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]

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]

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]

Decks and facilities

Deck 5

Numbered from bottom to top.

2. Crew facilities, sauna, swimming pool, engine room^[10][11]
3. Cardeck^[10]
4. Cardeck (hydraulic platform that can be lowered to divide the car deck in two giving space for two layers of passenger cars)^[10]
5. Conference rooms, outside and inside cabins^[10][12][13]
6. Cafeteria, tax-free shops, showlounge (lower level), promenade deck^[10]
7. Buffet and a la carte restaurants, bars, pub, showlounge (upper level)^[10]
8. Suites, outside and inside cabins^[10][12]
9. Suites, outside and inside cabins^[10][12]
10. bridge, crew facilities, discothèque, sun deck^[10]
11. Sun deck

References

1. ^ ^{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. 
2. ^ ^{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. 
3. ^ ^{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. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "New cruiseferry order". Tallink. http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/stockExchangeReleases/sr_110407_newcruise.htm. Retrieved 31 July 2008. 
5. ^ "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. 
6. ^ "Cruise Ferry for Tallink" (PDF). Aker Yards. http://www.akeryards.com/upload/?id=743022ddb13a84ad85655ef89c13c4f0. Retrieved 12 April 2008. 
7. ^ "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. 
8. ^ Asklander, Micke. "M/S Silja Europa (1993)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/europa_1993.htm. Retrieved 24 November 2009. 
9. ^ "Baltic Queen korvaa Silja Europan" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 24 November 2009. http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2009112410654185_uu.shtml. Retrieved 24 November 2009. 
10. ^ ^{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. 
11. ^ "Sauna department – a moment for relaxing". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/wellnessServices/. Retrieved 17 April 2009. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Baltic Queen cabins". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/cabins/. Retrieved 17 April 2009. 
13. ^ "Conference – the best ever meeting facilities". Tallink. http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/tab2/ships/balticQueen/conference/. Retrieved 17 April 2009. 

External links

Media related to Baltic Queen (ship, 2009) at Wikimedia Commons

• Tallink official website
• Baltic Queen at marinetraffic.com