MS Viking XPRS

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MS Viking XPRS approaching Helsinki, April 2008
Career
Name: Viking XPRS
Owner: Viking Line
Operator: Viking Line
Port of Registry: Norrtälje, Flag of Sweden Sweden[1]
Route: Helsinki—Tallinn
Ordered: 29 November 2005[2]
Builder: Aker Finnyards Helsinki New Shipyard, Helsinki, Finland
Cost: €130 million (estimate)[1]
Yard number: 1358[2]
Laid down: 16 April 2007[2]
Launched: 19 September 2007[2]
Christened: 19 September 2007 by Paula Koivuniemi[3]
Acquired: 21 April 2008[2]
Maiden voyage: 27 April 2008[2]
In service: 28 April 2008[2][4]
Identification: IMO 9375654[2]
Status: In service
General characteristics [2]
Type: fast cruiseferry
Tonnage: 34,000 GT
Length: 185 m (606 ft 11 in)
Beam: 27.70 m (90 ft 11 in)
Draught: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
Decks: 10 (8 passenger accessible)[5]
Ice class: 1 A Super[1]
Installed power: 4 x Wärtsilä 46F diesels
40,000 kW
Speed: 25 kn (46.30 km/h)
Capacity: 2500 passengers
732 passenger beds[5]
240 cars
1000 lanemeters

MS Viking XPRS is a fast cruiseferry owned by the Finland-based Viking Line and operated on their service between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia. Her keel was laid on April 16, 2007[6] and launching took place on September 19 2007.[7] Viking XPRS entered service on 28 April 2008.[4]

Contents

[edit] Concept

Viking XPRS is Viking Line's first new building for the Helsinki—Tallinn route. She is the first newbuilding delivered to the company since MS Kalypso in 1990 and also Viking Line's first fast cruiseferry, with a building contract worth approximately 120-130 million euro.[8] The Viking XPRS makes the crossing between the two capitals in about two and a half hours, with two daily departures from each port. The ship is designed with separate cardecks for freight and for passengers cars, and with a limited passenger cabin capacity as she only does daytime crossings. The interiors of the Viking XPRS is designed by Tillberg Design, like those of several of the company's earlier newbuildings.[9]

[edit] Planned sister ships

The order of the Viking XPRS included an option for two sister vessels.[10] On October 2nd 2006, Viking Line announced that this option wouldn't be exercised.[11]

[edit] Name and homeport

The name Viking XPRS (short for "experience")[12] was originally only a concept name for the new ship. A naming competition was held on Viking Line websites in May and June 2007, which resulted in over 16.000 name proposals.[13] The concept name Viking XPRS was suggested by many entrants to the competition, and in the end it was chosen as the ship's final name due to it already being well known by the public. The naming ceremony took place on September 14, 2007.[3]

Viking XPRS under construction at Helsinki New Shipyard
Viking XPRS under construction at Helsinki New Shipyard

The ship was originally planned to be registered in Finland, with Mariehamn painted on the hull as the homeport when the ship was floated out of drydock. Due to difficulties in negotiations with the Finnish Seamen's Union and the generally higher personnel expenses under Finnish flag, the company decided to move the ship under Swedish flag in January 2008.[14] In March 2008 Norrtälje in Sweden was revealed as the port of registry.[1]

[edit] Construction

Viking XPRS was built at Aker Finnyards' Helsinki New Shipyard. The original delivery date of the ship was set for January 2008,[15] but due to numerous delays the delivery of the ship was pushed back until 2008-04-28. Reasons for the delays include slower-than-planned furnishing works and faults in one of the Rolls-Royce-manufactured propellers. Due to the properller fault the ship sailed for dry docking at Aker Finnyards' Rauma shipyard on 2008-04-08 where the propeller was changed.[16]

[edit] Decks

The precise layout of decks 1 and 2 is unknown as the deck plans provided by Viking Line only include decks accessible to passengers.

  1. Engine room
  2. Crew accommodations
  3. Cargo deck
  4. Cargo deck
  5. Car deck
  6. Cabins
  7. Conference center, business lounge, shops, pub, sundeck
  8. Cafeterias, dance bar, buffet restaurants, sundeck
  9. Bridge, crew accommodations
  10. Sundeck[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Jonsson, Mathias (2008-03-14). XPRS ute på havet – just nu (PDF) (in Swedish). Ålandstidningen. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Asklander, Micke. M/S Viking XPRS (2008) (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  3. ^ a b The Christening of Viking Line's Newbuilding. Viking Line press release. Viking Line (2007-09-14). Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  4. ^ a b Aikataulut Helsinki—Tallinna (in Finnnish). Viking Line. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  5. ^ a b c Viking XPRS (PDF) (in Finnnish/English/Swedish/Estonian). Viking Line. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
  6. ^ Press release from the keel laying of the Viking XPRS, retrieved 9. 9. 2007
  7. ^ (Finnish) FCBS Forum: Aker Finnyardsille Viking Linen uuden Tallinnan laivan tilaus, retrieved 15. 9. 2007
  8. ^ Letter of intent between Aker Yards and Viking Line confirmed, retrieved 9. 1. 2008
  9. ^ Tillberg Design XPRS page, retrieved 19. 12. 2007
  10. ^ (Swedish) Viking Line press release: Viking Line beställer nytt fartyg, retrieved 19. 10. 2007
  11. ^ (Swedish) Viking Line press release: Kvarvarande option, retrieved 19. 10. 2007
  12. ^ (Finnish) Helsingin Sanomat 15. 9. 2007: Uusi laiva kiristää kilpailua meritiellä Tallinnaan, retrieved 18. 9. 2007
  13. ^ Viking Line press release: Nearly 16,000 names suggested for Viking XPRS, retrieved 9. 9. 2007
  14. ^ Viking XPRS Ruotsin lipun alle (in Finnish). Viking Line press release. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
  15. ^ Viking XPRS – uusi konsepti Helsingin ja Tallinnan väliseen liikenteeseen (in Finnish). Viking Line press release. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  16. ^ Kirsi Turkki (2008-02-07). Tallink ja Viking varautuneet jo lisäviivästymisiin (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.

[edit] External links

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