Viking Line

Not to be confused with Royal Viking Line, Viking Cruises, or Viking Airlines.

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.

Viking Line Abp

Type	Public
Traded as	Nasdaq Helsinki: VIK1V
Industry	Shipping
Founded	1959
Headquarters	Mariehamn, Åland, Finland
Area served	Northern Europe
Key people	Jan Hanses (CEO) Andreas Remmer (Executive Vice President)
Products	Ferries, port services, passenger transportation, freight transportation, holidays, business travel
Revenue	530.5 million euros (2015) ^[1]
Operating income	26.4 million euros (2015) ^[1]
Net income	3.2 million euros (2015) ^[1]
Number of employees	2,735 (2015) ^[1]
Website	www.vikingline.com
Footnotes / references House flag of Viking Line

Company history

 

Sun deck of the original SS Viking, photographed in 1963

Early years: 1959–1966

Viking Line's history can be traced back to 1959, when a group of sea- and businessmen from the Åland Islands province in Finland formed Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen, purchased a steam-powered car-ferry SS Dinard from the UK, renamed her SS Viking and began service on the route Korpo (Finland)–Mariehamn (Åland)–Gräddö (Sweden).^{[2][3]: 18–20} In the same year the Gotland-based Rederi AB Slite began a service between Simpnäs (Sweden) and Mariehamn.^{[3]: 22–23}

In 1962, a disagreement caused a group of people to leave Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen and form a new company, Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan, who began a service linking Gräddö and Mariehamn the following year.^{[3]: 18–20}

Soon the three companies, all competing for passengers between Åland Islands and Sweden, realised that they in the long run all stood to lose from mutual competition. In 1965 Vikinglinjen and Slite began collaborating,^{[3]: 22–23} and in the end of July 1966 Viking Line was established as a marketing company for all three companies.^{[2][3]: 18–20} At this time Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen changed their name to Rederi Ab Solstad, in order to avoid confusion with the marketing company.^{[3]: 18–20} The red hull livery was adopted from Slite's Ålandspilen service^{[3]: 22–23 [4]} (to which it had been taken from the colour of the chairman's wife's lipstick!^[5]). In 1967 Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan changed its name to SF Line^{[3]: 26–27} and in 1977 Rederi Ab Solstad was merged into its mother company Rederi Ab Sally.^[6]

1967–1985

Because Viking Line was only a marketing company, each owner company retained their individual fleets and could choose on which routes to set their ships (naturally there was also co-ordination on schedules and such). Each company's ships were easy to distinguish by name: all Sally ships had a "Viking" prefix on their names, Slite took their names from Roman and Greek mythologies, while SF Line's names ended with -ella in honor of managing director Gunnar Eklund's wife Ellen Eklund.

 

MS Viking 5, built 1974 for Rederi Ab Sally, in Stockholm during her first year of service

During the 1970s Viking expanded greatly and overtook Silja Line as the largest shipping consortium on the Northern Baltic Sea.^{[citation needed]} Between 1970 and 1973 Slite and Sally took delivery of five nearly identical ships built at Meyer Werft Germany, namely MS Apollo and MS Diana for Slite, and MS Viking 1, MS Viking 3 and MS Viking 4 for Sally. MS Viking 5, delivered in 1974, was an enlargened version of the same design.^{[3]: 40–43} These so-called Papenburg sisters can be considered to be one of the most successful ships designs of all times^{[citation needed]} (the shipyard built three additional sisters of the original design for Transbordadores for ship services in Mexico: Coromuel,^[7] Puerto Vallarta^[8] and Azteca^[9]). In 1973 Viking Line started service on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route, directly competing with Silja Line for the first time. The next year Sally began Viking Line traffic between Helsinki and Stockholm.^{[3]: 44–46} For the next decade this route stayed in their hands, whereas on other routes the three companies operated together.

By the latter half of the 1970s, Sally was clearly the dominant partner in the consortium. In 1980 they took delivery of three new ferries (MS Viking Saga, MS Viking Sally and MS Viking Song), largest to have sailed under Viking's colours. This further established their dominance over the other partners, although SF Line did take delivery of the new MS Turella and MS Rosella in 1979–80 and Slite MS Diana II in 1979.^{[3]: 53–54} In the early 1980s Sally started expanding their operations to other waters, which became the company's failing as those operations were largely unprofitable and ultimately made Sally unable to invest on new tonnage for Viking Line service.^[10]

 

MS Mariella, the world's largest cruiseferry 1985–89, at Kustaanmiekka strait, Helsinki

1985–1993

In 1985 a new leaf was turned in Viking Line's history when SF Line's brand-new MS Mariella, at the time the largest ferry in the world, replaced MS Viking Song on Helsinki–Stockholm service, breaking Sally's monopoly on the route. The next year Slite took delivery of Mariella's sister MS Olympia and thus forced Sally out of Helsinki–Stockholm traffic completely. While SF Line and Slite were planning additional newbuilds, Sally were in an extremely poor position financially and in 1987 Effoa and Johnson Line, the owners of Silja Line, purchased Sally. As a result, SF Line and Slite forced Sally to leave the Viking Line consortium.^{[3]: 69–70}

Between 1988 and 1990 SF Line took delivery of three new ships (MS Amorella, MS Isabella and MS Cinderella) while Slite took delivery of two (MS Athena and MS Kalypso).^[3]: 73Unfortunately Wärtsilä Marine, the shipyard building one of SF Line's newbuilds and both of Slite's, went bankrupt in 1989. SF Line avoided financial repercussions, their Cinderella had been continuously paid for as her construction progressed. Hence it was SF Line who owned the almost completed ship when the shipyard went bankrupt.^[11] Slite however had signed a more traditional type of contract, the Kalypso was to be paid for on delivery. Since the shipyard owned the unfinished ship, this led to an increased cost for the Kalypso^[12]—about 200 million SEK more than had been originally envisaged.^{[citation needed]} In the end, despite the financial problems, by 1990 Viking Line had the largest and newest cruiseferry fleet in the world.

 

MS Cinderella was the largest cruiseferry in the world when delivered in 1989. In 2003 she was renamed MS Viking Cinderella and given the white livery displayed here.

In 1989^{[citation needed]} Slite started planning MS Europa, which was to be the jewel in the company's crown, the largest and most luxurious cruiseferry in the world. Unfortunately for them Sweden entered a financial crisis during the construction of the ship, which led to devaluation of the Swedish krona. This in turn meant that the cost for the Europa increased by 400 million SEK. When time came to take delivery of the new ship, Slite did not have the funds to pay for it and their main funders (Swedish Nordbanken, who were also the main funders of Silja Line) refused to loan them the money needed. Eventually the ship ended up in Silja Line's fleet and Slite was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1993.^[13]

1993–2010

Following the bankruptcy of Rederi AB Slite, SF Line was left as the sole operator under the Viking Line brand. The remaining two Slite ships, Athena and Kalypso were auctioned in August 1993.^[14][15] SF Line made a bid for the Kalypso, but both ships ended up sold to the newly established Malaysian cruise ship operator Star Cruises. In 1995 SF Line changed their name into Viking Line.

Between 1994 and 1996 the company operated a fast ferry service from Helsinki to Tallinn during the summers on chartered catamaran ships.^[16] In 1997 they purchased MS Silja Scandinavia from Sea-Link Shipping AB and renamed her MS Gabriella for Helsinki–Stockholm service.^[17] It has been reported that around the same time plans were made to construct a pair of new ships for the Helsinki–Stockholm service so that Viking could better compete with Silja on that route, but the plans were shelved.^{[citation needed]}

 

In 2006 Sea Containers Ltd—that had become the main owner of Silja Line in 1999—placed Silja Line and their cargo-carrying subsidiary SeaWind Line for sale, except for GTS Finnjet and MS Silja Opera that were transferred under Sea Container's direct ownership and eventually sold.^[18] Viking Line placed a bid for their main competitor,^[19] but were outbid by the Estonian Tallink.^[20]

The first new ship built for Viking Line since Slite's MS Kalypso in 1990, MS Viking XPRS, had been ordered from Aker Finnyards in 2005,^[21] in response to growing competition from Tallink on the Helsinki–Tallinn route.^{[citation needed]} The Viking XPRS eventually entered service for Viking in April 2008.^[21] A second new ship was ordered in January 2007, when Viking Line announced that they had placed an order for a 15,000 GT ferry at the Spanish shipyard Astilleros de Sevilla. The project name for the ship, that would have replaced the MS Rosella on the Mariehamn–Kapellskär route,^[22] was Viking ADCC. Her delivery was originally expected for March 2009,^[23] but after delivery of the ship had been delayed multiple times, on 8 February 2010 Viking Line decided to cancel the contract altogether.^[24]

2010–present

Nils-Erik Eklund retired as Viking Line's CEO in July 2010. He was replaced by Mikael Backman, who has previously worked with Royal Caribbean. In interviews Backman has stated he hopes to introduce features from Caribbean cruise ships to Viking Line vessels, as well as begin selling Viking's routes to North American customers as a new cruise experience.^[25]

In a seminar held in January 2010, Backman stated that Viking Line were negotiating with nine different shipyards about the possibility of constructing a pair of 60,000 GT ships to replace Amorella and Isabella on the Turku–Stockholm service.^[26][27] The possibility of using liquefied natural gas engines and other emission-reducing technologies were reportedly researched,^[28][29] while according to Mikael Backman the ships would include various features akin to those found onboard cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean International's MS Oasis of the Seas.^[27] Projected delivery dates for the vessels were May 2012 and February 2013.^[30]

In October 2010 Viking Line signed a letter of intent with STX Turku for a 57,000 GT cruiseferry for the Turku–Stockholm route.^[31] Two months later, the formal order for the new ship was placed.^[32] The new ship, christened Viking Grace, was laid down on 6 March 2012 and launched on 10 August. The ship entered service in January 2013. Viking Line had an option for a sister ship but announced in May 2012 that they have decided not to build it.

Viking Line revealed in November 2016, that a letter of intent had been signed with Chinese shipyard Xiamen Shipbuilding for the construction of a 63,000 GT cruiseferry that would on completion replace the Amorella in the Viking Line fleet. The new ship would be LNG powered and would sport Flettner rotors to reduce fuel consumption.^[33]

On May 27, 2019, Viking Line announced the official name of the ship, M/S Viking Glory, after a public name-giving contest.

The maiden voyage of M/S Viking Glory took place from March 1–2, 2022. She is in service on the Stockholm-Mariehamn-Turku route.

Ville Viking

 

Ville Viking is a white ship's cat in a sailor's outfit.

Ville Viking is the mascot of Viking Line, which is used as an icon for activities for children passengers, marketing and merchandising. The white ship's cat figure appears on ships and Viking Line's marketing events at least in Finland and Sweden.^[34] The feline figure can be hugged and can appear in pictures with people.^[35][36]

The name of the Viking Line children's club is Ville Viking Club. Children under 12 years of age can join the club free of charge, and members receive a mail letter twice per year. The club has its own cruises from Turku once per week and from Helsinki once per month except for the summer holiday season.^[37]

Alcohol-free Ville Viking drinks can be bought on Viking Line's ships. Children's menus and buffet tables on the ships are also named for the character.

In 2007 a CD of children's songs was published under the Ville Viking name.^[38]

Fleet

Current fleet

Ship	Type	Built	Entered service	Route	Tonnage	Flag	Notes
MS Viking Cinderella	Cruiseferry	1989	1989	Stockholm–Mariehamn	46,398 GT	Sweden	Previously named Cinderella; renamed Viking Cinderella in 2003 when she was reflagged from Finland to Sweden. The prefix "Viking" had to be added since there already existed a ship named "Cinderella" in the Swedish ship registry.
MS Gabriella	Cruiseferry	1992	1997	Helsinki-–Mariehamn–Stockholm	35,492 GT	Finland	ex-Frans Suell for Euroway, ex-Silja Scandinavia for Silja Line.
MS Viking XPRS	Cruiseferry	2008	2008	Helsinki–Tallinn	35,918 GT	Finland	The ship was re-flagged from Sweden to Estonia in January 2014. She is the first ship in Viking Line's history to sail under the Estonian flag. The ship was again re-flagged from Estonia to Finland in 2023.
MS Viking Grace	Cruiseferry	2013	2013	Turku–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Stockholm	57,565 GT	Finland
MS Viking Glory	Cruiseferry	2021	2022	Turku–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Stockholm	65,211 GT	Finland

Former ships

Ships that are still in use are marked in green.

Ship	In service	Owner/operator	Tonnage	Status as of 2022
SS Viking	1959–1970	Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen	1,765 GRT	Scrapped 1973.
MS Slite MS Tella	1959–1964 1989 (chartered)	Rederi AB Slite Viking Line	499 GRT	Scrapped 2006.
MS Boge	1961–1963	Rederi AB Slite	530 GRT	Sunk 1981.
MS Panny	1963–1964	Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen^[3]^: 18–20	761 GRT	Scrapped 1985.
SS Ålandsfärjan	1963–1972	Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan	1,482 GRT	Scrapped 1972.
MS Drotten	1964–1966	Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen	819 GRT	Scrapped 1979.
MS Apollo	1964–1967	Rederi AB Slite	1,291 GRT	Scrapped 2006.
MS Visby	1965 (chartered) 1967–1970 (chartered)	Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan Rederi AB Slite	2,825 GRT	Scrapped 2002.
MS Kapella	1967–1979	Rederi Ab Ålandsfärjan	3,159 GRT	Scrapped 2006.
MS Viking 2	1968–1978	Rederi Ab Solstad	1,217 GRT	Scrapped 2016.
MS Apollo	1970–1976	Rederi AB Slite	4,238 GRT	Scrapped 2020.
MS Viking 1	1970–1983	Rederi Ab Sally	4,239 GRT	Scrapped 2002.
MS Marella	1970–1981	SF Line	3,930 GRT	Scrapped 2004.
MS Viking 3	1972–1976	Rederi Ab Sally	4,299 GRT	Scrapped at Aliağa, Turkey in 2022
MS Diana	1972–1979	Rederi AB Slite	4,152 GRT	Scrapped 2021.
MS Viking 4	1973–1980	Rederi Ab Sally	4,477 GRT	Scrapped 2005.
MS Aurella	1973–1982	SF Line	7,210 GRT	Since 2002 MS C.T.M.A. Vacancier for C.T.M.A.
MS Viking 5	1974–1981	Rederi Ab Sally	5,286 GRT	Scrapped 2015.
MS Viking 6	1974–1980	Rederi Ab Sally	5,073 GRT	Scrapped 2001.
SS Apollo III MS Apollo III	1976–1981 1982–1989	Rederi AB Slite	4,334 GRT	Sold for scrap, July 2008.^[39]
MS Turella	1979–1988	SF Line	10,604 GRT	Since 2018 MS Rigel III for Ventouris Ferries.
MS Diana II	1979–1992	Rederi AB Slite	11,671 GRT	Scrapped in Alang, India as Bluefort
MS Viking Saga	1980–1986	Rederi Ab Sally	14,330 GRT	Burnt in 1990; rebuilt 1992. Since 2007 MS Celestyal Cristal for Celestyal Cruises.
MS Viking Sally	1980–1990	Rederi Ab Sally Rederi AB Slite	15,566 GRT	Sunk 1994 as MS Estonia.
MS Viking Song	1980–1986	Rederi Ab Sally	13,878 GRT	Since 2010 MS Regina Baltica for Baleària Laid Up after from a fire.
MS Olympia	1986–1993	Rederi AB Slite	37,799 GT	Since 2011 MS SPL Princessa Anastasia for Moby St. Peter Line.
MS Ålandsfärjan	1987–2008	SF Line/Viking Line	6,336 GRT	Since 2008 MS Expedition for G.A.P. Shipping.
MS Athena	1989–1993	Rederi AB Slite	40,012 GT	Since 2001 MS Pearl of Scandinavia for DFDS Seaways.
MS Kalypso	1990–1994	Rederi AB Slite	40,012 GT	Scrapped in 2022.
HSC Condor 10 (marketed as Viking Express I)	1995 (chartered)	Viking Line	3,241 GT	Since 2002 HSC Condor 10 Condor Ferries.
MS Isabella	1989–2013	SF Line/Viking Line	35,154 GT	Since 2013 MS Isabelle for the competitor Tallink.
MS Mariella	1985–2021	SF Line/Viking Line	37,799 GT	Since 2021 MS Mega Regina for Corsica Ferries.
MS Amorella	1988–2022	SF Line/Viking Line	34,384 GT	Since 2022 MS Mega Victoria for Corsica Ferries.
MS Rosella	1980–2023	Viking Line	16,879 GT	Since 2023 MS Anemos for Aegean Speed Lines.

Additionally a large number of ferries were chartered during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s for seasonal traffic.

Ordered but never delivered

Planned/project name	Projected delivery	Ordered by	Tonnage	Notes	Fate
MS Europa	1993	Rederi AB Slite	59,912 GT	Building project was almost complete when Rederi AB Slite went bankrupt. She was then completed for Silja Line as MS Silja Europa in 1993.	In Tallink service.
MS Viking ADCC	2009	Viking Line	15,600 GT	Building project cancelled by Viking Line due to Seville shipyard's inability to complete the ship on time.	Hull was transferred to another shipyard in Vigo, where it was finished and delivered to Trasmediterránea as MS Villa de Teror in July 2019,10 years after original delivery date.
MS Hansa Express	1962	Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen	2,268 GRT	Completed for Finnlines as MS Hansa Express, 1962.	Scrapped 2003.

Terminals

Viking Line has seven terminals, of which four are in Finland (two in mainland Finland and two in Åland), two in Sweden and one in Estonia.^[40]

 

Viking Line terminal in Turku, Finland

Finland

• Helsinki: Katajanokka Terminal. Served by Helsinki tram lines 4 and 5.
• Turku: Linnansatama. Served by the Port of Turku railway station and bus line 1.
• Mariehamn: Västhamnen. Served by the Mariehamn city bus.
• Lumparland: Långnäs.

 

Viking Line terminal in Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden

• Stockholm: Stadsgården. Served by a terminal bus line and the city ship Emelie.
• Gräddö: Kapellskär. Served by a bus line from Stockholm.

 

Viking Line terminal in Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia

• Tallinn: A-terminal. Served by Tallinn bus line 2 and tram lines 1 and 2.

See also

• Finnish maritime cluster
• List of companies of Finland
• Viking

References

1. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
2. Viking Line: 40 Years of Ferry Service, retrieved 12. 10. 2007 22 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
3. (in Swedish) Eliasson, Thor-Alf: Viking Line i backspegeln. Mariehamns Tryckeri/Viking Line 2005. No ISBN code
4. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Apollo (1964)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2012., retrieved 24 October 2007
5. (in Finnish) FCBS Forum: laivojen nimien alkuperä ja merkitys, retrieved 12 October 2007
6. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Marsk Stig (1940)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
7. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Coromuel (1973)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 31 July 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
8. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Puerto Vallarta (1974)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
9. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Azteca (1975)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 August 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
10. (in Finnish) FCBS Forum: Matkustajalaivojen vaihtuminen matkustaja-autolautoiksi, retrieved 12 October 2007
11. (in Finnish) FCBS Forum: Sliten konkurssin syyt ja seuraukset + muuta 1980–90-l. taitteen Vikingistä, retrieved 12 October 2007
12. (in Finnish) FCBS Forum: Gunnar Eklundin lähtö Vikinglinjenistä, retrieved 12 October 2007
13. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Europa (1993)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 September 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
14. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Athena (1989)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
15. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Kalypso (1990)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
16. Viking Line: Chartered Vessels 3 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 12 October 2007
17. "Fakta om Fartyg: M/S Frans Suell (1992)" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 25 May 2012., retrieved 12 October 2007
18. Malmberg, Thure; Stampehl, Marko (2007). Siljan viisi vuosikymmentä (in Finnish and English). Espoo: Frenckellin Kirjapaino Oy. pp. 168–169, 276, 285. ISBN 978-951-98405-7-4.
19. "Pörssitiedote". Viking Line press release (in Finnish). Viking Line. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
20. "Silja Linen myynti". Viking Line press release (in Finnish). Viking Line. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
21. Asklander, Micke. "M/S Viking XPRS (2008)". Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
22. (PDF). Viking Line press release (in Swedish). Viking Line. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2008.
23. Viking Line press release: Viking Line orders new vessel 29 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 12 October 2007
24. (in Swedish)Skeppsbyggnadskontrakt uppsagt, vikingline.fi, retrieved 2 February 2010
25. Enkvist, Liisa (18 April 2009). (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
26. (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
27. "Viking väljer varv i sommar" (in Swedish). Åbo Underrättelser. Retrieved 19 January 2010.^{[permanent dead link]}
28. "Viking Line överväger gas som bränsle" (in Swedish). svenska.yle.fi. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
29. Reinikainen, Kari (22 June 2009). . Cruise Business Online. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
30. Dahlblom, Patrick (23 April 2010). "Viking line vill ha besked före färjbeställning" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
31. "Viking Line och varvet STX Finland Oy tecknat ett intentionsavtal" (PDF). Viking Line. 25 October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
32. (PDF). Viking Line. 22 December 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
33. "Större, snålare och snällare än Grace" (in Swedish).
34. Sportlovskul för barnen med cirkusskola och Ville Viking, My News Desk, Viking Line 13 February 2015. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
35. Ville Vikingin lasten leikkipäivä, Helsinki This Week, no date given. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
36. Lapsille, Supermessut 2015. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
37. Ville Viking Club, Park Alandia Hotel. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
38. Ville Viking, CD record in the Finna database. Accessed on 27 April 2015.
39. "Market Highlights Week Ending 05th July". Paul Mason's Thames Shipping. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
40. Satamat, Viking Line official site. Accessed on 3 July 2021.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viking Line.

• Official website (in Finnish)
• Official website