MS Birger Jarl

M/S "Birger Jarl" is a cruiseferry owned by Ånedinlinjen in Stockholm, Sweden. She is today engaged in a regular cruise line service between Stockholm and Mariehamn on the Åland Islands. She was built in 1953 at Finnboda shipyard in Nacka, Sweden. Originally she was equipped with steam engines, but was in 1982 upgraded to a diesel engine (which again was changed to a new diesel engine in 1989).

History

S/S "Birger Jarl" was ordered by Rederi AB Svea at Finnboda shipyard in Nacka where the keel of the ship was laid on 16 November 1951. She was launched on 15 January 1953 and named after the 13th century Swedish statesman Birger jarl. Her maiden voyage was made on 9 June 1953 to Helsinki, after which she started regular service on the routes Stockholm - Helsinki and Stockholm - Turku.

S/S Birger Jarl is known as one of the "Olympia"-ships, which were built in order to upgrade the ferry traffic in view of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Her two sisterships, S/S Aallotar and S/S Bore III, entered service before the Olympics, but S/S Birger Jarl was delivered only the year after.

Between 1973 and 1978 the ship was sailing under the name S/S "Bore Nord" and between 1978 and 2002 her name was S/S "Baltic Star" / M/S "Baltic Star". In 2002 she got her original name back.

Career

* In 1973 the ship was owned by the Finnish ferry company Jakob Lines and was equipped with a ramp to load vehicles on the aft deck.
* In 1976 she was sold to Godby Shipping controlled by the Aland Islands family Mikkola. She was renamed Minisea, but the name was never painted on the ship.
* In 1976 and -77 she was laid up in the Oslo-fjord as a hotel ship.
* In 1978 she was acquired by Caribbean Shipping Co Inc, Panama and changed the name to S/S Baltic Star.
* In 1978 she was renovated in Turku and the a skybar and more cabins were built on the aft deck.
* Since 1979 she has been sailing on regular cruises between Stockholm and Mariehamn and sometimes on longer cruises in the Baltic Sea.
* On 31 May 1979 she collided heavily with the berth in Mariehamn. The berth was damaged and a few small boats sank. She became stuck between the berth and the old sailship ss Pommern, who also was damaged. After several hours the ships were set free and could be repaired. S/S Baltic Star (Birger Jarl) could depart for Stockholm one day late.
* In 1982 the steam engine was replaced by an MAN diesel with 2 900 hp.
* In 1988 the engine was changed to a MAN diesel with 3 600 h. Max speed now 16 knots.
* Ånedinlinjen is using the BOOKIT reservations system for its reservations and ticket sales since 1997.
* In 2002 the ship was returned to Swedish flag and got her original name back, M/S Birger Jarl.

External links

* [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/birger_jarl_1953.htm Fakta om Fartyg] sv icon
* [http://www.anedinlinjen.com Ånedinlinjen]

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