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
 
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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.
 
Färjeminnen postcard of Botnia.
Scan: Mikael Blomberg.
 
Unidentified photographic postcard of Bore Star.
 
Photograph of Bore Star in Finska Ångfartygs Ab colours.
Photo: © Jan Lindahl.
Scan: Fakta om Fartyg.
 
Silja Line postcard of Silja Star.
 
Silja Line postcard of Silja Star.
 
Ramsey postcard 29 of Silja Star.
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
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