Building yard Wärtsilä Marina Åbo, Finland (#1247)
Owner Rederi AB Sally
Operator -
Length 145,2 m / 149,96 m
Breadth 25,2 m
Draft 5,52 m
GT 14.623 / 15.179
Machinery 4 * Pielstick 12PC2.5V
Speed 21,5 kn.
Number of passengers 2.000
Number of cars 500
M/S Sally Albatross came to be a ship dogged by bad luck. Ordered by Finnish shipping company Rederi Ab Sally in Mariehamn to operate for Viking Line between Helsinki and Stockholm, the ship was built by Wärtsilä Shipyard, Turku, as M/S Viking Saga in 1980.
In 1986, the ship was remodelled for cruising and renamed Sally Albatross. While docked at a shipyard in Stockholm in 1990, the ship was completely wrecked by a fire. Only the engines were left intact after the 3-day fire, so the owners decided to cut off everything above the engine room to build an entirely new superstructure. Completely reconstructed in March 1992, the ship recommenced her cruising operations between Helsinki and various ports in the Baltic.
Two years later, a new accident occurred. Delayed en route from Tallinn to Helsinki, she slant across the reef off Porkkala at 19 knots and began to take in water. The ship had to be set aground not to sink.
The ship made her last cruise in the Baltic in 2006 and was sold to Cyprus in 2007. Today, the ship operates in Greek waters under the name M/S Louis Cristal.
Details from Jean-Louis Araignon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Albatross
Aland SG?
Built as a ferry under yard No 1247 by the Oy Wärtsilä Ab shipyard in Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally, Mariehamn, Åland Islands.
04 January 1980 launched as the VIKING SAGA.
Tonnage 14,330 grt, 7,542 net, 2,830 dwt. Dim. 145.19 x 25.51 x 5.52m.
Powered by four Wärtsilä Pielstick 12PC2.5V diesel engines, 19,480 Kw., speed 21.3 knots.
Accommodation for 2,000 passengers. 1223 passenger cabins.
Could carry 462 cars.
21 June 1980 delivered to owners.
She was built in three sections, the Turku shipyard built the bow and stern, the middle section was built at a shipyard in Perno, the sections were assembled at Turku where she also was fitted out.
After completing used from 27 June 1980 in the service of the Viking Line between Helsinki and Stockholm.
16 June 1982 sold to the Finnish Företagsfinans Oy, Helsinki, after sold she was leased back to Rederi Ab Sally.
January 1985 all shares of Rederi Ab Sally were bought by United Bank of Finland.
26 April 1986 made her last voyage in the ferry service, sailed then to the Wärtsilä yard in Helsinki to be converted in a cruise vessel
06 May 1986 renamed in SALLY ALBATROSS.
Tonnage 15,179 grt, 7,835 net, 2,774 dwt, dim. 149.96 x 25.49 x 5.52m.
Accommodation for 1000 passengers.
16 May 1986 used for cruising in the Baltic.
1987 66% of the shares of the United Bank of Finland were bought by a consortium of the Effoa and Johnson Line.
06 January 1988 arrived at the Schichau-Seebeck Werft, Bremerhaven for rebuilding, cost 35 million FM.
16 February 1988 left the yard.
09 January 1990 arrived for an overhaul by the Finnboda yard in Nacka, Sweden; she got on fire which completely destroyed the ship. The fire lasted for three days before it was extinguished. She was declared a constructive total loss. Damage after the fire was estimated 300 million FIM.
25 June 1990 wreck was towed to Mäntylouto, Finland where she arrived on 27 June.
Everything above the car-deck was removed.
September 1990 the remains of the ship were towed to Nädendal where the remains of the wreck were cut up, only the engine was intact and some hull parts were used for a newbuilding at the Finnyards in Rauma.
By doing this the construction cost was about 35 million FIM less. She is classified as a newbuilding.
Her IMO No changed from 7827123 to 7827213.
The new vessel was built under yard No 309 as a cruise vessel.
25 June 1991 launched as the SALLY ALBATROSS.
Tonnage 25,076 grt, 12,407 net. 1,707 dwt., Dim. 158.90 x 25.20 x 5.60m.
Same engine as in the VIKING SAGA.
Accommodation for 1452 passengers.
05 February 1992 trial voyage.
23 March 1992 delivered to Effjohn International (Rederi Ab Sally), Mariehamn, Åland Islands.
Building cost 700 million FIM.
23 March 1992 arrived from the yard in Mariehamn, then used for cruises in the Baltic.
During the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain she was chartered by Swedish interests to use as a hotel ship in Barcelona.
01 September 1992 was she taken over by the Silja Line Oy.
04 March 1994 she grounded at Savins Grund off Porkala. Passengers were evacuated. The SALLY ALBATROSS was thereafter refloated and towed in a position east of Ingä II were she was stabilised and work commenced to tighten the ship.
06 April 1994 commences pumping out the water, the next day there were problems with pumping and she got a list and the stern rose about 3 meter.
18 April 1994 it was save to tow her to Helsinki. The next day she anchored off Grähara.20 April 1994 she arrived at the Nordsjövarvet Shipyard in Helsinki were she was repaired.
After inspection she has a damage of at least 200 million FIM.
September 1994 was she towed to La Spezia, Italy for repairs, she was transferred to the Crown Jewel Inc., Panama.
24 September 1994 chartered by Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed LEEWARD.
September 1995 commenced cruises in the Caribbean.
March 2000 chartered by Star Cruises Malaysia, renamed SUPERSTAR TAURUS.
December 2001 charter contract broken and sailed to Europe.
16 February 2002 arrived at Nådendal where she was made ready for her new service in the Baltic.
May 2002 registered for the Silja Cruise Ltd. Stockholm.
29 May 2002 outbreak of fire in her power centre which quickly was extinguished.
01 June 2002 renamed in SILJA OPERA.
29 June 2002 in service as a cruise vessel in the Baltic from out Helsinki to various ports in the Baltic.
16 February 2006 laid up in Stockholm.
21 May 2006 sailed from Stockholm to Tilbury, England where she arrived on the 25th.
19 July 2006 registered to Sea Containers Opera Ltd., Bermuda, with homeport Nassau, renamed OPERA.
10 May 2007 sold to Citron Navigation Co (Louis Cruise Lines) Greece.
11 June 2007 sailed from Tilbury bound for Piraeus, arrived on the Elefsis shipyard.
July 2007 renamed CRISTAL and commenced cruising in the Mediterranean.
02 August 2008 in collision with the ferry LISSOS off Piraeus.
March 2011 renamed in LOUIS CRISTAL.
2012 In service same name and owner.
Aland Islands 2012 lokalpost sg?, scott?
From Auke Palmhof.
Source: http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/sally_albatross_1992.htm