MS Victoria I

{{Short description|Posidon ship}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Tallink Victoria 1 arrival to Port of Tallinn.jpg | image_caption = MS ''Victoria I'' arriving to Tallinn }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | name = ''Victoria I'' | owner = Tallink | operator = Tallink | registry = Tallinn, {{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia | route = Tallinn–Helsinki | ordered = 15 October 2002 | builder = Aker Finnyards, Rauma, Finland | yard_number = 434 | laid_down = 11 March 2003 | launched = 16 October 2003 | christened = | completed = | acquired = 9 March 2004 | in_service = 21 March 2004 | out_of_service = | identification = *Call sign: ESRP *{{IMO Number|9281281}} *{{MMSI|276519000}} | fate = | status = In service | notes = | country = Estonia | flag = {{shipboxflag|Estonia|civil}} }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = <ref name="victoria_tech">{{cite web|url=https://en.tallink.com/victoria-tallink-cruise-ship#tabs-content-7|title=Victoria I technical info|language=en|website=Tallink}}</ref><ref name="victoria_tech2">{{cite web|url=https://laivat.valkeatlaivat.net/laivasto/victoria-1/|title=Victoria I technical info 2|language=fi|website=Valkeatlaivat}}</ref> | class = Romantika-class cruiseferry | tonnage = *{{GT|40,975}} *{{DWT|4,500}} | displacement = | length = {{convert|192.9|m|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|29|m|abbr=on}} | height = | draught = {{convert|6.5|m|abbr=on}} | draft = | decks = 12 | ice_class = 1 A Super | propulsion = *4 × Wärtsilä 16V32 *26,240 kW (combined) | speed = {{convert|22|kn}} | capacity = *2,500 passengers *2,252 passenger beds *400 cars *1,000 lanemeters | crew = | notes = }} }} '''MS ''Victoria I''''' <ref name="victoria_name">{{cite web|url=https://laivat.valkeatlaivat.net/laivasto/victoria-1/|title=Victoria I technical aspects|language=fi|website=Valkeatlaivat. | date=1 September 2023}}</ref> is a cruiseferry owned by AS Tallink Grupp. It was chartered by the UK Government to provide temporary accommodation to those fleeing the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The vessel was docked in the Port of Leith, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The ship, which was chartered until July 2023, had been providing people with accommodation until they secure somewhere to stay longer term.<ref>{{cite news |title=Council says cruise ship would be 'floating prison' for asylum seekers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-65995657 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref> It took in its first Ukrainian residents in July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super sponsor scheme paused |url=http://www.gov.scot/news/super-sponsor-scheme-paused/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=War in Ukraine: First refugees welcomed aboard Leith cruise ship without proper checks, critics warn |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/war-in-ukraine-first-refugees-welcomed-aboard-leith-cruise-ship-without-proper-checks-critics-warn-3782951 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.scotsman.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 August 2023 ''Victoria I'' arrived back in her home port at Tallinn and currently the vessel on service between Tallinn and Helsinki starting from 12 October.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.err.ee/1609049678/tallink-ferry-returns-after-hosting-scotland-s-ukrainian-refugees | title=Tallink ferry returns after hosting Scotland's Ukrainian refugees | date=August 2023 }}</ref>

The ''Victoria I'' was formerly on a route connecting Stockholm, Sweden to Tallinn, Estonia via Mariehamn, Finland. She was built in 2004 by Aker Finnyards, Rauma. Although the ship's official name is ''Victoria I'', she is often referred to as ''Victoria'', without the number. This is also the name displayed on top of her superstructure, whereas the name is written in full form on the hull.

Between 18 and 20 November 2005, the ''Victoria I'' made two one-day cruises from Helsinki to Tallinn, the latter of which was a re-election campaign cruise for the Finnish president Tarja Halonen. The use of an Estonian-flagged ship by the president provoked protests from the Finnish Seamen's Union.

''Victoria'''s sister ship, the ferry ''Romantika'' was chartered by Holland Norway Lines to operate a route between Kristiansand in Norway and Eemshaven in Netherlands.<ref name="Romantika_charter">{{cite web|url=https://www.tallink.com/press-releases?1&article=163134818#tabs-content-1|title=Tallink Grupp to charter out vessel Romantika from March 2022 for at least three years|language=en|website=Tallink |date=1 November 2021|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>

==See also== *Largest ferries of Europe

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|IMO 9281281}} * [http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/web/int/victoria-tallink-cruise-ship Tallink silja website for MS ''Victoria''] * [http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/victoria_2004.htm MS Victoria I at Fakta om Fartyg] {{in lang|sv}} * [http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=276519000 Victoria I at marinetraffic.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Victoria I}} Category:Ferries of Estonia Category:Ships built in Rauma, Finland Category:Cruiseferries Category:2003 ships