MS Regina Baltica

MS Regina Baltica is a cruise ferry owned by Tallink. She was built at Wärtsilä Shipyard, Turku, Finland, in 1980 for Rederi Ab Sally and started to serve passengers under the trademark of Viking Line on the route Helsinki–Stockholm replacing her sister ship Viking Saga. In 1985 Fred. Olsen Lines bought her and under the Norwegian flag the ship was called MS Braemar.

In January 1991 MS Braemar was chartered to Baltic Shipping Co. and renamed MS Baltica for planned service between St. Petersburg, Russia and Stockholm. This service was never realised, however, and for the time being the only change was moving the ship to Hamburg where she was renovated. Later in the same month the ship was leased by the Russian army to transport troops and military equipment out of former East Germany. The ship, renamed MS Anna Karenina, was badly vandalised by the troops and had to be docked in Hamburg once again for repairs.

In March 1991 MS Anna Karenina commenced traffic on St. Petersburg–Nynäshamn–Kiel route for Baltic Line. In January 1996 Baltic Line was declared bankrupt. MS Anna Karenina (soon renamed MS Anna K.) returned to Fred. Olsen for being renovated in Germany for the third time.

MS Anna K. was sold to Estline (a daughter company of Nordström & Thulin and ESCO) in the summer of 1996 to serve passengers between Tallinn and Stockholm. She was renamed MS Regina Baltica. In 1998 Nordström & Thulin withdrew from Estline leaving ESCO the sole owner of the company.

At the end of 2000 the Tallinn–Stockholm service became a part of Tallink.

Built 1980
Gross tonnage: 18,345t
Length: 145,19 m
Breadth: 25,51 m
Draught: 5,51 m
Main engine: 4 x Wärtsilä 4,781 kW
Speed: 21,3 knots
Passengers: 1,500
Cabin beds: 1,156
Cabins: 505
Vehicles: 486
Freight capacity: 936 lane metres