MS Svea Corona

MS Svea Corona was a Swedish car-passenger ferry built in 1975 by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A. in Nantes, France, for Rederi AB Svea and service in the Silja Line network. It belonged to a larger second generation of French-built ferries developed for year-round traffic between Finland and Sweden. Together with MS Wellamo and MS Bore Star, the ship represented a substantial increase in size and capacity compared with the first-generation French sisters MS Aallotar and MS Svea Regina, which had entered service in 1972. The ship entered Silja Line service on 24 May 1975. Its maiden voyage was disrupted when the bow thruster was damaged; repairs were completed during an additional docking at Vuosaaren telakka in Helsinki on 10 June. Passenger demand was not sufficient to keep all three new ships on the Helsinki–Stockholm route throughout the year. Bore Star was therefore chartered to Finnlines during the winters of 1975–1976 and 1976–1977, while Svea Corona and Wellamo operated the route as a two-ship service. During summer periods, all three vessels were used to provide two daily departures from each port. From late 1977, Svea Corona operated during winters on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route and returned to Helsinki–Stockholm service as a third vessel during summers. In 1981, after newer and larger ships entered the Helsinki route, Svea Corona and Bore Star moved permanently to the Turku–Stockholm service. Rederi AB Svea was acquired by Johnson Line in November 1981, after which the ship adopted Johnson Line's blue-and-yellow funnel colours. Svea Corona ceased Silja service in February 1984. The vessel was sold to Sundance Cruises, a company associated with Effoa, Johnson Line and McDonald Enterprises, and rebuilt in Sweden as MS Sundancer for cruising on the west coast of North America. Its cruise career was brief. During its third cruise, the ship struck a rock near Maud Island while attempting to enter Seymour Narrows. It was brought alongside a paper-mill dock with assistance from the tug M/V Seymour Crown, and all people aboard were evacuated safely. The vessel was subsequently declared a constructive total loss and remained laid up in Vancouver until it was sold to Greece-based Epirotiki Line in November 1984. After restoration in Greece during 1985, the ship re-entered service as MS Pegasus. It was chartered for cruises on the east coast of South America in 1986, later served as a hotel ship in Vancouver, and subsequently operated Mediterranean cruises for Epirotiki Lines. It also undertook Caribbean cruises between 1989 and 1990. A serious fire broke out aboard in Venice on 2 June 1991 while the ship was preparing for a Bosch product-exhibition cruise. The vessel partially sank in shallow water and was again declared a constructive total loss. After several years laid up in Piraeus, the ship was purchased in 1994 by Strintzis Lines and renamed Ionian Express, with the intention of rebuilding it for Swansea–Cork ferry service. The name was never painted on the hull. A further engine-room fire during rebuilding at Perama resulted in a third constructive-total-loss declaration. With no subsequent buyer found, the vessel was towed to Aliağa, Turkey, on 29 March 1995 and scrapped. Its engines were later sold to Med Link Line and installed aboard M/S Agios Andreas.

MS Svea Corona was constructed in 1975 by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A. at Nantes for Swedish shipowner Rederi AB Svea. It was one of three larger French-built ferries introduced for Silja Line traffic, following the earlier Aallotar and Svea Regina. The new vessels expanded capacity on the Helsinki–Stockholm corridor and helped establish a newer generation of Baltic Sea ferry operations. Svea Corona entered service on 24 May 1975. Its bow thruster was damaged during the maiden voyage and was repaired during a subsequent Helsinki docking. Because seasonal demand could not sustain three vessels on the main route throughout the year, the ship operated in a flexible pattern. It served Helsinki–Stockholm with Wellamo, while Bore Star was chartered during some winter periods. From September 1977, Svea Corona shifted to winter service on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route and returned to Helsinki–Stockholm in summer as the third ship. After larger vessels were assigned to Helsinki–Stockholm in 1981, Svea Corona moved permanently to the Turku–Stockholm route. The ownership environment changed in November 1981 when Johnson Line acquired Rederi AB Svea. The ship consequently changed from its original white-and-black funnel scheme to Johnson Line's blue-and-yellow colours. Svea Corona left Silja service in February 1984 and was sold to Sundance Cruises. A major conversion at Oskarshamns Varv transformed it into MS Sundancer, intended for cruise service on the west coast of North America. The conversion did not produce a lasting cruise career. On its third cruise, Sundancer struck a rock near Maud Island while attempting to enter Seymour Narrows. The vessel developed a list and was brought toward a paper-mill dock with assistance from the tug M/V Seymour Crown. All people aboard were removed safely. After salvage, the vessel was examined at Burrard Shipyard in Vancouver and considered a constructive total loss. It remained laid up until Epirotiki Line bought it in November 1984. Epirotiki restored the ship in Greece during 1985 and operated it as MS Pegasus. It was chartered for South American cruises in 1986, later spent time as a hotel ship in Vancouver, and then operated Mediterranean cruises. Caribbean deployments followed in 1989 and 1990. On 2 June 1991, a fire aboard the vessel in Venice, where it was preparing for a Bosch exhibition cruise, caused partial sinking in shallow water and another constructive-total-loss declaration. The ship was towed to Piraeus and remained laid up for approximately three years. Strintzis Lines purchased the vessel in 1994 and renamed it Ionian Express, planning a conversion for Swansea–Cork ferry operations. Although the name was official, it was never painted on the hull. A further engine-room fire at the Perama rebuilding yard ended the conversion project. No new buyer emerged, and the vessel was towed to Aliağa on 29 March 1995 for scrapping. Its engines were subsequently sold to Med Link Line and installed on M/S Agios Andreas. The original ferry featured facilities including a sauna, swimming pool, restaurants, conference space for approximately 140 people, a nightclub, cinema and children's playroom.

• 1995

  Scrapping at Aliağa

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  After another fire during rebuilding, the ship was towed to Aliağa, Turkey, and broken up.

• 1994

  Renamed Ionian Express

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  Strintzis Lines acquired the laid-up vessel for a proposed Swansea–Cork ferry conversion.

• 1991

  Venice fire

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  A fire during preparations for an exhibition cruise caused partial sinking and a second constructive-total-loss declaration.

• 1985

  Rebuilt as MS Pegasus

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  Epirotiki restored the vessel in Greece following its Vancouver casualty.

• 1984

  Conversion to MS Sundancer

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  The former ferry was rebuilt for Sundance Cruises and entered the cruise market under a new name.

• 1981

  Permanent Turku–Stockholm deployment

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship moved permanently to the Turku–Stockholm service after larger vessels entered the Helsinki route.

• 1981

  Johnson Line ownership change

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  Johnson Line acquired Rederi AB Svea and the ship adopted the owner's funnel colours.

• 1977

  Seasonal route reallocation

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel began winter operations on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route while continuing summer service on Helsinki–Stockholm.

• 1975

  Built and delivered

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  Dubigeon-Normandie completed the ferry in Nantes for Rederi AB Svea and Silja Line traffic.

• 1975

  Silja Line debut

  [1]MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org

  Svea Corona began service on the Helsinki–Stockholm route on 24 May.

A large second-generation Nordic car-passenger ferry that was later repositioned for international cruise operations.

• Car-passenger ferry · 1975

  MS Svea Corona

  The vessel's original configuration combined vehicle transport with passenger accommodation for Baltic Sea ferry services. Its onboard facilities included a sauna, swimming pool, several restaurants, conference facilities for approximately 140 people, a nightclub, cinema and children's playroom. It was designed for scheduled international service between Finland and Sweden.

• Cruise ship · 1984

  MS Sundancer

  Following its sale in 1984, the ferry was rebuilt at Oskarshamns Varv for Sundance Cruises and marketed for cruise operations on the west coast of North America. Its cruise career ended after a rock strike near Seymour Narrows during its third cruise.

• Cruise ship · 1985

  MS Pegasus

  Epirotiki Line restored the vessel in Greece and relaunched it as MS Pegasus. It operated or was chartered for cruises in South America, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, and also served temporarily as a hotel ship in Vancouver.

• Proposed car-passenger ferry · 1994

  Ionian Express

  Strintzis Lines bought the ship in 1994 with plans to rebuild it for Swansea–Cork ferry operations. Although the vessel was officially renamed Ionian Express, the name was never painted on the hull and the planned conversion was not completed.

• 1994

  Planned Swansea–Cork ferry conversionStrategy

  Background

  After remaining laid up following the 1991 fire, the vessel found a prospective buyer in Strintzis Lines.

  Action taken

  Strintzis renamed the ship Ionian Express and began rebuilding it for car-passenger service between Swansea and Cork.

  Aftermath

  An engine-room fire during the rebuild caused another constructive-total-loss declaration. The ship was ultimately scrapped in 1995.

  Source

• 1984

  Conversion from ferry to cruise shipStrategy

  Background

  The vessel ceased Silja Line service and was sold for a new role in the cruise market.

  Action taken

  Sundance Cruises commissioned a rebuild at Oskarshamns Varv and relaunched the ship as MS Sundancer.

  Aftermath

  The ship's third cruise ended in a rock strike, after which it was declared a constructive total loss and sold to Epirotiki Line.

  Source

• 1977

  Seasonal redeployment between Helsinki and TurkuStrategy

  Background

  Three new vessels created more capacity than year-round passenger demand could support on the Helsinki–Stockholm route.

  Action taken

  Svea Corona was assigned to winter Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm service and used as a summer third ship on Helsinki–Stockholm.

  Aftermath

  The seasonal arrangement continued until larger vessels entered the Helsinki route, after which Svea Corona moved permanently to Turku–Stockholm service.

  Source

1. 1MS Svea Coronaen.wikipedia.org