MS Viking XPRS

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 [ [http://www.vikingline.fi/about/press_releases/pressrelease_070416_xprs_keel.asp Press release from the keel laying of the Viking XPRS] , retrieved 9. 9. 2007] and launching took place on September 19 2007. [fi icon [http://www.fcbsweb.com/forum/index.php?topic=9288.msg86380#msg86380 FCBS Forum: Aker Finnyardsille Viking Linen uuden Tallinnan laivan tilaus] , retrieved 15. 9. 2007] "Viking XPRS" entered service on 28 April 2008.

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. [ [http://www.akeryards.com/?page=317&xml=A/134984/PR/200511/1023440 Letter of intent between Aker Yards and Viking Line confirmed] , retrieved 9. 1. 2008] 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. [ [http://www.tillbergdesign.se/projects/marine_Viking.html Tillberg Design XPRS page] , retrieved 19. 12. 2007]

Planned sister ships

The order of the "Viking XPRS" included an option for two sister vessels. [sv icon [http://www.vikingline.fi/foretagsinfo/pressmeddelanden/aktuellt_051130_nyttfartyg.asp Viking Line press release: Viking Line beställer nytt fartyg] , retrieved 19. 10. 2007] On October 2nd 2006, Viking Line announced that this option wouldn't be exercised. [sv icon [http://www.vikingline.fi/foretagsinfo/pressmeddelanden/aktuellt_061002_XPRS_option.asp Viking Line press release: Kvarvarande option] , retrieved 19. 10. 2007]

Name and homeport

The name "Viking XPRS" 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. [ [http://www.vikingline.fi/about/press_releases/viking_xprs_name.asp Viking Line press release: Nearly 16,000 names suggested for Viking XPRS] , retrieved 9. 9. 2007] 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.

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. [cite web |url=http://www.vikingline.fi./yritysinfo/lehdistotiedotteet/uutiset_080114_xprs_ruotsin_lipun_alle.asp |title=Viking XPRS Ruotsin lipun alle |accessdate=2008-01-14 |publisher=Viking Line press release |language=Finnish ] In March 2008 Norrtälje in Sweden was revealed as the port of registry.

Construction

"Viking XPRS" was built at Aker Finnyards' Helsinki New Shipyard. The original delivery date of the ship was set for January 2008, [cite web |url=http://www.vikingline.fi/yritysinfo/lehdistotiedotteet/uutiset_051130_viking_xprs.asp |title=Viking XPRS – uusi konsepti Helsingin ja Tallinnan väliseen liikenteeseen |accessdate=2008-02-08 |publisher=Viking Line press release |language=Finnish ] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.turunsanomat.fi/talous/?ts=1,3:1004:0:0,4:4:0:1:2008-02-07,104:4:517230,1:0:0:0:0:0: |title=Tallink ja Viking varautuneet jo lisäviivästymisiin |accessdate=2008-02-08 |date=2008-02-07 |author=Kirsi Turkki |publisher=Turun Sanomat |language=Finnish ] The ship was eventually delivered to Viking Line on date|2008-04-21.

ervice history

The "Viking XPRS" made her maiden voyage between Helsinki and Tallinn on date|2008-04-27 and entered regular service on the route the following day. Compared to MS|Rosella that had sailed on the route the previous year the "Viking XPRS" attracted a notably larger number of passengers, with a 61% raise in passenger number and 74% raise in vehicles transported between Helsinki and Tallinn between June and August 2008 compared to the same months in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.vikingline.fi./about/press_releases/pressrelease_080902_summertraffic.asp |title=Strong increase in Viking Line’s passenger volume - 291,000 more people travelled on Viking Line during the summer |accessdate=2008-10-05 |date=2008-09-02 |last= |first= |publisher=Viking Line |language= ]

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.

# Engine room
# Crew accommodations
# Cargo deck
# Cargo deck
# Car deck
# Cabins
# Conference center, business lounge, shops, pub, sundeck
# Cafeterias, dance bar, buffet restaurants, sundeck
# Bridge, crew accommodations
# Sundeck

References

External links

* [http://www.vikingline.fi/onboard/viking_xprs/ Viking Line official website for Viking XPRS]

fi:M/S Viking XPRS
sv:M/S Viking XPRS