Service history GTS Finnjet

1 service history

1.1 1977–1987
1.2 1987–2005
1.3 2005–2008

service history

1977–1987

the finnjet s maiden voyage scheduled depart helsinki on 1 may 1977. however, delayed due engine officers strike. ship left on maiden voyage on 13 may 1977, after final turbine test drive had been carried out on 12 may 1977.

finnjet s estimated fuel consumption 22-hour travel time 300 tonnes of fuel; approx 350,000 litres total or 16,000 litres per hour. finnjet not profitable ship , after few years of service there rumours sold. ship had been ordered in same year beginning of 1973 oil crisis, reached peak around time of ship s launch. yet huge leap of oil price occurred near turn of decade. increase profitability, ship converted combined diesel-electric , gas propulsion addition of diesel-electric generators in 1981 in amsterdamse droogdok maatschappij, amsterdam. change allowed operate ship @ slower speeds, using cheaper fuel during winter months. on way shipyard became largest ship have passed through kiel canal @ time. year later 75% of finnjet s shares sold effoa (one of owners of silja line), , finnjet line established joint venture of finnlines , effoa operate finnjet. starting november 1985, finnjet made 24-hour (later 22-hour) backtracking cruises helsinki during winter season. final batch of these cruises in october–december 1995 included short stop in tallinn. in january 1986 major renovation carried out @ wärtsilä helsinki, new commodore-class cabins added in place of old sundeck. shortly after refit denmark-based dfds made offer buy finnjet, offer refused. instead, in june of same year finnlines sold remaining shares of finnjet effoa. in beginning of 1987 ship painted in silja line s colors , incorporated in silja s fleet. however, technical responsibility operating finnjet remained finnlines until may 1989 (this of little consequence finnlines entirely owned effoa @ time).

a model of finnjet in effoa/silja line livery carried 1987–1990.


1987–2005


gts finnjet passing through strait kustaanmiekka near helsinki.

after ship had become part of silja line fleet, further renovations @ howaldtswerke-deutsche werft kiel (hdw) in 1987, 1988 , 1989 saw of ship s public spaces rebuilt. in 1990 effoa merged fellow silja line partner johnson line form effjohn. in 1991 extremely large-scale reconstruction planned, ship have been lengthened 20 metres (66 ft), cabins enlarged, new outdoor swimming pool added, , of superstructure built sleeker appearance. unfortunately plan proved costly , abandoned; funds had been raised reconstruction went rebuilding of ms svea , ms wellamo silja karneval , silja festival.

starting 1992 finnjet used monitor surface-layer chlorophyll, temperature , salinity in waters sailed through research finnish institute of marine research. new transmission system installed in 1994 (again @ hdw kiel) raised top speed 33 knots (61 km/h) , allowed mixed operation of turbines , diesel engines. september of same year ms estonia, finnjet s former fleetmate, sank during heavy storm on north baltic. finnjet amongst ferries used search survivors on disaster area had leave when cars carried on upper cardeck started moving in heavy seas, creating potentially dangerous situation. in 1997 finnjet docked @ götaverken cityvarvet, gothenburg , rebuilt larger tax-free shop in preparation new itenaries served on helsinki–travemünde route during summer months, rest of year sailing on helsinki–tallinn route. port in tallinn muuga, when ship-way of tallinn s old harbour reconstructed in 1998, finnjet moved there start of january 1999. between 1997 , 2000 segments finnish comedy series huuliveikot shot on board finnjet.

in 1999 summer-route altered helsinki–tallinn–rostock. in autumn of same year finnish institute of marine research installed new equipment monitoring water quality , algae. in 2001 ship docked modifications made turbines , propeller shaft. these , new bottom paint allowed increase top speed once more, 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph). in mid-may 2002, few days after finnjet s 25th anniversary cruise, finnish newspaper helsingin sanomat reported ship sale. @ time information thought false later reports indicate finland-based eckerö line did consider buying around time. in april 2004 finnjet called in helsinki last time, after left refit @ aker finnyards rauma shipyard in preparation new saint petersburg – tallinn – rostock route. during refit of interiors entirely rebuilt, new rudders installed , bridge wings covered. new route believed profitable year round, proved not case. after first summer season finnjet laid winter 2004/2005. route terminated after 2005 summer season, , ship put sale.

2005–2008

gts finnjet when housing students, faculty, , staff of louisiana state university health sciences center.

during winter of 2005–2006, finnjet chartered faculty of medicine of louisiana state university health sciences center new orleans provide housing students, faculty, , staff displaced hurricane katrina. moored on west bank of mississippi river across baton rouge, @ base of horace wilkinson bridge.

on 6 june 2006, @ end of charter, finnjet left baton rouge freeport, in bahamas. @ same time ownership passed silja line (then-)parent company sea containers. ship had silja line markings painted on , reflagged finnish bahamian registry. during following months, several rumours surfaced future use of ship. these included sale florida-based company casino-ship, sale moby lines, charter or sale st. kitts , nevis-based cruise company royal zante cruises, , charter venezuela-based company 2 years june 2007 onwards. on 28 october 2007 finnjetweb.com reported finnjet sold bahama-based, us-controlled company planned rebuild world s largest, luxurious casino-cruise ship, capable of catering 3100 guests; plans reconstruction reportedly drawn finnish deltamarin.

finnjet laid @ freeport, march 2007.

on 21 november 2007 ship sold cruise ship holdings four, daughter company of netherlands-based club cruise. on 16 january 2008 officially renamed da vinci, , sailed t. mariotti shipyard in genoa, rebuilt cruise ship. however, turned out price of conversion higher anticipated, , result da vinci sold scrap in may 2008 @ price of approximately $9.85 million (€6.5 million). on 6 may 2008 left genoa jeddah in saudi arabia, turned on new owners in mid-may. ship renamed mv kingdom.