Alandia
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:15 pm
The Alandia was built in 1939 as M/S Bastø in Moss, Norway. The ship had been in Norwegian service for many years and even been used by the German army for troop transportation in 1944, when she came to the newly established company Rederiaktiebolag Eckerö in 1961. A route for passenger traffic between Grisslehamn (Sweden) and Eckerö (Åland) had been seriously discussed since 1938, but the war intervened and the plans were not resumed until 20 years later.
FIRST OUT WAS ROSPIGGEN
The specially adapted ferry Rospiggen built for the company Trafik AB Grisslehamn–Åland, a forerunner of Rederiaktiebolag Eckerö, departed on its first journey in 1960. However, due to certain construction errors, the ferry was sold to Italy already in 1962.
MANY NEW ROUTES TESTED
During her first year of operation, Alandia ran under the name Alpha and was the first roll-on/rolloff car ferry operating in Åland ferry service. During her first year of operation, the company tested a variety of routes, one of which was Uusikaupunki–
Grisslehamn with the occasional stop in Mariehamn.
Traffic to Öregrund (Sweden) was also tested as were the routes Mariehamn–Stockholm and Mariehamn–Kapellskär. Eventually, the shipping company settled for the present fast connection between Grisslehamn and Berghamn, Eckerö.
WATERLOGGED
On 4 November 1961, Alpha as the ship was still named, met with trouble when trucks too heavily loaded had rolled onboard in Uusikaupunki. The crew had received insufficient information and, upon arriving in Grisslehamn, the ship capsized and
was waterlogged. Luckily, everybody onboard was saved thanks to resolute intervention from the master captain, and members of the crew.
ROUND-TRIP ÅLAND
The capsizing of Alpha, soon to be nicknamed “Round-trip Åland”, was a severe financial setback for the newly established shipping company. Even so, Alandia was still the ship to lay the financial foundation for new investments, and she remained in the possession of the company until 1976.
Aland Philatelic.
Aland SG?
FIRST OUT WAS ROSPIGGEN
The specially adapted ferry Rospiggen built for the company Trafik AB Grisslehamn–Åland, a forerunner of Rederiaktiebolag Eckerö, departed on its first journey in 1960. However, due to certain construction errors, the ferry was sold to Italy already in 1962.
MANY NEW ROUTES TESTED
During her first year of operation, Alandia ran under the name Alpha and was the first roll-on/rolloff car ferry operating in Åland ferry service. During her first year of operation, the company tested a variety of routes, one of which was Uusikaupunki–
Grisslehamn with the occasional stop in Mariehamn.
Traffic to Öregrund (Sweden) was also tested as were the routes Mariehamn–Stockholm and Mariehamn–Kapellskär. Eventually, the shipping company settled for the present fast connection between Grisslehamn and Berghamn, Eckerö.
WATERLOGGED
On 4 November 1961, Alpha as the ship was still named, met with trouble when trucks too heavily loaded had rolled onboard in Uusikaupunki. The crew had received insufficient information and, upon arriving in Grisslehamn, the ship capsized and
was waterlogged. Luckily, everybody onboard was saved thanks to resolute intervention from the master captain, and members of the crew.
ROUND-TRIP ÅLAND
The capsizing of Alpha, soon to be nicknamed “Round-trip Åland”, was a severe financial setback for the newly established shipping company. Even so, Alandia was still the ship to lay the financial foundation for new investments, and she remained in the possession of the company until 1976.
Aland Philatelic.
Aland SG?