MS Expedition

MS "Expedition" is an expedition cruise ship owned and operated by the Canada-based G.A.P Adventures. She was built as a car/passenger ferry in 1972 by Helsingör Skibs & Maskinbygg, Helsingør, Denmark as MS "Kattegat" for Jydsk Færgefart A/S. Subsequently she sailed under the names MS "nf Tiger" for P&O Normandy Ferries, MS "Tiger" for Townsend Thoresen and MS "Ålandsfärjan" for Viking Line, prior to conversion into a cruise ship in 2008.

ervice history

The "Kattegat" was delivered in 1972 and placed on the intra-Denmark Grenå—Hundested service of Jydsk Færgefart A/S. She stopped serving on that route in December 1977. In March 1978 she was sold to the London-based Midland Montague Leasing Ltd who leased the ship to P&O Normandy Ferries Ltd, also based in London. After rebuilding at Caillard S.A., Le Havre, France the ship was renamed MS "nf Tiger" placed on Dover—Boulogne-sur-Mer service. In 1985 P&O Normandy Ferries was bought by Townsend Thoresen. The ship's name was shortened to MS "Tiger", but she remained on the same service.

In July 1986 the ship was laid up, and in November of the same year she was sold to Finlandshamnen AB, a subsidiary to SF Line, one of the owners of the Viking Line consortium. After being rebuilt the ship was renamed MS "Ålandsfärjan" and placed in Mariehamn—Kapellskär service in May 1987. In 1993, following bankruptcy of the other Viking Line partner, Rederi AB Slite, the "Ålandsfärjan"'s route was extended into Naantali—Mariehamn—Kappelskär (freight only on the Mariehamn—Naantali part of the route), but this solution was found impractical and soon the ship reverted to the earlier route).

In 2002 the ship was rebuilt at Baltic Ship Repairers, Tallinn, Estonia, where sidesponsons were added for increased stability. In January 2007 Viking Line ordered a replacement for her to be delivered in summer 2009, codenamed "Viking ADCC".

On 23 October 2007 the Ålandsfärjan touched the bottom near Mariehamn. Passengers were readied for evacuation, but an inspection of the ship revealed no major damage and she was able to cuntinue to Mariehamn under her own power, arriving some 30 minutes behind schedule. [fi icon [http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa.shtml/arkistot/kotimaa/2007/10/574175 MTV3: Ålandsfärjan ajoi karille] , retrieved 23. 10. 2007] As a result of the accident, all departures until 22 November were cancelled. [ [http://www.vikingline.fi./timetables/traffic_bulletin/ Viking Line traffic bulletin] , retrieved 1. 11. 2007] Investigations revelated that the cause for the accident were the new duty rosters: the officer on duty was inspecting the new roster and because of that failed to notice that the ship should have made a course change while approaching Mariehamn. [fi icon [http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=1454793 Ilta-Sanomat 14. 11. 2007: Perämies tuijotti työvuorolistaa - laiva karille] , retrieved 14. 11. 2007]

In September 2007 an Ålandian newspaper had claimed that the "Ålandsfärjan" would be replaced on the Mariehamn—Kapellskär route already in spring 2008, when MS "Rosella" would take over the route. [sv icon [http://www.alandstidningen.ax/article.con?id=2564&iPage=1 Ålandstidningen: Rosella sätts in på Kapellskär till våren] , retrieved 26. 9. 2007] On 8 April 2008 Viking Line confirmed the claimcite web |url=http://www.vikingline.se/pdf/Pressmeddelande/PrM2008-04-08.pdf |title=M/S "Rosella" snart tillbaka i Roslagens skärgård: Viking Line ersätter M/S "Ålandsfärjan" med större fartyg |accessdate=2008-04-08 |date=2008-04-08 |work=Viking Line press release |publisher=Viking Line |language=in Swedish |format=PDF] and on 30 May, the "Rosella" replaced the "Ålandsfärjan" the route. On 27 May, Viking Line revealed that they had sold the "Ålandsfärjan" to G.A.P Shipping with delivery in June 2008. [sv icon [http://www.vikingline.fi./foretagsinfo/pressmeddelanden/aktuellt_080527_Alandsfarjan.asp M/S Ålandsfärjan säljs] , retrieved 2008-06-01] Following delivery to her new owners the ship was renamed MS "Expedition", and on 27 June the ship sailed for Aker Yards Rauma Shipyard. [cite web |url=http://www.kauppalehti.fi/5/i/talous/tiedotteet/lehdisto/hellink/tiedote.jsp?selected=kaikki&oid=20080601/12144950357690 |title=Aker Yards: "Ålandsfärjan" tulee perjantaina Rauman telakalle |accessdate=2008-06-27 |last= |first= |date=2008-06-26 |work=Aker Yards press release |publisher=Kauppalehti |language=Finnish |format= ] Aker Yards subsequently drew up plans for conversion of the vessel, and on 2008-09-10 the conversion contract was signed between Aker Yards and G.A.P Shipping. [cite web |url=http://www.akeryards.com/?page=580&xml=A/134984/PR/200809/1250500 |title=Aker Yards Converting A Ferry To Expedition Cruise Vessel |accessdate=2008-09-11 |last= |first= |date=2008-09-10 |work=Aker Yards press release |publisher=Aker Yards |language= |format= ] The "Expedition" is due to re-enter service after the conversion on 2009-01-04, re-launching G.A.P's polar cruise program that had been halted due to the sinking of their previous ship, MS|Explorer. [cite web |url=http://www.gapadventures.com/about_us/press_release?id=94 |title=G.A.P Adventures Announces New Polar Expedition Ship |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last= |first= |date=2008-06-09 |work=GAP Adventures press release |publisher=GAP Adventures |language= |format= ]

Decks

As "Ålandsfärjan"

# Engine room
# Car deck
# Car deck
# Sea Side Café, Tax-Free shop, Parfymeria, Children's playroom
# Restaurant Rödhamn, Sun Deck Bar
# Bridge, Conference room, "Air seats"

As "Expedition"

# Engine room
# Outside cabins
# Outside cabins
# Lounge, bar, library, outside cabins
# Dining room, pub, sun deck
# Bridge

References

External links

* [http://www.gapadventures.com/ G.A.P Adventures official website]

fi:M/S Expedition
sv:M/S Ålandsfärjan