SeaWind Line
Encyclopedia
SeaWind Line was a subsidiary
of the Finnish
passenger shipping company Silja Line
, later owned by the Estonia
n company Tallink
. In 2010, the Sea Wind brand ceased to exist and the remaining ship, MS Sea Wind, was transferred to Tallink colours. MS Sea Wind is dedicated to cargo
shipping only, operating also as a train ferry
on the route Turku
-Stockholm
. The ship is one of the most important carriers of railway carriages between Finland and Sweden. However, according to Tallink CEO Enn Pant, the company currently has little interest in continuing the train-ferry traffic, as transporting trains generates less income than transporting other cargo.
SeaWind was founded in 1988 and started trafficking Stockholm
–Turku
with MS Sea Wind on 21 April 1989. In order to keep tax-free sales on board after the EU changed its tax free legislation, a stop at Långnäs
was added to the route in 1999. In September 2002, MS Öresund was chartered by SeaWind Line, renamed MS Sky Wind and put on the Stockholm–Turku route along with MS Sea Wind. Between the years 2002 and 2005 SeaWind's MS Star Wind served on the route Helsinki
–Tallinn
. In April 2005 SeaWind Line purchased M/S Sky Wind.
In May 2005 the Helsinki–Tallinn route was terminated and Star Wind was moved to the Stockholm–Turku route and soon sold to Saaremaa Shipping Company. In May 2007 Sky Wind was sold to the Poland
-based Unity Line
and made its last trip for SeaWind Line in August 2007. Tallink Silja were negotiating for the purchase of the a ship to replace the Sky Wind, but due to low demand the decision was made not to bring in a replacement.
In January 2008, SeaWind Line ceased carrying passenger traffic. Coinciding with this, the ship no longer called at Långnäs as tax-free sales were no longer needed on board.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
passenger shipping company Silja Line
Silja Line
Silja Line is a Finnish cruiseferry brand operated by the Estonian ferry company AS Tallink Grupp, for car and passenger traffic between Finland and Sweden. The former company Silja Oy – today Tallink Silja Oy – is a subsidiary of Tallink Grupp, handling marketing and sales for Tallink and Silja...
, later owned by the Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n company Tallink
Tallink
Tallink is an Estonian shipping company currently operating Baltic Sea cruiseferries and ropax ships from Estonia to Finland, Estonia to Sweden, Latvia to Sweden and Finland to Germany. They also own Silja Line and a part of SeaRail...
. In 2010, the Sea Wind brand ceased to exist and the remaining ship, MS Sea Wind, was transferred to Tallink colours. MS Sea Wind is dedicated to cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
shipping only, operating also as a train ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
on the route Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
-Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. The ship is one of the most important carriers of railway carriages between Finland and Sweden. However, according to Tallink CEO Enn Pant, the company currently has little interest in continuing the train-ferry traffic, as transporting trains generates less income than transporting other cargo.
SeaWind was founded in 1988 and started trafficking Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
–Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
with MS Sea Wind on 21 April 1989. In order to keep tax-free sales on board after the EU changed its tax free legislation, a stop at Långnäs
Långnäs
Långnäs is a port in Lumparland on the eastern mainland of Åland. Road ferries to Kumlinge and Galtby via Kökar start here. In the early 1960s, Silja Line built a ferry terminal in Långnäs, designed by architect Bengt Lundsten. The terminal was in use 1965-1975 and was then closed and removed in...
was added to the route in 1999. In September 2002, MS Öresund was chartered by SeaWind Line, renamed MS Sky Wind and put on the Stockholm–Turku route along with MS Sea Wind. Between the years 2002 and 2005 SeaWind's MS Star Wind served on the route Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
–Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. In April 2005 SeaWind Line purchased M/S Sky Wind.
In May 2005 the Helsinki–Tallinn route was terminated and Star Wind was moved to the Stockholm–Turku route and soon sold to Saaremaa Shipping Company. In May 2007 Sky Wind was sold to the Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-based Unity Line
Unity Line
Unity Line is a Polish company that operates RoRo and train ferry services between Świnoujście in Poland and the Swedish ports of Ystad and Trelleborg.-Routes:Unity Line operates two routes across the Baltic Sea.*Świnoujście - Ystad...
and made its last trip for SeaWind Line in August 2007. Tallink Silja were negotiating for the purchase of the a ship to replace the Sky Wind, but due to low demand the decision was made not to bring in a replacement.
In January 2008, SeaWind Line ceased carrying passenger traffic. Coinciding with this, the ship no longer called at Långnäs as tax-free sales were no longer needed on board.
Fleet
| Ship | Built | Entered service | Route | Tonnage Tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume... |
Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Sea Wind | 1972 | 1989 | Turku Turku Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland... –Långnäs Långnäs Långnäs is a port in Lumparland on the eastern mainland of Åland. Road ferries to Kumlinge and Galtby via Kökar start here. In the early 1960s, Silja Line built a ferry terminal in Långnäs, designed by architect Bengt Lundsten. The terminal was in use 1965-1975 and was then closed and removed in... –Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area... |
 Sweden |
Former ships
Not a complete list.| Ship | Years in service | Tonnage Tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume... |
Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS Fennia | 1994–1995, 2000 (chartered) | 10,515 GT | Now MS C. Express, laid up in Vaasa Vaasa Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa... |
| MS Sea Wind II MS Gute |
1995–1997 (chartered) 1998, 2003, 2006 (chartered) |
Now MS Gute for Rederi AB Gotland, laid up in Visby Visby -See also:* Battle of Visby* Gotland University College* List of governors of Gotland County-External links:* - Visby*... |
|
| MS Star Wind | 1999–2005 | Now MS Kopernik for Unity Line | |
| MS Sky Wind | 2002–2007 | Now MS Wolin for Unity Line Unity Line Unity Line is a Polish company that operates RoRo and train ferry services between Świnoujście in Poland and the Swedish ports of Ystad and Trelleborg.-Routes:Unity Line operates two routes across the Baltic Sea.*Świnoujście - Ystad... |