MS Baltic Queen
{{Short description|2008 ferry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date = February 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Baltic Queen underway in Tallinn Bay Tallinn 11 July 2021 (cropped).jpg | Ship caption = MS Baltic Queen in Tallinn on 11 July 2021 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Estonia | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Estonia}} | Ship owner = Tallink{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/baltic_queen_2009.htm |title=M/S Baltic Queen (2009) |accessdate=31 July 2008 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish }} | Ship operator = Tallink | Ship registry = Tallinn, {{flag|Estonia|civil}} | Ship route = Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm | Ship ordered = 11 April 2007 | Ship builder = STX Europe, Rauma, Finland{{cite web|url=http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/stockExchangeReleases/sr_110407_newcruise.htm |title=New cruiseferry order |accessdate=31 July 2008 |publisher = Tallink |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011023400/http://www.tallink.com/mainMenu/pressRoom/stockExchangeReleases/sr_110407_newcruise.htm |archivedate=11 October 2008 }} | Ship original cost = {{ShipCost|FIN|180|m|ref=}} | Ship way number = | Ship launched = 5 December 2008 | Ship christened = | Ship completed = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = 24 April 2009 | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = *Call sign: ESJJ
| Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Ship class = Galaxy class cruiseferry | Ship tonnage = {{GT|48,915}} | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|212.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|29.00|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 12 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = 1 A Super | Ship power = *4 × Wärtsilä 16V32 diesels
| Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|24.5|kn|0|abbr=on}} | Ship capacity = *2,800 passengers | Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
MS Baltic Queen is a cruiseferry owned by the Estonia-based ferry operator Tallink. The ship was built by the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma, Finland.
Concept and construction
Initially known under the project name Cruise 5, Baltic Queen was ordered from (what was then) Aker Yards shipyard in Rauma, Finland in April 2007. She is a sister ship to {{MS|Galaxy}}, {{MS|Romantika}} and {{MS|Baltic Princess}} and Tallink's fifth newbuilt cruiseferry. The ship's planned route was a mystery to the general public for a long time, until on 11 November 2008 Tallink revealed that she would be placed on the Tallinn–Stockholm service on completion.{{cite web|url=http://www.sr.se/sisuradio/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=2423682 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113210540/http://www.sr.se/sisuradio/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=2423682 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 January 2013 |title=Tallink-Silja sijoittaa uuteen laivaan |accessdate=5 November 2008 |date=5 November 2008 |work=Sisuradio |publisher=Sveriges Radio |language=Finnish }} The ship was launched from drydock and officially named Baltic Queen on 5 December 2008. By this time the shipyard had been renamed STX Europe. Tallink took delivery of the ship on 16 April 2009.
Service history
File:Baltic Queen Tallinn 2009-04-23.JPG
Baltic Queen entered service on the Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm route on 24 April 2009, replacing Tallink's first newbuilt ship {{MS|Romantika}}, which was moved to the Riga–Stockholm service. Baltic Queen{{'}}s Tallink Silja fleetmate {{MS|Silja Europa}} encountered problems with her steering on 22 November 2009,{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/europa_1993.htm |title=M/S Silja Europa (1993) |accessdate=24 November 2009 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish }} and she had to be taken out of service for repairs. As a result, the Baltic Queen was moved to the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm service as a temporary replacement from 26 November until 11 December 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2009112410654185_uu.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127073703/http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2009112410654185_uu.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2009 |title=Baltic Queen korvaa Silja Europan |accessdate=24 November 2009 |date=24 November 2009 |last= |first= |publisher=Iltalehti |language=Finnish }} From 7 August 2014 the ship started sailing from Tallinn to Helsinki, because MS Silja Europa was chartered to an Australian company due to its high fuel costs. MS Baltic Queen was then replaced with MS Romantika on the Tallinn-Mariehamn-Stockholm line.{{Cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=94256|title=Tallink sends Silja Europa to Australia|last=|first=|date=|website=The Baltic Course|publisher=|access-date=20 November 2016}} At the end of 2018 once again it is on the Tallinn–Mariehamn–Stockholm route.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|IMO 9443255}}
- [http://www.tallink.com/ Tallink official website]
- [http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=276779000 Baltic Queen at marinetraffic.com]
{{Tallink Grupp ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baltic Queen}}