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MS Moby Zazà

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MS Julia outside Helsinki, August 2008
History
Namelist error: <br /> list (help)
1982—1990: Olau Britannia
1990—1991: Bayard
1991—2008: Christian IV
2008 onwards: Julia[1]
Ownerlist error: <br /> list (help)
1982—1990: Olau Line
1990: Fred. Olsen & Co.
1990—2008: Color Line
2008: Stella Lines[1][2]
2008 onwards: Aktia Savings Bank[3]
Operatorlist error: <br /> list (help)
1982—1990: Olau Line
1990: Fred. Olsen Lines
1990—2008: Color Line
2008: Stella Lines[1]
Port of registrylist error: <br /> list (help)
1982—1990: Hamburg,  West Germany
1990: Oslo,  Norway
1990—2008: Kristiansand,  Norway
2008 onwards: Helsinki,  Finland[1]
BuilderWeser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven, West Germany[1]
Yard number1031[1]
Laid down1981-06-03[1]
Launched1981-12-05[1]
Christened1982-05-07 by Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon[1]
Acquired1982-05-02[1]
In service1982-05-08[1]
IdentificationIMO number 8020642
StatusLaid up in Kotka, Finland[4]
General characteristics [1]
TypeCruiseferry
Tonnagelist error: <br /> list (help)
15,064 GRT GRT uses unsupported parameter (help) as built
21,699 GT GT uses unsupported parameter (help) after 2005 rebuild
2,880 t DWT DWT uses unsupported parameter (help)
Length153.40 m (503 ft 3 in)
Beam24.24 m (79 ft 6 in)
Draught5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)
Installed powerlist error: <br /> list (help)
4 × Pielstick 8PC2-5L 400 diesels
15,300 kW
Speed20 kn (37.04 km/h; 23.02 mph)
Capacitylist error: <br /> list (help)
2048 passengers
938 berths (as built)
863 berths (after 2005 rebuild)
530 cars

MS Julia is a cruiseferry, owned by the Finnish Aktia Savings Bank[3] following the bankruptcy of the previous owners Stella Lines on 6 November 2008.[1][2][5] Since 7 October 2008 the Julia has been laid up in Kotka, Finland, her future unknown. The ship was built in 1982 by Weser Seebeckswerft, Bremerhaven for Olau Line as MS Olau Britannia. She has also sailed under the names MS Bayard and MS Christian IV before entering service with her current name.[1][6]

History

1982—1990: Olau Line

The Olau Britannia was delivered as the younger sister of MS Olau Hollandia on May 5 1982. Two days later she was christened by Princess Margaret in Sheerness and placed on the route Sheerness—Vlissingen. In August 1984 the ship collided with the freighter MS Mont Louis in the English channel. Olau Line ordered larger replacements for the Olau Hollandia and Olau Britannia in the late 1980s (confusingly the replacements were also called MS Olau Hollandia and MS Olau Britannia). In preparation for delivery of the second Olau Britannia, the first Olau Britannia was sold to Nordström & Thulin, Sweden on October 4 1989, to be delivered in 1990. However, already on October 11 Nordström & Thulin resold the ship to Fred. Olsen Lines.[1][6]

MS Christian IV at Kristiansand.

1990—2008: Fred. Olsen Lines and Color Line

In May 1990 the ship was delivered to her new owners and renamed MS Bayard. After a refit at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, Germany, the Bayard was set in on Kristiansand—Hirtshals route in June 1990. For the winter season she was transferred to Oslo—Hirtshals service. Fred. Olsen sold its Scandinavian ferry operations to Color Line in December 1990, and in January 1991 the Bayard was renamed MS Christian IV. The ship was kept on the Oslo — Hirtshals service until April 1994, when she returned to the Kristiansand — Hirtshals route. In March 1995 the ship temporarily sailed on the Moss—Kiel route, after which she reverted back to her older route. The ship was refitted in 1999 at Fredericia Værft in Denmark, with additional restaurants and better conference facilities. She was refitted again in 2005, this time at Remontowa, Gdansk, Poland.[1][6] In March 2008 she was replaced by the new MS Superspeed 1 on the Kristiansand—Hirsthals route, and laid up at Sandefjord.[1][7] Between 2008-04-10 and 2008-06-15 the Christian IV sailed on the Larvik—Hirsthals route, replacing MS Peter Wessel – that had been sold to the Mediterranean Shipping Company – until the delivery of the new MS Superspeed 2.[1][8][9][10]

2008 onwards: Stella Lines

On 2008-05-20 the Christian IV was sold by Color Line to Stella Naves Russia (Stella Lines), a subsidiary of the Finnish freight shipping and stevedoring operator Stella Company Group, for €13 million.[1][10][11] The ship was delivered to her new owners in July 2008, and subsequently renamed Julia. On 2008-08-01 she entered service on Stella Lines' Helsinki—St. Petersburg route.[1][12] Passenger numbers on the Julia were low due to the bureucracy related to applying a visa in order to travel between Finland and Russia. Additionally due to restrictions imposed by the Port of Helsinki the Julia could not carry any freight on the service.[2] On 2008-09-20 the Russian State Duma approved a law change allowing passengers arriving by scheduled ferry services to visit Russia for up to 72 hours without a visa. The precise ports where the new law applies has not been decided, but St. Petersburg is presumed to be one of them. The visa-freedom was expected to increase the number of Finnish passengers on the Julia.[13][14]

Despite this legislation change the Helsinki—St. Petersburg service of the Julia was terminated due slower than expected growth of the passenger numbers, failure to acquire additional funding due to the economic crisis of 2008 and larger than expected harbour expenses in St. Petersburg. On 9 October 2008 Stella Lines CEO Kari Juvas stated that the company would make the decisions about the future of the Julia within the next few days. According to Juvas the alternatives are selling the ship or utilizing the ship on a service between Kotka, Finland and Sillamäe, Estonia.[2][4][15] Juvas had stated that Stella was interested in operating a ship on the Kotka—Sillamäe route already in July 2007.[16] The Russia-based companies Morskoi Voksal and Inflot, alongside with the City of St. Petersburg planned on acquiring the share majority of Stella Lines and providing funding for recommencing service on the Helsinki—St. Petersburg route with the Julia. However, on 3 November 2008 it was reported that the City of St. Petersburg had withdrawn from the purchase. On the same date Kim Sjöblom of Stella Lines stated the company are looking for other funders allowing the service to be restarted.[17] These attempts failed and Stella Lines was declared bankrupt on 6 November 2008,[5] with the ownership of the Julia passing to Stella's creaditors Aktia Savings Bank.[3]

Reportedly several companies have expressed an interest in buying the Julia, but none have been able to raise the capital needed to buy her.[18] On 17 February 2009 it was reported that one of the potential buyers for the Julia is Irish shipowner Frank Allen, who had acquired a loan from a Finnish bank to purchase the ship for use on a service between Cork and Swansea under the brand of B&I Line, which would be re-established for this service.[19] A public auction to sell the Julia was held on 26 February 2009, but no bids were made.[20] In a second auction held on 12 March 2009 B&I Line made the highest bid of €6 million , but confusion surrounded the initial undertaking of €1.5 million to secure the ship. No further auction will be held, instead the bankrupt's estate will negotiate directly with the potential buyers. In addition to B&I Line, Greek Halkidon Shipping Corporation and two unnamed Finnish companies have shown interest in the ship.[21][22]

The West Cork Tourism Co-operative announced on 2 April 2009 that they were close to agreeing on a deal to buy the Julia. This deal has now been agreed by the owners of the ship. On the 7 April 2009 the West Cork Tourism co-operative shareholders, meeting in Skibbereen gave their overwhelming support to the deal and elected a Board of Directors with the power to conclude the deal with the Finnish liquidator. The co-operative is now setting up the new ferry company to run the service which will be called Fastnet Line after the famous Fastnet Rock lighthouse off the West Cork coast.[23]

The West Cork Tourism Co-operative announced on 5th May 2009 that they will launch the new ferry service on 1st March 2010 and they are going ahead with the purchase of the Julia. [24]

Facilities

As Christian IV

Restaurants & Cafés

  • Fairytale Buffét Restaurant
  • Captains Grill - a la carte restaurant
  • Trattoria Riviera
  • Seaside Café

Activities

  • Color Land

Bars, Nightclubs & Entertainment

  • Colorama Bar with sports corner
  • Irish Corner Pub

Shopping

  • Taxfree Supermarket
  • Color Shop
  • Perfume Shop

Conference

  • Color Conference Center

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Asklander, Micke. "M/S Olau Britannia (1982)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Ala-Kiiskilä, Antero (2008-10-10). "Stella Lines pohtii vaihtoehtoja" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-10-18. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Hopes high for new ferry". this is South Wales.co.uk. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  4. ^ a b Moilanen, Hellevi (2008-10-09). "Helsinki-Pietari-laivalinja sortui maailmantalouden epävakauteen" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b Ala-Kiiskilä, Antero (2008-11-08). "Autolautta Julian omistaja konkurssiin" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-11-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Boyle, Ian. "Olau Britannia". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Superspeed 1 (2008)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Gotland (1981)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Superspeed 2 (2008)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Christian IV solgt til finske Stella" (in Norwegian). Boarding.no. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Autolauttaliikenne Helsingistä Pietariin alkaa kesällä" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Helsinki - St.Petersburg - Helsinki schedule 01.08.2008 - 31.12.2008" (in Finnish). Stella Lines. Retrieved 2008-07-08. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Paananen, Arja (2008-09-20). "Pietariin pääsee pian ilman viisumia - Venäjän duuma hyväksyi lakimuutoksen" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  14. ^ Pullinen, Jussi (2008-09-20). "Lauttaliikenteestä Pietariin tulossa viisumitonta" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
  15. ^ "Autolautta Julian kohtalo selviää lähipäivinä" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Huovinen, Issu (2007-08-24). "Kotkan ja Viron välisessä liikenteessä olisi ison laivan reikä" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ "Pietarin kaupunki vetäytyy Pietari-Helsinki-laivayhteydestä". YLE Uutiset (in Finnish). Yleisradio. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-11-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "M/S Julia pakkohuutokaupataan" (in Finnish). YLE. 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  19. ^ O'Riordan, Sean (2009-02-17). "Swansea ferry captain's son plans to resurrect route". Irish Examiner.com. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  20. ^ "Matkustaja-autolautta Juliaa ei huutanut kukaan" (in Finnish). Kymen Sanomat. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  21. ^ "Matkustaja-autolautta m/s Julian huutokauppa peruuntui" (in Finnish). YLE. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  22. ^ Vaniala, Paavo (2009-03-15). "Julia kävi kaupaksi - mutta täppi puuttui" (in Finnish). Kaupunkilehti Ankkuri. p. 7. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  23. ^ Keogh, Jackie (2009-04-11). "Co-operative officially formed to restore Swansea-Cork ferry". The Southern Star. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  24. ^ "Ferry relaunch delayed until 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/8035237.stm". {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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