J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co, Germany, in 1973 for Viking Line consortium member SF Line. Aurella was used on the Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route until 1982, when she was sold to Irish Continental Line (later shortened to Irish Ferries). She served with them as St Patrick II on their services between Ireland and France until 1998, although in later years she was often chartered out or laid up at Le Havre as spare. In 1998 she was purchased by HML (Hellenic Mediterranean Lines) and was renamed Egnatia II. She was also chartered out to BalearExpress as Ville de Sete, and Swansea Cork Ferries as the City of Cork.
 
A complete history of Aurella is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route.
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
Kapellskär-Mariehamn-Naantali route.
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 5 (1974-81)
 
Viking 5 was the sixth and last of the Meyer-built Papenburg sisters, delivered to Viking Line partner Sally in 1974, for the Stockholm-Helsinki route. From 1981-83 she was used by Sally on their Ramsgate-Dunkerque route as The Viking, then from 1983-84 as the Sally Express of Vaasanlaivat. In 1984 she was sold to Fred Olsen, and served as the Bolette until 1988, when she became the Boughaz of Comarit, a Fred Olsen subsidiary.
 
A complete history of Viking 5 is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Stockholm-Helsinki route, 1200 passengers, 300 cars.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Viking 6 (1974-80)
 
Viking 6 was built as the Stena Line vessel Stena Britannica in 1967. Her career with Stena was short, and between 1968-74 she served in Alaska as the Wickersham. Rederi AB Sally bought her in 1974, and renamed her the Viking 6. She was used on the Stockholm-Helsinki route. Between 1980-82 she was chartered to Brittany Ferries as Goelo. She then served in the Mediterranean under various owners until 2001, when sold for scrap.
 
A complete history of Viking 6 is shown on this link.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Apollo III (1976-89)
 
4334 grt - 101.4m long - 1020 passengers 339 berths (later 472) - 60 cars (later 20)
 
Apollo III was built as Svea Jarl by Finnboda Varv, Nacka, Sweden, for Rederi Ab Svea. She entered service on Silja Line services in 1962 between Stockholm-Helsinki/Åbo. Svea Jarl was a steam ship with a 6-cylinder uniflow engine, built by A.D.M. Skinner Marine, which gave a speed of 16 knots. In 1976, Svea Jarl was sold to Rederi Ab Slite, part of the Viking Line consortium. She was rebuilt as a small cruise ship, and entered service Stockholm-Mariehamn as the Apollo III in March 1977. The steam engines were replaced by diesels in 1982. In 1989 Apollo III was sold to Siam Cruise Co of Thailand, and renamed Andaman Princess for cruises out of Bangkok and Singapore.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
 
 
This is an official Viking Line postcard.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
Viking Line - Header Page - Viking Line - 2005 Fleet
Viking Line - Page 1 - Viking Line - Page 2 - Viking Line - Page 3 - Viking Line - Page 4
Ferry Postcards - Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
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