M/S Silja Opera
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M/S Opera (earlier Sally Albatross, Leeward, Superstar Taurus and Silja Opera) is a cruise ship currently owned by Seacontainers.
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[edit] History
The ship was originally built in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally, one of Viking Line partners as M/S Viking Saga, a RORO cruiseferry.
In 1980-1981 the Baltic ferry operators Silja Line and Viking Line brought new cruiseferries to the route between Helsinki and Stockholm. Viking Line received a total of four new ships in 1980, Viking Saga and her sister ship M/S Viking Song were built by Wärtsilä (now Aker Finnyards) in Turku, Finland. M/S Viking Sally (the later M/S Estonia) was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The two Sally ships have been involved in a total of three serious accidents.
After M/S Olympia replaced her on the Helsinki - Stockholm route in 1986, Viking Saga was converted into a cruise ship, the Sally Albatros (I), for cruising around the Baltic from Helsinki (mainly 25 hour cruises to nowhere). In 1988 she was rebuilt at Schichau-Seebeck Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany with additional cabins on the former cardeck and a more streamlined forward superstructure. In January 1990, while in regular maintenance at the Finnboda Shipyard in Nacka, Sweden, a fire damaged beyond repair practically the entire superstructure of the ship.
[edit] Sally Albatross II
In 1991 the ship was rebuilt by Finnyards Oy in Rauma, using the part of the hull under the car decks, including the engine rooms from the burnt out Sally Albatross. The hull was lengthened by 13 meters. Elimination of the car decks allowed for a smaller and more streamlined superstructure.
The new Sally Albatross was delivered to Sally Cruise on March 23, 1992 and started doing cruises in the Baltic Sea with Helsinki as the port of departure. She was classed as a new built ship. In September that same year the ship was transferred to Silja Line who also were a part of the EffJohn concern. Despite joining the Silja fleet Sally Albatross' old colour scheme was kept, as were the Sally Cruise funnel colours.
During the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona she operated as a hotel and congress ship for various Swedish interests.
On March 4, 1994 Sally Albatross ran aground in the ice covered sea outside of Porkkala. After some complications she was towed to the abandoned Vuosaari shipyard where the most necessary repairs were made. After inspection it was determined that the cost to repair the damage would be around 200 million FIM ($35 million USD). The ship was towed to La Spezia, Italy where it was repaired. It was then chartered to Norwegian Cruise Line who renamed her Leeward and put her on cruises in the Caribbean.
In March, 2000 the ship was chartered to Star Cruises who renamed her Superstar Taurus and put her on cruises in Asia. In December, 2001 the contract was broken and the ship was once again in the hands of Silja Line who renamed her Silja Opera.
Silja Opera started cruising the Baltic Sea, with Helsinki as the starting point, on May 29, 2002. She has also sailed from Stockholm during some periods, and between Turku and Kapellskär for a short period in early 2006.
On 22 May 2006 Silja Opera left Stockholm for the last time bound for lay up at Tilbury Docks, located to the east of Greater London. The ship arrived on May 25, soon afterwards the Silja Line markings were painted over and her ownership was changed to SeaContainers, then the parent company of Silja Line. At the same time she was changed from Swedish to Bahamian flag and her name was shortened to Opera. As of September, 2006, she remains unsold.
[edit] Specifications
- Passengers: 1 400
- Cabins: 482
- Decks: 10
- Car capacity: None
- Length: 160 metres
- Width: 25.2 metres
[edit] Suites
The ship's two suites are called Royal Suite and Presidential Suite. The first comes from when Sweden's Royal Couple lived there during the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. The second was named after former US President George H. W. Bush stayed aboard in November 1995.
