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MS Mega Regina

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Mariella in Helsinki
MS Mariella in Helsinki in 2014
History
Name
  • 1985–2021: MS Mariella
  • 2021-: MS Mega Regina
Owner
Operator
  • 1985–1995: SF Line (in Viking Line traffic)
  • 1995–2021: Viking Line[1]
  • 2021–: Corsica Ferries
Port of registryMariehamn,  Finland[1]
RouteHelsinki–Mariehamn–Stockholm (until March 2020, route temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic)
BuilderWärtsilä Perno Shipyard, Turku, Finland[1]
Yard number1286[1]
Launched28 September 1984[1]
Acquired17 May 1985[1]
In service18 May 1985[1]
Identification
StatusIn service, temporarily out of service due to the Covid-19 pandemic
General characteristics [2]
TypeCruiseferry
Tonnage
Length175.70 m (576 ft 5 in)
Beam28.40 m (93 ft 2 in)
Draught6.52 m (21 ft 5 in)
Depth14.65 m (48 ft 1 in)
Decks11[3]
Ice class1 A Super[2]
Installed power
Propulsion2 propellers[2]
Speed20.5 knots (37.97 km/h; 23.59 mph)[1]
Capacity
  • As built:
    • 2,447 passengers
    • 2,447 berths
    • 600 cars
    • 62 trailers[1]
  • As of 2009:
    • 2,500 passengers
    • 2,500 berths
    • 430 cars
    • 980 lanemeters[4]

MS Mega Regina is a cruiseferry owned by Corsica Ferries. She was formerly owned and operated by Viking Line as MS Mariella. She was built by the Wärtsilä Perno Shipyard in Turku, Finland and delivered to SF Line in 1985. Her sister ship is the Olympia (now MS SPL Princess Anastasia). Mariella was the world's largest cruiseferry from 1985 until 1989, when the accolade passed on to her Viking Line fleetmate MS Athena. Mariella was sold to Corsica Ferries in 2021 and renamed Mega Regina.[5][6]

History

When the Mariella was delivered in 1985, she was the first ship on Viking Line's Helsinki–Stockholm service which was not owned by Rederi Ab Sally. She has remained on the same route ever since, except for a few brief times when she has been moved temporarily on to other Viking Line routes. This makes her the record holder for the longest continual service on the Helsinki–Stockholm route. At the time of her delivery, the Mariella was the largest ferry in the world in terms of gross tonnage, number of passengers and passenger berths.

In 1989, ahead of the delivery of the new MS Cinderella, SF Line considered moving Mariella on to a proposed express Helsinki–Norrköping service aimed at passengers travelling with their cars. The plan never materialised, and Mariella continued to serve on the same route even after the Cinderella was delivered and placed as the third ship on the route. Following the bankruptcy of Rederi AB Slite in 1993, SF Line was left as the sole operator of the Viking Line name, but this had no effect on Mariella's traffic.

Mariella was the first ship to arrive at the scene of perished MS Estonia in September 1994. Fifteen survivors were picked up from the sea and another eleven were brought on board by helicopters, as Mariella was used as the main helicopter platform.

During the 1996 summer season a short cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn was added to Mariella's schedule in place of the nine hours she normally spent in Helsinki. These "picnic cruises" proved to be unpopular and they were not continued the following summer. When the EU ended tax free sales on routes between member states in July 1999, Viking Line added a stop at Mariehamn, Åland to the Helsinki–Stockholm route. As Åland is not a part of the EU tax union, Viking Line could continue tax-free sales on its ships.

MS Mariella in Hernesaari in 2020

In September 2000 Mariella was refitted at Naantali with rear sponsons and a new fast rescue boat. Her interior was also brought up to date and for some time after the refit she sported the text "Updated 06/10 2000" on her hull. Another refit was carried out in September 2006 once again at Naantali.

In mid-2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Helsinki-Stockholm route was put on hold. The company released a statement in August, putting Mariella up for sale. There was no intention of actually selling it but stated that interesting bids could be accepted.

In May 2021, Viking Line announced that the ship had been sold to Corsica Ferries. Mariella was sold for a price of 19.6 million euros.[5][6] Corsica Ferries is expected to start using the ship in late June 2021.[6] It's new name will be Mega Regina.[6]



References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Asklander, Micke. "MS Mariella (1985)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Mariella (14294)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  3. ^ "M/S Mariella cut-away view". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Mariella PDF Brochure" (PDF). Viking Line. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  5. ^ a b https://www.vikingline.com/press-room/9C73FD49093F46DA
  6. ^ a b c d https://www.shippax.com/en/news/corsica-ferries-acquires-viking-lines-mariella.aspx

Media related to IMO 8320573 at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by World's Largest Cruiseferry
1985–1989 		Succeeded by
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