Silja Line
 
Oy Siljavarustamo - Ab Siljarederiet Ab
 
Page 2 - First Generation Car Ferries 1961-70
 
 
This page is the second 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 2 in chronological order.
 
 
The Finland SS Co was formed in 1893, and the Bore SS Co in 1897, and the two lines first co-operated on Finland-Sweden service in 1904. A new agreement was made in 1918, which also included Rederi AB Svea of Stockholm. The co-operation between the three companies continued to work successfully, and new ships were delivered in the 1950s. These were still conventional passenger ships, with side-loading arrangements for a small number of cars. The capacity of these ships soon proved to be inadequate, and a joint fourth company was formed, the Silja Line (Oy Siljavarustamo or Ab Siljarederiet Ab) in 1957. Whilst operations began with the elderly Silja, two purpose-built modern car ferries, the Skandia (1) and Nordia were delivered for the Turku/Åbo-Mariehamn-Norrtälje route in 1962 and 1963. Despite these developments, each company added a further traditional ship in the 1960s, the Bore, Svea Jarl and Ilmatar, for service on the original routes from Stockholm to Turku and Helsinki. All subsequent deliveries and acquisitions were true car ferries, Silja Line receiving the Holmia, Fennia and Botnia, between 1965 and 1967.
 
In 1970, a closer agreement was reached between the three founding companies, and Silja Line became became a traffic coordinating and marketing unit. The ships of the three fleets Finland SS Co, Bore SS Co and Rederi AB Svea 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.
 
 
Ships on This Page:-
Botnia (1967-1975)
Fennia (1966-1984, 1993-2001)
Floria (1970-1975)
Holmia (1965-1971)
Ilmatar (1964-1973)
Nordia (1962-1974)
Skandia (1) (1961-1974)
Svea Jarl (1962-1976)
 
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 - This Page!
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
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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Silja Line Fleet List
 
Part 2 - First Generation Car Ferries 1961-70
 
 
 
 
Skandia (1) (1961-1974)
 
3593grt - 101.60m long - 6600hp=18 knots 1200 passengers/136 berths
 
Skandia (1) was built by Oy Wärtsilä Sandviken Ab for Oy Siljavarustamo/ Ab Siljarederiet Ab (Silja Line). She entered service in 1961 between Åbo-Mariehamn-Norrtälje. Skandia's sistership was Nordia. In 1972, ownership was transferred to Oy Silja Line AB, followed by further transfer the following year to Finska Ångfartygs Ab (FÅA). The two sisters were withdrawn and laid up in 1973, followed by sale the year after, Skandia passing to Naviera Oriental C.A. Pampatar, Venezuela as the Isla de Cubagua. Registered owners became Consolidada de Ferry CA Caracas in 1980. Isla de Cubagua was sold to Greek owners in 1986, but she sank whilst crossing the Atlantic on her delivery voyage.
 
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Färjeminnen postcard 2680 of Skandia.
Photo: Marko Hänninen
 
Duncan postcard of Skandia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia at Turku.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Skandia with later white hull and Silja logo.
 
Lasse Sjöström postcard of Bore, Nordia and Skandia (left-to-right) at Turku.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Svea Jarl (1962-1976)
 
4334 grt - 101.4m long - 1020 passengers 339 berths (later 472) - 60 cars (later 20)
 
Svea Jarl was built 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 weere 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.
 
 
Silja Line postcard of Svea Jarl.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nordia (1962-1974)
 
3631grt - 101.60m long - 6600hp=17.5 knots 1000 passengers/124 berths
 
Nordia was built by Oy Wärtsilä Sandviken Ab for Oy Siljavarustamo/ Ab Siljarederiet Ab (Silja Line). She entered service in 1962 between Åbo-Mariehamn-Norrtälje. Nordia's sistership was Skandia. The two sisters were withdrawn and laid up in 1973, followed by sale the year after, Nordia passing to Naviera Oriental C.A. Pampatar, Venezuela as the Isla de Coche. Registered owners became Consolidada de Ferry CA Caracas in 1980. Isla de Coche was sold to Greek owners Theoskepasti Shipping Co in 1986, and renamed Theoskepasti. She was broken up in Greece in 1988.
 
 
Silja Line postcard of Nordia.
 
Silja Line postcard of Nordia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Nordia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Nordia.
 
Postcard of Nordia in Pargas.
Published: Kuultokuva T1804
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Postcard of Nordia in Norrtelje.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Postcard of Nordia in Norrtelje.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Postcard of Nordia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Postcard of Nordia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Färjeminnen postcard of Nordia.
Photo: © Bernt Fogelberg.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Nordia with later white hull.
 
Färjeminnen postcard 2650 of Nordia in Svea colours.
 
Lasse Sjöström postcard of Bore, Nordia and Skandia (left-to-right) at Turku.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Theoskepasti Shipping Co postcard of Theoskepasti.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ilmatar (3) (1964-73)
 
Ilmatar was the first motor passenger ship for the Finska Ångfartygs Ab (FÅA). She was delivered from Wärtsila of Helsinki in 1964, and operated on routes from Stockholm to Turku or Helsinki. Ilmatar was initially powered by a single 4500bhp Sulzer engine, giving a leisurely speed of 16.5 knots. She was 5171grt, and 108m long. In 1973, Ilmatar was rebuilt in Hamburg, increasing in size to 7355grt and 128m long. Two additional Nohab wing diesels were added, increasing speed to 19 knots. She was then used on the Helsinki-Trävemünde route, including a charter to Finnlines in 1975. She was later used on cruises in the Baltic, Mediterranean and along the Norwegian coast.
 
In 1979 Ilmatar was refitted as a Mediterranean cruise ship by her builders Wärtsila. In 1980, she was sold to Vesteraalens Steamship Co of Norway and continued cruising under the Norwegian Cruises banner without change of name. She later received Vesteraalens funnel colours. She was reportedly renamed Viking Prince in 1982, but was laid up in Toulon and offered for sail. In 1984 she was bought by Crown Cruise Line, renamed Viking Princess and operated out of Palm Beach, Florida on cruises to the Bahamas. From 1997, she was renamed Palm Beach Princess, operating on the same route for Palm Beach Cruises.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.
 
 
Official Finland SS Co postcard of Ilmatar.
 
Official Finland SS Co postcard of Ilmatar.
 
Finland SS became part of the Silja Line consortium, and Ilmatar is shown here with their hull logo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holmia (1965-1971)
 
2196grt - 88.36m long - 5760hp=17.5 knots 900 passengers/44 berths
 
Holmia was built as Prins Bertil (1) in 1960 by Aarhus Flydedok, Århus for Lion Ferry AB of Halmstad, for a use on a Halmstad-Århus service. Prins Bertil (1) later served on other routes Halmstad-Århus-Kalundborg and Helsingör-Halmstad-Århus. In 1964 Prins Bertil (1) was chartered, then sold, to Rederi AB Nordö and renamed Calmar Nyckel for a route Helsinki-Visby-Kalmar-Rönne-Travemünde. In 1965 she operated on charter with TT-Line. In 1965, Calmar Nyckel was sold to Oy Siljavarustamo/Siljarederiet AB (Silja Line), renamed Holmia, and used on various services including Åbo-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Norrtälje and Nådendal-Stockholm. In 1967 Holmia had a brief charter with Sessan Linjen, followed later in the year with a charter to Kristiansands Dambskipsselskap. In 1971 Holmia was sold to Toscana SPA for use as Flaminia Nuova on services from Portoferraio (Elba) to Livorno and Gorgona/Capraia. In 1974, Flaminia Nuova passed to state-owned Toscana Regionale Marittima SPA (To-re-ma) running Livorno-Gorgona-Capraia-Portoferraio (Elba) as Capo Bianco. This continued until 1992, when Capo Bianco was sold to Saudi Arabian owners.
 
 
Silja Line postcard of Holmia
 
 
 
 
 
Fennia (1966-1984, 1993-2001)
 
As built:- 6178grt - 128.4m long - 6178hp=18.5 knots 1200 passengers/300 berths
As rebuilt:- 10515grt - 128.9m long - 8760hp=18.5 knots 1200 passengers/360, then 570 berths
 
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 Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Fennia in Svea ownership.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line postcard.
 
Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Fennia after rebuilding.
Niklas Vykort serial number 398.
 
Official Silja Line (Effjohn International) postcard of Fennia.
Niklas Vykort serial number 704.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Botnia (1967-75)
 
3514grt - 101.6m long - 8350hp=19 knots - 1000 passengers/198 berths
 
Botnia was built by Oy Wärtsilä Ab Shipyard, Helsinki for Oy Siljavarustamo/ Ab Siljarederiet Ab (Silja Line). She operated on the Silja Line routes Åbo-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Stockholm and Åbo-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Norrtälje. In 1970, Botnia was sold to Ångfartygs Ab Bore, remaining on the same Silja Line services. In 1975 she was sold to Compañia Trasmediterranea S.A. and renamed Ciudad de la Laguna for services between Palmas-Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Almeria-Melilla and then Valencia-Palma de Mallorca. In 1999 she was sold to Naviera Armas S.A. and renamed Volcan de Tenagua.
 
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Botnia.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Botnia.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Botnia.
 
Official Silja Line postcard of Botnia.
 
Postcard of Botnia, with Fred Olsen's Bonanza on charter to Silja Line.
 
Postcard from Mariehamn, with Silja Lines Botnia lying alongside and a Stena ferry arraiving.
Published: Grako (serial: 909).
Photo: Giovanni Trimboli.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Färjeminnen postcard of Botnia.
Photo: © Bernt Fogelberg.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Floria (1970-75)
 
3514grt - 101.6m long - 8350hp=19 knots - 1000 passengers/198 berths
 
Floria was built in 1970 by Oy Wärtsilä Ab, Helsinki for Finska Ångfartygs Ab (FÅA). She served on the Silja Line routes Åbo-Mariehamn-Stockholm and Åbo-Mariehamn-Norrtälje. In 1975 Floria was sold to Trasmediterranea, and renamed Villa De Agaete. She operated between Santa Cruz de Tenerife-Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. In 2002 Villa De Agaete was sold to ISCOMAR as the Carmen Del Mar, for use on the Denia-Palma route.
 
A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official Silja Line postcard of Floria.

Official Silja Line postcard of Floria.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.

Official Silja Line postcard of Floria.
 
 
 
 
 
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