MS Baltic Queen
 MS Baltic Queen in Tallinn on 23 April 2009. |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MS Baltic Queen[1] |
| Owner: | Tallink[2] |
| Operator: | Tallink |
| Port of registry: | Tallinn,  Estonia[2] |
| Route: | Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm (as of 2009)[3] |
| Ordered: | 11 April 2007[2] |
| Builder: | STX Europe, Rauma, Finland[4] |
| Cost: | €180 million[4] |
| Yard number: | 1365[2] |
| Laid down: | 22 April 2008[5] |
| Launched: | 5 December 2008[1] |
| Acquired: | 16 April 2009[3] |
| In service: | 24 April 2009 [3] |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9443255 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics [6] | |
| Class and type: | Galaxy class cruiseferry |
| Tonnage: | 48,300 GT |
| Length: | 212.10 m (695 ft 10 in)[2] |
| Beam: | 29.00 m (95 ft) |
| Decks: | 12 |
| Ice class: | 1 A Super |
| Installed power: | 4 × Wärtsilä 16V32 diesels[2] combined 32,000 kW (43,000 hp) |
| Speed: | 24.5 kn (45 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Capacity: | 2,800 passengers 2,500 berths[2] 1,130 lanemeters |
MS Baltic Queen is a cruiseferry owned by the Estonia-based ferry operator Tallink and normally operated on their Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm route.[3] The ship was built by the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma, Finland.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Concept and construction
Initially known under the project name Cruise 5, Baltic Queen was ordered from (what was then) Aker Yards shipyard in Rauma, Finland in April 2007. She is a sister ship to MS Galaxy and MS Baltic Princess and Tallink's fifth newbuilt cruiseferry.[4] The ship's planned route was a mystery to the general public for a long time, until on 11 November 2008 Tallink revealed then he would be placed on the Tallinn–Stockholm service on completion.[7] The ship was launched from drydock and officially named Baltic Queen on 5 December 2008. By this time the shipyard had been renamed STX Europe.[1] Tallink took delivery of the ship on 16 April 2009.[3]
[edit] Service history
Baltic Queen entered service on the Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm route on 24 April 2009, replacing Tallink's first newbuilt ship MS Romantika, which was moved to the Riga–Stockholm service.[3] Baltic Queen's Tallink Silja fleetmate MS Silja Europa encountered problems with her steering on 22 November 2009,[8] and she had to be taken out of service for repairs. As a result the Baltic Queen was moved to the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm service as a temporary replacement from 26 November until 11 December 2009.[9]
[edit] Decks and facilities
Numbered from bottom to top.
- Crew facilities, sauna, swimming pool, engine room[10][11]
- Cardeck[10]
- Cardeck (hydraulic platform that can be lowered to divide the car deck in two giving space for two layers of passenger cars)[10]
- Conference rooms, outside and inside cabins[10][12][13]
- Cafeteria, tax-free shops, showlounge (lower level), promenade deck[10]
- Buffet and a la carte restaurants, bars, pub, showlounge (upper level)[10]
- Suites, outside and inside cabins[10][12]
- Suites, outside and inside cabins[10][12]
- bridge, crew facilities, discothèque, sun deck[10]
- Sun deck
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Tallink and STX Europe Creating a Queen for the Baltic". Tallink press release. Tallink. 5 December 2008. http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/pressReleases/pr_20081205_BalticQueenChristening.htm. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Asklander, Micke. "M/S Baltic Queen (2009)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/baltic_queen_2009.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "Delivery of M/S Baltic Queen". Tallink. http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/stockExchangeReleases/sr_20090416_Baltic_Queen.htm. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ a b c "New cruiseferry order". Tallink. http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/stockExchangeReleases/sr_110407_newcruise.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ "Tallink's new cruise ferry keel will be laid today". Tallink. http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/pressReleases/pr_22042008_cruise5.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
- ^ "Cruise Ferry for Tallink" (PDF). Aker Yards. http://www.akeryards.com/upload/?id=743022ddb13a84ad85655ef89c13c4f0. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
- ^ "Tallink-Silja sijoittaa uuteen laivaan" (in Finnish). Sisuradio. Sveriges Radio. 5 November 2008. http://www.sr.se/sisuradio/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=2423682. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
- ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Silja Europa (1993)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/europa_1993.htm. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Baltic Queen korvaa Silja Europan" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 24 November 2009. http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2009112410654185_uu.shtml. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Baltic Queen GA drawings" (PDF). STX Europe. http://www.stxeurope.com/downloadcentre/photos/NB-1365%20Baltic%20Queen%20GA.pdf. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ "Sauna department – a moment for relaxing". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/wellnessServices/. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ a b c "Baltic Queen cabins". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/cabins/. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ "Conference – the best ever meeting facilities". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/conference/. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
[edit] External links
Media related to Baltic Queen (ship, 2009) at Wikimedia Commons
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