MS Rahal

Last updated
MS Diana
Faehre Alandia.jpg
MS Alandia
History
Name
  • 1972-1979: Diana
  • 1979-1992: Botnia Express
  • 1992-2006: Alandia
  • 2006-2015: Jamaa II
  • 2015-2021: Rahal
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
Ordered17 December 1970 [1]
Builder Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany [1]
Yard number566 [1]
Laid down3 May 1972 [1]
Launched28 August 1972 [1]
Christened28 August 1972 [1]
Completed1972
Acquired11 November 1972 [1]
Maiden voyage1972
In service17 December 1972 [1]
Out of service2021
Identification
FateScrapped at Alang, India in 2021
General characteristics (as built) [1]
Class and typenone
Tonnage
Length108.70 m (356.63 ft)
Beam17.25 m (56.59 ft)
Draught4.60 m (15.09 ft)
Installed power
  • 2 × Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz SBV 12M350
    • 5,968 kW (8,003 shp) (combined)
Speed18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,200 passengers
  • 240 passenger berths
  • 265 cars
General characteristics (currently) [1]
Class and typenone
Tonnage
Length108.67 m (356.53 ft)
Beam18.90 m (62.01 ft)
Draught4.60 m (15.09 ft)
Capacity
  • 1,320 passengers
  • 100 passenger berths
  • 220 cars

MS Rahal was a car-passenger ferry owned by Bayway Shipping Co and sailing on the Red Sea. She was built in 1972 by Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany as Diana for Rederi AB Slite and later she was named Botnia Express, Alandia, Jamaa II and Rahal.

Contents

History

Viking Line service

Diana on her maiden voyage at Stockholm in 1972 MS Diana Maiden voyage 1972 001.jpg
Diana on her maiden voyage at Stockholm in 1972

Diana was the fourth in a series of six near-identical sisters built between 1970 and 1974 for Rederi Ab Sally and Rederi AB Slite for use in Viking Line traffic (three further ships were built by the shipyard for Transbordadores, Mexico). These so-called Papenburg Sisters were highly influential in defining ferry traffic between Finland and Sweden. Although often officially listed as fully owned by Rederi AB Slite, Diana was actually owned jointly by Rederi Ab Volo, Rederi AB Slite, Simsonship Ab, Ivar Sund Lidingö and Ab Nils Thorwaldsson Saltsjöbaden.

When delivered in December 1972, Diana was initially set on a route connecting Naantali in Finland to Kapellskär in Sweden via Mariehamn in Åland. For the winter seasons 1973–1974, 1974–1975 and 1975–1976, she was transferred to the slightly longer Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route, but returned to the shorter route for summer's high season. From 1976 onwards to the end of her service with Viking Line she remained on the Naantali–Kapellskär service. On July 4, 1978 Diana was grounded near Mariehamn and started leaking oil. The following day her passengers were transferred onboard Kapella and freight onboard Travetal. On July 6 she managed to come loose and sailed to Finnboda dock, Nacka (near Stockholm), for repairs.

Vaasanlaivat service

In April 1979, Diana was sold to Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab, Finland and renamed Botnia Express (2). However, she was chartered back to Rederi AB Slite until June 1979. Her final service for Viking Line was on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route between June 5 and June 15. On June 20 she began her service With Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab, serving on routes connecting Vaasa, Finland to Sundsvall, Örnsköldsvik and Umeå in Sweden. Botnia Express was in fact the second Papenburg Sister to sail under Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab's colours, already in 1976 the company had acquired her sister Wasa Express (2)  [ sv ]. In spring 1980 the ship was rebuilt at Rauma-Repola, Uusikaupunki, Finland with a new grill restaurant in the former rear sundeck. In June of the same year Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab changed its name to Vaasanlaivat / Vasabåtarna.

In 1982 Vaasanlaivat was sold to Rederi Ab Sally, which led to a third Papenburg Sister joining the company's fleet for the years 1983–1984 when Sally Express sailed alongside her sisters. During the difficult winter 1984–1985 Botnia Express was caught in heavy ice twice, first in February when she had to be helped out by the Finnish icebreaker Tarmo and again in March. In 1987 Rederi Ab Sally was sold to Effoa and Johnson Line and hence Vaasanlaivat became owned by the same companies as Silja Line. In December 1988, Botnia Express was again caught in heavy ice, but was helped off by her fleetmate Fennia.

The last few years in Vaasanlaivat ownership Botnia Express spent mainly chartered to other companies. Between January and March 1989 the ship was chartered to Sally Ferries UK for Ramsgate–Dunkerque service. In November of the same year she was again chartered, this time to Vaasanlaivat's subsidiary Jakob Lines for traffic between Jakobstad, Finland and Skellefteå, Sweden under the trade name Polar Princess. After the end of that charter in March 1990, Botnia Express was chartered to Baltic Express Line for a planned service between Helsinki and Tallinn, but the service never materialised.

Eckerö Linjen and Eestin Linjat service

At the end of March 1990 the ship returned to Vaasa, where she was laid up (?) until February 1992, when she was sold to Eckerö Linjen, Finland, renamed Alandia and placed on their Eckerö (Finland) – Grisslehamn (Sweden) service. Here she again sailed with her old fleetmate from Viking Line and Vaasanlaivat days, the former Wasa Express which now sailed under the name Roslagen. Between March and June 1992 Alandia was chartered to Corona Line for Karlskrona (Sweden) – Gdynia (Poland) service. Often there were not enough passengers on the Eckerö–Grisslehamn route for two ships, and the Alandia spent sporadic times laid up, until Eckerö Line established a joint subsidiary Eestin Linjat with Birka Line for traffic on the fast-growing route between Helsinki and Tallinn in 1994. During the summer seasons of 1996 and 1997 Alandia returned to the Eckerö–Grisslehamn service. After 1998 when the new Nordlandia started service on the Helsinki–Tallinn route, Alandia returned full-time to the Eckerö–Grisslehamn route.

During 2003 and 2004 the ship returned to Helsinki–Tallinn service on a few occasions when the Nordlandia was being docked. During the 2004–2005 winter season Alandia was chartered to RG Line and returned to Vaasa–Umeå service when the company's normal ship Casino Express (Alandia's old fleetmate Fennia) was being repaired after being grounded near Umeå. After the end of that charter the ship returned to her normal Eckerö–Grisslehamn traffic. She briefly returned to Helsinki–Tallinn traffic again in September and October of the same year, after which she was laid up in Mariehamn. In April 2006 the ship was sold to Bayway Shipping Co., and in May of the same year she sailed to Stockholm where she was renamed Jamaa II and re-flagged in Honduras. Late in the same month she left for Greece for rebuilding at Agios Konstantinos. In September 2006 she finally began scheduled services from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to various ports along the Red Sea. On 11 May 2007 the ship appeared to be on sale again. [3] The ship was sold for scrap in 2021 and subsequently beached in Alang. [4]

Related Research Articles

Silja Line is a Swedish-Finnish cruiseferry brand operated by the Estonian ferry company AS Tallink Grupp, for car, cargo and passenger traffic between Finland and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viking Line</span> Finnish shipping company

Viking Line Abp is a Finnish shipping company that operates a fleet of ferries and cruiseferries between Finland, the Åland Islands, Sweden and Estonia. Viking Line shares are quoted on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Viking Line is operated from Åland.

MS <i>Estonia</i> Cruise ferry

MS Estonia was a cruiseferry built in 1980 for the Finnish company Rederi Ab Sally by Meyer Werft, in Papenburg West Germany. She was employed on ferry routes between Finland and Sweden by various companies until 1993, when she was sold to Nordström & Thulin for use on Estline's Tallinn–Stockholm route. The ship's sinking on 28 September 1994, in the Baltic Sea between Sweden, Finland and Estonia, was one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters of the 20th century, claiming 852 lives.

MS <i>Silja Europa</i> 10th largest cruiseferry in the world

MS Silja Europa is a cruiseferry constructed at Meyer Werft Germany for the Swedish ferry operator Rederi AB Slite, a part of Viking Line. At 59,914 gross tonnage (GT), she is the largest ship commissioned for and to ever operate for Tallink Silja, and is the tenth-largest cruiseferry in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RG Line</span> Finnish shipping company

RG Line Oy Ab was a Finnish shipping company founded in 2001 that operated a ferry line between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden until the end of 2012. Nowadays the Vaasa-Umeå line is operated by Wasa Line.

MS <i>Mega Regina</i>

MS Mega Regina is a cruiseferry owned by Corsica Ferries. She was formerly owned and operated by Viking Line as MS Mariella. She was built by the Wärtsilä Perno shipyard in Turku, Finland and delivered to SF Line in 1985. Her sister ship is the Olympia. Mariella was the world's largest cruiseferry from 1985 until 1989, when the accolade passed on to her Viking Line fleetmate MS Athena. Mariella was sold to Corsica Ferries in 2021 and renamed Mega Regina. The ship started traffic on the Mediterranean Sea in summer 2021.

Rederi AB Slite was a Swedish shipping company, founded in 1947. The company was one of the three founding companies of Viking Line. Rederi AB Slite went bankrupt in 1993.

MS <i>Bluefort</i> 1979 ferry

The MS Bluefort was an accommodation vessel owned by the Canadian-based company Bridgemans Services Group LP. She was built in 1979 as a car/passenger ferry by Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany as Diana II av Slite for Rederi AB Slite for use in Viking Line's traffic. She has also sailed under the names Diana II, Vironia, Mare Balticum, Meloodia and ARV 1.

MS <i>Rigel III</i> 1978 ferry

MS Rigel III is a cruiseferry owned by the Greek-based company Ventouris Ferries. She was built in 1979 as MS Turella by Wärtsilä Turku shipyard, Finland for SF Line for use in Viking Line traffic. In 1988 she was sold to Stena Line, becoming MS Stena Nordica. In 1996, she was transferred to Lion Ferry and was renamed MS Lion King. In 1998, she was sold to Tallink and renamed MS Fantaasia. As Fantaasia she also sailed under charter to Algérie Ferries, Comanav and Kystlink during the years 2005–2008. Following the end of her charter to Kystlink in 2008 the latter company bought her, renaming her MS Kongshavn. After Kystlink was declared bankrupt in late 2008 the ship was laid up until sold to the Croatia-based ferry operator Blue Line International, and operated on their service between Split and Ancona as MS Regina della Pace. In 2017 the ship was sold to the Greek-based company Ventouris Ferries and is currently operating on the route Bari-Durres.

MS <i>Regina Baltica</i> 1980 ferry

MS Regina Baltica is a cruiseferry owned by the Estonian shipping company Tallink. She was built in 1980 as Viking Song by Wärtsilä Perno shipyard, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally, one of the owners of the Viking Line consortium. She has also sailed under the names Braemar and Anna Karenina.

<i>Star Pisces</i>

MS Star Pisces was a cruise ship owned by Star Cruises and did short cruises from Hong Kong. She was originally built as the cruiseferry MS Kalypso in 1990 at Masa-Yards Turku New Shipyard, Finland for Rederi AB Slite for use in Viking Line traffic. The ship was designed by Per Dockson. Star Pisces had a sister ship, Pearl Seaways.

MS <i>GNV Azzurra</i>

MS GNV Azzurra is a cruiseferry owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company and operated by the Italy-based SNAV. It was ordered from Öresundsvarvet in Landskrona, Sweden by Rederi AB Gotland as MS Gotland, but delivered as MS Wasa Star to Vaasanlaivat / Vasabåtarna. Between 1984 and 2008 she sailed as MS Peter Wessel for Larvik Line and Color Line, before sold to her current owners.

Wasaline, previously Oy Vaasa-Umeå Ab (1948–1965), Vaasa-Umeå AB (1965–1979), Oy Vaasanlaivat – Vasabåtarna Ab (1979–1991) and Wasa Line (1991–1993) are different names for the Finnish shipping company that ceased trading in 1993 when it merged into Silja Line. Since 2013 the name is being used by a new company that operates between Vaasa (homebase) and Umeå.

MS <i>Arberia</i>

The MS Bore Star was a cruiseferry owned by Chryses Finance Co. and operated by Ilion Lines on their Trieste–Durres–Bari service. She was built in 1975 by Dubegion-Normandie, Nantes, France as Bore Star for Steamship Company Bore, which used her in Silja Line services on the Baltic Sea. During the northern hemisphere winter months she was chartered to Finnlines for cruise services on the African west coast. In 1980 she was sold to Finland Steamship Company and renamed Silja Star but retained in Silja Line service. Between 1986 and 1992 she was used in different cruise and ferry services around the world for various operators under the names Orient Express, Club Sea, Eurosun and Orient Sun. In 1992 her ownership passed to Wasa Line and she was renamed Wasa Queen for Baltic Sea ferry service. In 1993 Wasa Line was merged into Silja Line and Wasa Queen returned to the Silja Line fleet. In 2001 she was sold to Star Cruises for use in Far Eastern ferry services and later casino cruising with its daughter company Cruise Ferries without a change in name. In 2008 Wasa Queen was withdrawn from service and in 2009 sold to her current owners.

MS <i>Fennia</i>

The MS Fennia was a car-passenger ferry built in 1966 for Siljavarustamo / Siljarederiet. During her long career Fennia also sailed for Jakob Lines and Vaasanlaivat / Vasabåtarna, and spent short times chartered to Sessan Linjen, SAGA Linjen, B&I Line, Baltic Line and SeaWind Line. In 2001 the ship was sold to RG Line and renamed Casino Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltic Sea cruiseferries</span> Ferry operations in the Baltic

The Baltic Sea is crossed by several cruiseferry lines. Some important shipping companies are Viking Line, Silja Line, Tallink, St. Peter Line and Eckerö Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eckerö Line</span> Finnish shipping company

Eckerö Line is a Finnish shipping company owned by the Åland-based Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö. Eckerö Line operates one ferry between Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia). Eckerö Line should not be confused with the similarly named Eckerö Linjen, also owned by Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö, which operates ferry services between Berghamn in the Åland Islands and Grisslehamn in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eckerö Linjen</span> Finnish shipping company

Eckerö Linjen is a Finnish shipping company operating a ferry between Berghamn harbour in Eckerö in the Åland Islands and Grisslehamn in Sweden. The company is owned by the Åland based Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö. Eckerö Linjen should not be confused with its similarly named sister company Eckerö Line, which operates ferry services between Helsinki in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia.

MS <i>Birka Stockholm</i>

MS Birka Stockholm is a cruise ship built for Birka Line, now owned by Rederi Ab Eckerö and operated under their Birka Cruises brand. She was built in 2004 by Aker Finnyards at Rauma, Finland, and sailed as Birka Paradise until 2013.

MV <i>Apollo</i>

MV Apollo was a vehicle/passenger ferry that previously serviced the route between St. Barbe, Newfoundland and Labrador and Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Asklander, Micke. "M/S Diana". Fakta og Fartyg (in Swedish). Högdalen. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
  2. ↑ "Jamaa II (7224370)" . Equasis. French Ministry for Transport . Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  3. ↑ Apollo Duck: For Sale: Ro-Pax AR-A006, retrieved 7 December 2007
  4. ↑ "RAHAL". www.marinetraffic.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.