MS Galaxy

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M/S Galaxy
Route: Helsinki—Tallinn
Builder: Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland
Owner: Tallink
Entered service: 2006
Homeport: Tallinn, Estonia
Tonnage: 48,915 GT (gross tonnage)
Length: 212.10 meters
Width: 29.00 meters
Depth: 6.40 meters
Propulsion: 4 × Wärtsilä 16V32 diesels
combined 26,240 kW
Speed: 22 knots
Passenger capacity: 2,800
Passenger beds: 2,500
Cabins: 927
Car capacity: 420
Lanemeters: 1,130
Ice class: 1 A Super
Status: In service
For other ships named "Galaxy", see Galaxy (disambiguation).

MS Galaxy is a cruiseferry operated by the Estonian ferry company Tallink on a route connecting Helsinki, Finland to Tallinn, Estonia. She was built in 2006 by Aker Finnyards, Rauma and was at the time the largest ship delivered to Tallink. She currently holds the distinction of being the largest ship ever to be registered in Estonia.

Contents

[edit] History

The introduction of Tallink's first newbuilding, the cruiseferry MS Romantika, in 2002 on the cruise service between Tallinn and Helsinki was a success. One year after her entry into this service, Tallink's fiercest competitor Viking Line, announced that they would withdraw their flagship MS Cinderella from the same route, replacing her with the more freight-oriented MS Rosella.

This led Tallink to, on October 28th 2004, order a bigger ship to replace the Romantika, which in turn was needed to join her newly delivered sister ship, the MS Victoria I, on the Tallinn—Stockholm route.

[edit] Building & Design

Building of the new ship commenced in early 2005 and her keel was laid on April 21st. The shipyard was Aker Finnyards, Rauma, which also had built the Romantika and the Victoria I. On December 1st the same year, the ship was launched and christened as MS Galaxy. [1]

Designed as a carefully enlarged replica of the Romantika, the Galaxy was longer and had additional cabins and public areas. Leaving behind the external livery scheme introduced on the Romantika and her sister, the Galaxy sported a white hull with a cloud decorated blue superstructure, along with a number of different animals painted on her sides. The design of the livery was made by the Estonian artist Navitrolla.

[edit] Entry into service

After performing her trials, the Galaxy entered service on the Tallin—Helsinki route on May 2nd, 2006. The ship performs one round trip daily between the two capitals but spends most of her time in port — the Galaxy is at sea less than seven hour per day.[2] In April 2007, less than a year after her introduction, Tallink announced that the Galaxy was to be transferred to the Turku—Mariehamn/Långnäs—Stockholm route during 2008. [3] She is to be replaced by her sister ship MS Baltic Princess.

[edit] Transfer to Turku—Stockholm service

The Galaxy will replace the MS Silja Festival on the Turku—Stockholm route, as soon as the Baltic Princess is delivered to Tallink.[4] Coinciding with the route change, the Galaxy will be re-registered in Sweden.[5] Her unique external will be left unchanged,[5] despite an earlier statement made by Tallink that she would be re-painted in Silja livery.[6] No decision has yet been made if the Silja Line hull text will replace the current Tallink Cruise text.[5] In January 2008 Tallink Grupp communications manager Toomas Vilosius stated that the Silja Line logo would be painted somewhere on the ship and her name changed to M/S Silja Galaxy when entering the Turku route, and that she would be manned by the current crew of the Silja Festival, plus 100 to-be trained crew members needed for the larger ship. In February 2008 Turun Sanomat stated that the second Galaxy-class ship would not be delivered until autumn 2008, meaning the route change of the Galaxy would also be pushed back until then.[7]

[edit] Decks

  1. Engine room
  2. Sauna, swimming pool
  3. Car deck
  4. Car platform, can be lowered hydraulically to divide the car deck in two giving space for two layers of passenger cars
  5. Conference rooms, A- and B-class cabins
  6. Moonlight dance bar, cafeteria, information desk, shops, Starlight Palace show lounge (lower level)
  7. Buffet Tallink, Grill House, Russian à la Carte Aleksander and Gourmet Galaxy restaurants, cigar club, piano bar, whisky bar, Pub Tallink, games arcade, Starlight Palace show lounge (upper level)
  8. Suites, de luxe-, A- and B-class cabins
  9. Suites, de luxe-, A- and B-class cabins
  10. Bridge, disco Zenith, crew accommodations, sundeck[8][9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Swedish)Fakta om fartyg - M/S Galaxy, retrieved 2007-02-15
  2. ^ (Swedish)Tallink timetable, retrieved 2007-02-15
  3. ^ (Swedish) Turku-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Stockholm timetable 2 and footnote.
  4. ^ (Swedish)Tallinks Galaxy till Åbo-rutten Nya Ålands tidning, retrieved 2007-12-15
  5. ^ a b c (Finnish) Turun Sanomat 16. 10. 2007: Enn Pant uskoo Galaxyn nostavan matkustajien määrää Turun-reitillä, retrieved 2007-10-16
  6. ^ Galaxy Turun reitille Siljan laivana (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat (2007-06-07). Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  7. ^ Kirsi Turkki (2008-02-07). Tallink ja Viking varautuneet jo lisäviivästymisiin (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  8. ^ (Finnish) Galaxy cruise program 12. 8. - 30. 9. 2007, retrieved 2007-08-30
  9. ^ (Finnish) Tallink Silja official website for M/S Galaxy, retrieved 2007-08-30

[edit] External links

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