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{{Short description|Cruiseferry built in 1993}}
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;" width="300"
{{Redirect|M/S Europa|other ships named "Europa"|Europa (disambiguation)}}
|colspan="2" style="background: #efefef; text-align:center;"|] '''MS ''Silja Europa'''''
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
{{Infobox ship image
|'''Route:'''
| Ship image = Silja Europa en Talín.jpg
|]—]/]—]
| Ship caption = ''Silja Europa'' in 2016
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
}}
|'''Builder:'''
{{Infobox ship career
|], ], ]
| Hide header =
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship country = ]
|'''Owner:'''
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Estonia}}
|]
| Ship name = *''Europa'' (1993)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
*''Silja Europa (1993-present)
|'''Entered service:'''
| Ship namesake =
|]
| Ship owner = *1993–2003: Fährschiff Europa KB
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
*2003–2006: ]
|'''Homeport:'''
*2006 onwards: ]
|], ]
| Ship operator = *1993–2013: ]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
*2013–14: ]
|''']:'''
*2014–2016: Bridgeman Services
|59 914 gross register
*2016–onwards: ]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship registry = *1993–2013: ], {{flag|Finland}}
|'''Length:'''
*2013 onwards: ], {{flag|Estonia}}
|201.8 ] (662 ft)
| Ship route = Charter
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship ordered = 6 October 1989
|'''Width:'''
| Ship builder = ], ], ]
|32.5 m (106 ft)
| Ship original cost =
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship yard number = 627
|'''Depth:'''
| Ship way number =
|6.8 m (22 ft)
| Ship laid down = 6 November 1991
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship launched = 23 January 1993
| '''Propulsion:'''
| Ship sponsor =
| Four ] 6L58/64 diesels, effect 31,800 kW
| Ship christened = 5 March 1993
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship completed = 6 March 1993
|'''Speed:'''
| Ship acquired =
|21.5 ]
| Ship maiden voyage = 13 March 1993
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship in service = 1993–present
|'''Passenger capacity:'''
| Ship out of service =
|3 013
| Ship refit = (2014) Bridgeman
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
(2016) Tallink
|'''Passenger beds:'''
| Ship identification = *]: ESUJ
|3 644
*{{IMO Number|8919805}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
*{{MMSI|276807000}}
|'''Car capacity:'''
| Ship fate =
|400
| Ship status = Laid up
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship notes =
|'''Lanemeters:'''
}}
|932
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Hide header =
|''']:'''
| Header caption =
|1 A Super
| Ship type = ]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|59,914}}
|'''Status:'''
| Ship displacement =
| In service
| Ship length = {{convert|201.78|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|32.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = {{convert|59|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|6.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth =
| Ship decks = 14
| Ship ramps =
| Ship ice class = 1 A Super
| Ship power = *4 × ] 6L58/64
*31,800 kW (combined)
| Ship propulsion = Two shafts; ]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|22.5|kn}}
| Ship range =
| Ship capacity = *3,123 passengers
*3,644 passenger beds
*450 vehicles (932 ]s)
| Ship crew =
| Ship notes =
}}
|} |}
'''MS Silja Europa''' is a ] constructed at ] ] for the ] ferry operator ], a part of ]. At 59,914 ] (GT), she is the largest ship commissioned for and to ever operate for Tallink Silja, and is the tenth-largest ] in the world.


'''] ''Silja Europa''''', operated by ], is one of the largest ] in the world. It was built at ] in ], ] for the ferry operator ], a part of ]. The ferry was already painted in Viking Line's colors and almost ready to be handed over, when the ] ] was devaluated by 10%, which led Slite into economical difficulties. Slite could not pay for the ship so Meyer Werft kept it and soon managed to charter it to Viking Line's rival, Silja Line. It was put on the ]—] route, replacing ] which was put to the ]—]—Stockholm route, but ''Europa'' and ''Serenade'' had to exchange routes in 1995 as ''Serenade'' had troubles navigating in the Turku ]. Just before she was due for delivery, Slite entered economic difficulties and could no longer afford the ship, so Meyer Werft kept her and she was soon chartered to Viking Line's rival, ]. She was put on the ]–] route, replacing ] which was put to the ]–]–Stockholm route, but the two ships swapped routes with each other again in 1995.


==History==
The world's first floating ] restaurant was located onboard ''Silja Europa'' from its maiden trip until 1996 when it was closed down and replaced by Silja Line's own hamburger restaurant.
]
MS ''Silja Europa'' was commissioned by Rederi AB Slite and launched on 23 January 1993. As a result of the ], the ] was floated in 1992 and consequently lost value. The ''Europa'' became {{Currency|500,000,000|SEK}} more expensive for Slite, whose bank, ], had stopped guaranteeing loans. Combined with the construction of other ships, Slite was declared bankrupt in April 1993.
]
She was christened the ''Silja Europa'' in ], Germany on 5 March 1993, then registered the next day to Fährschiff Europa KB. With a ten-year charter to ] cruisferry company ], ''Silja Europa'' made her maiden voyage on 14 March 1993.


]
===History===
On 28 September 1994, ''Silja Europa'' was the first vessel to receive the ] message from the sinking ], and became the second vessel to arrive on-scene (after ]) following ''Estonia's'' capsizing and sinking. The captain of ''Silja Europa'', Esa Mäkelä, was appointed On-Scene Commander for the rescue operation.
*], ]. The ''MS Europa'' is launched.

*], ]. Named ''Silja Europa'' in ], Germany.
In January 2000, a ] was installed at ] in ], Finland. The funnel received a new blue paintjob, and the ship's safety system was renewed. This was made following the incident of ''Estonia''.
*], ]. Is registered to ], Mariehamn, Finland. Chartered to Silja Line for a period of 10 years.

*], ]. Replaces ''Silja Serenade'' on the Helsinki—Stockholm route. Makes its maiden voyage.
Silja Line was sold to ]n shipping company ] in May 2006 - the Silja Line brand was initially kept separate, but most of its ships (including the ''Silja'' ''Europa'') are now in Tallink livery. ''Silja Europa''<nowiki/>'s ] was changed to ] and entered Tallink's Helsinki–Tallinn service on 23 January 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Silja Europa flyttar till Tallinntrafiken|url=http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2012/11/07/silja-europa-flyttar-till-tallinntrafiken|publisher=Svenska YLE|date=2012-11-08}}</ref> She was then sailed to Australia on a 14-month charter as an ] for the ] at ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Silja Europa hyrs ut till Australien|url=http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2014/07/21/silja-europa-hyrs-ut-till-australien|publisher=]|accessdate=14 September 2015|language=Swedish|date=21 July 2014}}</ref> After this charter, Tallink returned ''Silja Europa'' to their Helsinki-Tallinn service on 13 March 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tallinksilja.fi/14.3.2016-uudistunut-silja-europa-palasi-helsinki-tallinna-reitille|title = 14.3.2016 Uudistunut Silja Europa palasi Helsinki−Tallinna-reitille - Tallink & Silja Line}}</ref>
*], ]. Is the first one to receive the ] message from the sinking ]. The rescue operation, where tens of ships participate, is in the beginning led by ''Silja Europa's'' captain Esa Mäkelä.

*], ]. Replaces ''Silja Serenade'' on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn&mdash;Stockholm route.
], for COP26 conference in ]]]
*], ]. Runs aground close to ], due to the misconfigured steering electronics. Continues with its own engine to Stockholm, where it is taken out of order and delivered to ] for repair.
In 2021, she was hired by ] for a ten-day period during which she is to be moored in ] and used to accommodate police officers during ] in ] scheduled for 11–13 June 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 19, 2021 |title=Cornwall G7: Police hire cruise ship to house officers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57158364 |work=BBC |location= |access-date=May 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='You can't block the M5': police prepare for mass protests at Cornwall G7 summit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/20/you-cant-block-the-m5-police-prepare-for-mass-protests-at-cornwall-g7-summit |website=] |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref> In October, she moved to the ] and was berthed at Inchgreen Quay, ], to provide accommodation for delegates at the ].<ref name="Inverclyde Now Oct 2021">{{cite web | title=In Pictures - Second Baltic Ferry Arrives For COP26 | website=Inverclyde Now | date=21 October 2021 | url=https://www.inverclydenow.com/in-pictures-second-baltic-ferry-arrives-for-cop26/ | access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="Jeffay 2021">{{cite web | last=Jeffay | first=John | title=Huge ships sleeping 5,000 COP26 delegates could spark new covid wave in Glasgow | website=GlasgowLive | date=17 October 2021 | url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/huge-ships-sleeping-5000-cop26-21883553 | access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>
*], ]. Back in traffic.

*], ]. Early in the morning, a passenger reports to the reception that he has seen someone jump overboard. It is reported to the captain who forwards it to the Swedish coast guard. He does not stop the ship though, but continues to Stockholm. Later the Swedish coast guard finds the person, a female passenger, from the sea. Her body temperature is very low and she dies a couple of days later in the hospital in ]. The ship's captain is later prosecuted for not stopping like he should have, and is found guilty but is not punished.
Since September 2022, the MS ''Silja Europa'' is docked at ] to shelter 1,000 asylum seekers until February 2023. The ship arrived in Velsen-Noord on Wednesday September 21st. The ship passed through the IJmuiden Sea Lock at around 6:30 a.m. that morning and moored at the VOB (Velsen Offshore Base ) quay an hour later. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nltimes.nl/2022/09/21/cruise-ship-accommodating-1000-asylum-seekers-arrives-velsen-noord|title=Cruise ship for accommodating 1,000 asylum seekers | date=September 21, 2022}}</ref>
*], ]. Collides with a German sailing-boat in a fog, south of ]. The German couple and their dog are rescued to one of ''Europa'''s lifeboats. The sailing-boat starts leaking in water and is later taken to ] at ] by the coast guard.

*], ] to ], ]. A special ] cruise from Turku to ].
==Accidents and incidents==
*], ]. ''Silja Europa'' is close to colliding with the ] cruise ship ''Jason'', in the Stockholm archipelago between the islands of ] and ].
*28 September 1994 ''Silja Europa'' was the first vessel to receive the ] message from the sinking ], and became the second vessel to arrive on-scene (after ]) following ''Estonia's'' capsizing and sinking. The captain of ''Silja Europa'', Esa Mäkelä, was appointed On-Scene Commander for the rescue operation.
*], ]. At about 2 AM in the night, when ''Silja Europa'' is arriving at the port of Mariehamn, it crashes in the bridge due to a strong squall. It got minor damages and had to stay in Mariehamn for a while to get its damages inspected.
*13 January 1995 - ''Silja Europa'' ran aground close to ], Sweden, due to a failure in the automatic speed control system. She continued under her own power to Stockholm, where she was taken out of service and then delivered to ] for repair.
*], ] to ], ]. A special Christmas cruise from Turku to Riga.
*10 October 1996 - A passenger reported that he saw someone jumping overboard. This was reported to the captain, who notified the ] - however, instead of stopping the ship (as is procedure), he continued to Stockholm. Later, the Swedish Coast Guard found the person, a female passenger, in the sea. Her body temperature was very low and she died a couple of days later in hospital of ]. The ship's captain was prosecuted and found guilty of not stopping as he should have, but was not punished.
*], ]. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route; it had to stop at ] both on the way to Stockholm and back in order to have tax free sale.
*20 August 1997 - The ship collided with a German sailing-boat south of ] due to heavy fog. A German couple and their dog were rescued by one of ''Silja Europa'''s lifeboats. The sailing boat began to take on water and was later towed to ] by the ].
*], ]. Arrived in Turku four hours too late due to the rough sea. The next cruise was cancelled entirely.
*28 September 2002 - A female passenger fell overboard and swam to a nearby ], from where she was later rescued
]
*22 November 2009 - Experienced a steering fault while underway from ] to ] in the ] archipelago. The ship would have been in immediate danger of running aground, but the ship's crew made it stop by using asymmetric thrust. The ship's emergency steering (] BACK-UP) could not be used because the rudder shaft had broken. Silja Europa had 1,373 passengers at the time of the incident. The ship was steered from the shallow and cramped area to wider waters, where it circled for almost a day. The ship was steered using bow thrusters, while there was a continuous effort of diagonosing and fixing the problem at the same time. The next morning, the tug Ukko arrived at Silja Europa and helped it move towards Turku. A team of divers who arrived with the tug investigated the ship's fault at Airisto and found that the fault was caused by damage to the rudder shaft. Silja Europa was supposed to be in Turku on Sunday evening at 7:15 pm, but didn't arrive until Monday, November 23 at 4:30 pm. The ship left for a repair dock on November 26. During the repair procedures, Silja Europa was replaced on the Turku-Stockholm route by ]. Silja Europa returned to service on 19 December 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://turvallisuustutkinta.fi/material/attachments/otkes/tutkintaselostukset/en/vesiliikenneonnettomuuksientutkinta/2009/c42009m_tutkintaselostus/c42009m_tutkintaselostus.pdf | title=M/S SILJA EUROPA (FIN), Breaking of the Starboard Rudder Shaft in the Aland Archipelago on 22 November 2009 }}</ref>
*], ]. Both ''Silja Europa'' and ''Silja Festival'' had to pass the stop at Långnäs due to the rough sea. This caused some tax problems as the stop was required for the tax free sale.
*19 October 2019<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yle.fi/news/3-11028669 | title=Bodies of two Finns discovered aboard cruise ship in Estonian port | date=20 October 2019 }}</ref> - Two Finnish passengers (25 y/o and 21y/o) were found deceased in a cabin in the ]
*], ] to ], ]. A special Christmas cruise from Turku to Riga.
*], ] to ], ]. A special millennium cruise from Turku to Kapellskär.
*January, 2000. ] installed at ] in ]. The funnel is also painted blue, and the safety system is renewed.
*], ]. The ] requests ''Silja Europa'', ''Silja Serenade'' and ] not to leave their harbours. It is a protest to Silja Line for recruiting a crew with no proper employment contract on their new '']'' speedliner. ''Europa'', however, leaves Turku three hours too late. The other ships leaves their harbours the next morning. ''Europa'' doesn't take any passengers in Stockholm the next day.
*], ]. Somebody is reported to have fallen overboard. ''Silja Europa'', several other ships, and both the Finnish and Swedish coastguard take part in the searches. However, nobody is found. Also, according the passenger lists, everybody is still on board ''Europa''.
*], ]. Encounters problems with one of the ]s and is taken out of order for five days. The problem is attempted to be fixed in the port of Turku but it turns out to be a problem on the exterior of the ship. The passengers that have come to Turku and need to get back to Stockholm have to wait the entire day in the Turku harbour. They are finally let back in to the ship at 2 AM. ''Europa'' had to be taken to the yard in Helsinki as the one in ] was occupied.
*], ] to ], ]. A special Christmas cruise from Turku to Riga.
*], ]. Silja Line announces that ''Europa'' will start sailing to Kapellskär instead of Stockholm in the winter, and to Stockholm only in summertime. The reason is told to be the changed requirements by the passengers, although the real reason is assumed to be the high fuel prices.
*], ] to ], ] Stops at Långnäs instead of Mariehamn.
*], ] to ], ]. Moved to the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;] route.
*], ]. Encounters problems with the ] when arriving in Turku; the machine supervision system gives false alarms all the time and ''Europa'' starts sailing in a circuit. It is escorted to Turku by three tugs. It has to cancel one cruise when the system is maintained.
*], ] to ], ]. Back on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route.
*], ]. Has to wait outside Mariehamn for a couple of hours as Viking Line's ships, ''Amorella'' and ''Isabella'', couldn't get out of there. There was a black-out in Mariehamn and their boarding ramps couldn't be removed before without electricity.
*], ]. Encounters some minor problems with the steering and has to pass Mariehamn when sailing to Turku.
*], ]. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Kapellskär route.
*], ]. Is somewhat delayed as it has to stop to participate in search for somebody missing from another ship.
*], ]. A fire is set to a cabin but is extinguished quickly. Instead of Kapellskär, the ship is taken to Stockholm where the ] police arrests one man.
*], ]. ''Europa'' cannot get to the Turku harbour due to the rough sea and requires a tug to help it.
*], ] to ], ]. A special Christmas cruise from Turku to Stockholm.
*], ] to ], ]. Back on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route.
*], ]. Interior renewed at ] in Helsinki.
*], ]. Back to traffic. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Kapellskär route.
*], ]. A female passenger falls overboard and swims to a nearby islet, from where she is rescued later.
*], ] to ], ]. A special Christmas cruise on the route Turku&mdash;Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm.
*], ]. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route.
*], ]. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Kapellskär route.
*], ] to ], ]. Temporarily on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route.
*], ] to ], ]. Working as a hotel ship in Stockholm
*], ] to ], ]. Placed on the Turku&mdash;Mariehamn/Långnäs&mdash;Stockholm route.


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|IMO 8919805}}
*
*
*
*


{{start box}} {{s-start}}
{{succession box
{{succession box|before=]|title=World's Largest ]|years=1993&ndash;2001|after='']''}}
| before = ]
{{end box}}
| title = World's Largest ]
| years = 1992&ndash;2002
| after = {{MS|Pride of Rotterdam}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Tallink Grupp ships}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Silja Europa}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Silja Europa}}
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Latest revision as of 11:38, 20 December 2024

Cruiseferry built in 1993 "M/S Europa" redirects here. For other ships named "Europa", see Europa (disambiguation).
Silja Europa in 2016
History
Estonia
Name
  • Europa (1993)
  • Silja Europa (1993-present)
Owner
Operator
Port of registry
RouteCharter
Ordered6 October 1989
BuilderMeyer Werft, Papenburg, West Germany
Yard number627
Laid down6 November 1991
Launched23 January 1993
Christened5 March 1993
Completed6 March 1993
Maiden voyage13 March 1993
In service1993–present
Refit(2014) Bridgeman (2016) Tallink
Identification
StatusLaid up
General characteristics
TypeCruiseferry
Tonnage59,914 GT
Length201.78 m (662 ft 0 in)
Beam32.6 m (106 ft 11 in)
Height59 m (193 ft 7 in)
Draught6.8 m (22 ft 4 in)
Decks14
Ice class1 A Super
Installed power
  • 4 × MAN 6L58/64
  • 31,800 kW (combined)
PropulsionTwo shafts; controllable pitch propellers
Speed22.5 knots (41.7 km/h; 25.9 mph)
Capacity
  • 3,123 passengers
  • 3,644 passenger beds
  • 450 vehicles (932 lane meters)

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.

Just before she was due for delivery, Slite entered economic difficulties and could no longer afford the ship, so Meyer Werft kept her and she was soon chartered to Viking Line's rival, Silja Line. She was put on the Helsinki–Stockholm route, replacing MS Silja Serenade which was put to the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route, but the two ships swapped routes with each other again in 1995.

History

MS Europa under construction in December, 1992

MS Silja Europa was commissioned by Rederi AB Slite and launched on 23 January 1993. As a result of the 1990-1994 Swedish financial crisis, the Swedish krona was floated in 1992 and consequently lost value. The Europa became kr 500,000,000 more expensive for Slite, whose bank, Nordbanken, had stopped guaranteeing loans. Combined with the construction of other ships, Slite was declared bankrupt in April 1993.

MS Europa as she would have appeared in Viking Line's colours, circa 1992

She was christened the Silja Europa in Hamburg, Germany on 5 March 1993, then registered the next day to Fährschiff Europa KB. With a ten-year charter to Finnish cruisferry company Silja Line, Silja Europa made her maiden voyage on 14 March 1993.

Silja Europa in Silja Line livery in January, 2006

On 28 September 1994, Silja Europa was the first vessel to receive the Mayday message from the sinking MS Estonia, and became the second vessel to arrive on-scene (after MS Mariella) following Estonia's capsizing and sinking. The captain of Silja Europa, Esa Mäkelä, was appointed On-Scene Commander for the rescue operation.

In January 2000, a catalytic converter was installed at Aker Finnyards in Rauma, Finland. The funnel received a new blue paintjob, and the ship's safety system was renewed. This was made following the incident of Estonia.

Silja Line was sold to Estonian shipping company Tallink in May 2006 - the Silja Line brand was initially kept separate, but most of its ships (including the Silja Europa) are now in Tallink livery. Silja Europa's home port was changed to Tallinn and entered Tallink's Helsinki–Tallinn service on 23 January 2013. She was then sailed to Australia on a 14-month charter as an accommodation ship for the Gorgon LNG project at Barrow Island. After this charter, Tallink returned Silja Europa to their Helsinki-Tallinn service on 13 March 2016.

Silja Europa at Inchgreen Quay, Greenock, for COP26 conference in Glasgow

In 2021, she was hired by Devon and Cornwall Police for a ten-day period during which she is to be moored in Falmouth and used to accommodate police officers during a G7 summit in Carbis Bay scheduled for 11–13 June 2021. In October, she moved to the River Clyde and was berthed at Inchgreen Quay, Greenock, to provide accommodation for delegates at the COP26 summit.

Since September 2022, the MS Silja Europa is docked at Velsen-Noord to shelter 1,000 asylum seekers until February 2023. The ship arrived in Velsen-Noord on Wednesday September 21st. The ship passed through the IJmuiden Sea Lock at around 6:30 a.m. that morning and moored at the VOB (Velsen Offshore Base ) quay an hour later.

Accidents and incidents

  • 28 September 1994 Silja Europa was the first vessel to receive the Mayday message from the sinking MS Estonia, and became the second vessel to arrive on-scene (after MS Mariella) following Estonia's capsizing and sinking. The captain of Silja Europa, Esa Mäkelä, was appointed On-Scene Commander for the rescue operation.
  • 13 January 1995 - Silja Europa ran aground close to Furusund, Sweden, due to a failure in the automatic speed control system. She continued under her own power to Stockholm, where she was taken out of service and then delivered to Naantali for repair.
  • 10 October 1996 - A passenger reported that he saw someone jumping overboard. This was reported to the captain, who notified the Swedish Coast Guard - however, instead of stopping the ship (as is procedure), he continued to Stockholm. Later, the Swedish Coast Guard found the person, a female passenger, in the sea. Her body temperature was very low and she died a couple of days later in hospital of hypothermia. The ship's captain was prosecuted and found guilty of not stopping as he should have, but was not punished.
  • 20 August 1997 - The ship collided with a German sailing-boat south of Lemland due to heavy fog. A German couple and their dog were rescued by one of Silja Europa's lifeboats. The sailing boat began to take on water and was later towed to Föglö by the Finnish Border Guard.
  • 28 September 2002 - A female passenger fell overboard and swam to a nearby islet, from where she was later rescued
  • 22 November 2009 - Experienced a steering fault while underway from Stockholm to Turku in the Åland archipelago. The ship would have been in immediate danger of running aground, but the ship's crew made it stop by using asymmetric thrust. The ship's emergency steering (KaMeWa BACK-UP) could not be used because the rudder shaft had broken. Silja Europa had 1,373 passengers at the time of the incident. The ship was steered from the shallow and cramped area to wider waters, where it circled for almost a day. The ship was steered using bow thrusters, while there was a continuous effort of diagonosing and fixing the problem at the same time. The next morning, the tug Ukko arrived at Silja Europa and helped it move towards Turku. A team of divers who arrived with the tug investigated the ship's fault at Airisto and found that the fault was caused by damage to the rudder shaft. Silja Europa was supposed to be in Turku on Sunday evening at 7:15 pm, but didn't arrive until Monday, November 23 at 4:30 pm. The ship left for a repair dock on November 26. During the repair procedures, Silja Europa was replaced on the Turku-Stockholm route by M/S Baltic Queen. Silja Europa returned to service on 19 December 2009.
  • 19 October 2019 - Two Finnish passengers (25 y/o and 21y/o) were found deceased in a cabin in the Port of Tallinn

See also

References

  1. "Silja Europa flyttar till Tallinntrafiken". Svenska YLE. 2012-11-08.
  2. "Silja Europa hyrs ut till Australien" (in Swedish). YLE. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  3. "14.3.2016 Uudistunut Silja Europa palasi Helsinki−Tallinna-reitille - Tallink & Silja Line".
  4. "Cornwall G7: Police hire cruise ship to house officers". BBC. May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  5. "'You can't block the M5': police prepare for mass protests at Cornwall G7 summit". The Guardian. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. "In Pictures - Second Baltic Ferry Arrives For COP26". Inverclyde Now. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  7. Jeffay, John (17 October 2021). "Huge ships sleeping 5,000 COP26 delegates could spark new covid wave in Glasgow". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  8. "Cruise ship for accommodating 1,000 asylum seekers". September 21, 2022.
  9. "M/S SILJA EUROPA (FIN), Breaking of the Starboard Rudder Shaft in the Aland Archipelago on 22 November 2009" (PDF).
  10. "Bodies of two Finns discovered aboard cruise ship in Estonian port". 20 October 2019.

External links

Preceded byMS Silja Symphony World's Largest Cruiseferry
1992–2002 		Succeeded byMS Pride of Rotterdam
Tallink Group ships
Tallink
Silja Line
On charter
Categories:
MS Silja Europa: Difference between revisions Add topic