STX Finland Cruise Oy

MS Freedom of the Seas under construction at Aker Yards in Turku in 2006.

STX Finland Cruise Oy, formerly Aker Yards Oy, is a Finnish shipbuilding company operating three shipyards in Finland, in Helsinki, Turku and Rauma, employing some 4,000 people. It is part of STX Europe a group of International shipbuilding companies.

The current STX Finland Cruise Oy is a descendant of different shipyard companies. Wärtsilä operated the shipyards of Helsinki and Turku since the 1930's. Wärtsilä's shipbuilding division went bankrupt in 1989 after merging with Valmet shipyards. Masa-Yards was established by Martin Saarikangas with financing from the shipping companies to finish the ships under construction, eventually taking over the operations of Wärtsilä's former shipyards. In the mid-90's Kvaerner purchased Masa-Yards and Kvaerner Masa-Yards was born. In 1991 the shipbuilding businesses of Hollming Oy of Rauma and Rauma-Repola of Rauma were merged to form Finnyards.^[1] This company was purchased by Kvaerner and became Aker Finnyards. In January 2005 Kvaerner Masa-Yards and Aker Finnyards merged to form the "new" Aker Finnyards Oy. The name of the company was changed to Aker Yards Oy on 7 June 2006, and to STX Finland Cruise Oy on 23 November 2008, but uses STX Europe as the marketing name.

STX Europe in Finland and its predecessors have built many luxurious cruise ships, including the very first modern purpose-built cruise ship, the Song of Norway. Recent cruise ships built by the company include the two Oasis-class vessels, Oasis of the Seas (2009) and Allure of the Seas (2010) which currently hold the record for largest cruise ships in the world. STX Europe is also responsible for the largest cruiseferry in the world, Color Line's Color Fantasy, and her sister ship Color Magic that entered service in late 2007.

The company is also the principal yard for the Finnish Navy and the world's leading builder of icebreakers. It has a 50% share in Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a joint venture with United Shipbuilding Corporation.^[2]

Delivered Craft

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• M/S Ilmatar (built by Wärtsilä, Helsinki in 1964) to Finland Steamship Company.
• M/S Finnhansa (built by Wärtsilä, Helsinki in 1966) to Finnlines.
• M/S Finnpartner (built by Wärtsilä, Helsinki in 1966) to Finnlines.
• M/S Finlandia (built by Wärtsilä, Helsinki in 1967) to Finland Steamship Company.
• M/S Finncarrier (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1969) to Finnlines.
• M/S Song of Norway (built by Wärtsilä Helsinki in 1970) to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
• M/S Nordic Prince (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1971) to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
• GTS Finnjet (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Helsinki in 1977) to Finnlines.
• M/S Turella (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1979) to SF Line (Viking Line).
• M/S Rosella (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1980) to SF Line (Viking Line).
• M/S Viking Saga (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Helsinki in 1980) to Rederi Ab Sally (Viking Line).
• M/S Viking Song (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Helsinki in 1980) to Rederi Ab Sally (Viking Line).
• M/S Finlandia (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1981) to Effoa (Silja Line).
• M/S Silvia Regina (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1981) to Rederi AB Svea (Silja Line).
• M/S Svea (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Helsinki in 1985) to Johnson Line (Silja Line).
• M/S Mariella (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1985) to SF Line (Viking Line).
• M/S Olympia (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1986) to Rederi AB Slite (Viking Line).
• M/S Wellamo (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Helsinki in 1986) to Effoa (Silja Line).
• M/S Athena (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1989) to Rederi AB Slite (Viking Line).
• M/S Cinderella (built by Wärtsilä Marine, Turku in 1989) to SF Line (Viking Line).
• Fantasy class Cruise Ships (built by Masa Yards, Helsinki)
• M/S Kalypso (built by Masa Yards, Turku in 1990) to Rederi AB Slite (Viking Line).
• M/S Silja Serenade (built by Masa Yards, Turku in 1990) to Silja Line.
• M/S Silja Symphony (built by Masa Yards, Turku in 1991) to Silja Line.
• M/S Barfleur (built by Kvaerner Masa Yard, Turku in 1992) to Brittany Ferries Truckline.
• M/S Normandie (built by Kvaerner Masa Yard, Helsinki in 1992) to Brittany Ferries.
• M/S Nils Dacke (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 1995) to TT-Line.
• M/S Robin Hood (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 1995) to TT-Line.
• M/S Crystal Symphony (built by Kvaerner Masa Yards, Turku in 1995) to Crystal Cruises.
• Vision Class Cruise Ships (built by Kvaerner Masa Yards, Turku).
  • M/S Grandeur of the Seas (1996) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Enchantment of the Seas (1997) to Royal Caribbean International.
• HSS 1500 Class (High-speed Sea Service)
  • HSC Stena Explorer (1996) to Stena Line
  • HSC Stena Voyager (1996) to Stena Line
  • HSC Stena Discovery (1997) to Stena Line
• M/S Superfast III & M/S Superfast IV (built by Kvaerner Masa Yards, Turku in 1998) to Superfast Ferries.
• Voyager class Cruise Ships
  • M/S Voyager of the Seas (1999) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Explorer of the Seas (2000) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Adventure of the Seas (2001) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Navigator of the Seas (2002) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Mariner of the Seas (2003) to Royal Caribbean International.
• M/S Europa (built by Kvaerner Masa Yards, Helsinki in 1999) to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
• M/S Ulysses (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2001) to Irish Ferries.
• M/S SeaFrance Rodin (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2001) to SeaFrance.
• M/S Romantika (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2002) to Tallink.
• MV Hjaltland, MV Hrossey & MV Hamnavoe (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2002) to NorthLink Ferries.
• Spirit class Cruise Ships (built by Kvaerner Masa Yard, Helsinki)
  • M/S Costa Atlantica (2000) to Costa Crociere.
  • M/S Carnival Spirit (2001) to Carnival Cruise Lines.
  • M/S Carnival Pride (2001) to Carnival Cruise Lines.
  • M/S Carnival Legend (2002) to Carnival Cruise Lines.
  • M/S Costa Mediterranea (2003) to Costa Crociere.
  • M/S Carnival Miracle (2004) to Carnival Cruise Lines.
• M/S Victoria I (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2004) to Tallink.
• M/S Color Fantasy (built by Kvaerner Masa Yard, Turku in 2004) to Color Line.
• M/S Birka Paradise (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2004) to Birka Line.
• MS Galaxy (built by Aker Finnyards, Rauma in 2006) to Tallink.
• Freedom class cruise ships (built by Aker Yards, Turku)
  • M/S Freedom of the Seas (2006) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • M/S Liberty of the Seas (2007) to Royal Caribbean International.
    

    

    MS Independence of the Seas under construction at Aker Yards in Turku.
  • M/S Independence of the Seas delivered April 2008 to Royal Caribbean International.
• M/S Star (built by Aker Yards, Helsinki in 2007) to Tallink.
• M/S Color Magic (built by Aker Yards, Rauma in 2007) to Color Line.
• M/V Cotentin (built by Aker Yards, Helsinki in 2007) to Brittany Ferries.
• M/S Viking XPRS (built by Aker Yards, Helsinki in 2008) to Viking Line.
• MS Baltic Princess (built by Aker Yards, Helsinki in 2008) to Tallink.
• MS Baltic Queen (built by STX Europe, Rauma in 2009) to Tallink.
• Oasis class Cruise Ships
  • MS Oasis of the Seas (built by STX Europe, Turku in 2009) to Royal Caribbean International.
  • MS Allure of the Seas (built by STX Europe, Turku in 2010) to Royal Caribbean International.

On order

• • MS Newbuilding (being built by STX Finland, Turku) for Viking Line, with an option for a second one.
  • Undefined (being built by STX Finland, Turku) for TUI Cruises, with an option for a second one.

See also

• Crichton-Vulcan
• Finnish Maritime Cluster

References

1. ^ (Finnish) Rauman seudun teollistuminen
2. ^ "Arctech Helsinki Shipyard To Build Sovcomflot Icebreaker Supply Vessels". http://www.shipbuilding-industry.eu/shipbuilding_v2/?p=2981. Retrieved 2010-12-18. 

External links

• STX Finland Website of STX Finland