MS Galaxy

MS Galaxy is a cruise ferry built in 2006 by Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland and was at the time the largest ship delivered to ferry operator Tallink. Between 2006–2008 she held the distinction of being the largest ship ever to be registered in Estonia; a title later held by her replacement the sister ship Baltic Princess.

For other ships named "Galaxy", see Galaxy (disambiguation).
Galaxy in the Stockholm archipelago, September 2008.
History
Name: Galaxy
Owner: Tallink Group[1]
Operator:
Port of registry:
Route:
Ordered: 28 October 2004[2]
Builder: Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland
Yard number: 435
Laid down: 21 April 2005[2]
Launched: 1 December 2005[2]
Christened: 1 December 2005 by Johanna-lisebel Järvelill[2]
Acquired: 18 April 2006[2]
Maiden voyage: 1 May 2006[2]
In service: 2 May 2006[2]
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics [2]
Type: Cruiseferry
Tonnage:
Length: 212.10 m (695 ft 10 in)
Beam: 29.00 m (95 ft 2 in)
Draught: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
Depth: 15.40 m (50 ft 6 in)
Decks: 12[3]
Ice class: 1 A Super[4]
Installed power:
Propulsion: Two shafts; controllable pitch propellers
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity:
  • 2,800 passengers
  • 2,500 passenger berths
  • 420 cars
  • 1,130 lanemeters

Since July 2008, Galaxy has sailed on the Stockholm–Åland–Turku route under Tallink's Silja Line brand. She sails in pair with her sister ship Baltic Princess which replaced Silja Europa in February 2013.

History

The introduction of Tallink's first newbuilding, the cruiseferry 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 Cinderella from the same route, replacing her with the more freight-oriented Rosella.

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

Design & construction

Building of the new ship commenced in early 2005 and her keel was laid on 21 April. The shipyard was Aker Finnyards, Rauma. The Rauma shipyard had previously built the Romantika and the Victoria I. On 1 December 2005, the new ship was launched and christened as Galaxy.[2]

Designed as a carefully enlarged replica of the Romantika, the Galaxy is longer and has additional cabins and public areas. Leaving behind the external livery scheme introduced on the Romantika and her sister, the Galaxy sports 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.

Galaxy arriving in Helsinki in Tallink colours, April 2007.

Helsinki–Tallinn service

After performing her trials, the Galaxy entered service on the Tallinn–Helsinki route on 2 May 2006. The ship performed one round trip daily between the two capitals but spent most of her time moored in port—on her original route Galaxy was at sea for less than seven hours per day.[5] In April 2007, less than a year after her introduction, Tallink announced that the Galaxy was to be transferred to the Stockholm–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Turku route during 2008.[6] She was replaced by her sister ship Baltic Princess.

Stockholm–Turku service

Following the Baltic Princess replacing Galaxy on the Tallinn–Helsinki route,[7] Galaxy replaced Silja Festival on the Stockholm–Turku route on 23 July 2008. Coinciding with the route change, Galaxy was re-registered to Sweden.[8] The ships external livery, as well as her name, was left unchanged, despite an earlier statement made by Tallink that she would be re-painted in Silja livery.[9] A "Silja Line" hull text did replace the "Tallink Cruise" text on her sides, but her Tallink funnel logo was left unaltered. Before beginning service, Galaxy was docked at Naantali for three days.[10]

Decks

Galaxy has ten decks.[11]

See also
  • Largest ferries of Europe

References
  1. Koefoed-Hansen, Michael. "M/F Galaxy". The Ferry Site. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  2. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Galaxy (2006)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  3. STX Europe: MS Baltic Princess & MS Galaxy - Comfort and luxury in the Baltic (builder's brochure)
  4. Mäkelä, Mia-Madeleine. "M/S Silja Galaxy (2006)". Miianlaivasivut (in Finnish). Retrieved 2008-07-24.
  5. (in Swedish)Tallink timetable Archived 2008-01-13 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2007-02-15
  6. (in Swedish) Turku-Mariehamn/Långnäs-Stockholm timetable 2 and footnote. Archived 2008-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  7. (in Swedish)Tallinks Galaxy till Åbo-rutten Nya Ålands tidning, retrieved 2007-12-15
  8. (in Finnish) Turun Sanomat 16. 10. 2007: Enn Pant uskoo Galaxyn nostavan matkustajien määrää Turun-reitillä, retrieved 2007-10-16
  9. "Galaxy Turun reitille Siljan laivana" (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  10. Kirsi Turkki (2008-07-17). "Baltic Princessin viivästys vienyt Tallinkilta matkustajia" (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  11. (in Finnish) Tallink Silja official website for M/S Galaxy Archived 2007-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2007-08-30
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