Tallink Victoria I ferry accidents and incidents

July 2022Other Incidents

In July 2022, the Scottish Government commissioned from Tallink Group the cruiseferry Victoria to serve as a hotel ship housing ~730 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict with Russia. The ship charter deal with Tallink was for a year (July 11th, 2022-2023).

The ferry departed Port Tallinn (Estonia) on July 8th (at 9:20 UTC), and arrived in Port Leith/Edinburgh (Scotland) on July 11th (at 10:36 UTC).

In August 2022 was announced that for a 6-month period (September 2022 thru March 2023) Ambassador Ambition is chartered by the Scottish Government as a hotel ship to house ~1700 Ukrainian refugees in Scotland. Ambition became the second cruise vessel (following MS Volendam) to be permanently docked in Clydeport/Greenock-Glasgow (permanently berthed at King George V docks) for housing refugees due to a surge in visa applications and land accommodation shortages.

Note: According to Scottish media sources, ~12,000 Ukrainians (10556, according to Gov data) arrived in Scotland since Russia's invasion of Ukraine (that started on February 24th) which was ~15,5% of all UK arrivals. Reportedly, Tallink Victoria and Ambassador Ambition were both chartered for/cost Scottish taxpayers ~GBP 100 million (USD-EUR 116M).

11 September 2020Other Incidents

On September 11, 2020, TALLINK-SILJA LINE's cruise ship Victoria I became the first vessel to connect to Tallinn Old City Harbour's electricity grid. This was also Estonia’s first shoreside power charging operation. Following an investment of EUR 3,5 million (~USD 4,1 M), all the 5 piers (berths) in Tallinn Old City Harbour were equipped with shorepower capabilities used by all passenger ships operating the Baltic Sea routes Estonia-Sweden and Estonia-Finland.

The equipment (Shore Connection - Electric Solutions) in Port Tallinn was delivered and installed by ABB Marine & Ports (via ABB Power Grids Estonia AS) and resulted in reduced noise pollution and emissions as well as fuel savings as the docked vessels use city grid electricity during their port stays. After mooring, the ship's diesel engines are switched off and it is connected to the city's power supply network (11 KV voltage). The energy load is transferred to the shoreside power supply system without interfering with the shipboard services.

By September 2020, Tallink Group invested EUR 3 million in shoreside power systems for 5 cruiseferries and planned to equip 12 total (amounting to EUR 6 million / ~USD 7 M).

02 April 2016Propulsion / Power Loss

On April 2, 2016, a propulsion issue with the starboard Azipod (azimuth thruster) caused an itinerary change during 14-day Australia to New Zealand cruise (itinerary March 25 – April 8) roundtrip from homeport Sydney NSW.

The incident occurred while the vessel was docked in call port Napier NZ, causing ~5 hours late departure. Then it continued at reduced cruising speed, resulting in almost a day late arrival in call port Tauranga NZ (on Apr 4, with an unscheduled overnight stay in port for repairs). The remaining 2 call ports were cancelled (Auckland and Waitangi, Bay of Islands). All passengers were refunded of port taxes and fees, and also of booked through Holland America shore excursions in both ports.

04 December 2015Structural and Technical Issues

On December 4, 2015, due to storm with heavy winds and swells, the ferry service on the Helsinki-Tallinn route was canceled. The ship was forced to turn back to Helsinki after high waves (up to 5 m / 16 ft) caused antenna damages, 2 broken windows (deck 6) and minor flooding of internal areas.

The cruise ferry was en-route to Stockholm from Tallinn and safely returned back to Estonia, docking in Helsinki at ~11 pm. No injuries were reported.

21 November 2009Crew / Passenger Deaths

(overboard) On November 21, 2009, at ~10 pm, a male passenger was reported overboard while the ship was near Hanko (Finland), en-route to Stockholm from Tallinn via Aland. Rajavartiolaitos (Finnish Border Guard / Coast Guard) conducted a search and rescue operation, in which participated Rajavartiolaitos boats and rescue helicopters, as well as cargo ships and 3 cruise vessels.

After several hours, the civilian ships were released from duty. The coast guard vessels search continued until 4 am on November 22. The man's body was never found.