MS Crown of Scandinavia

MS Crown of Scandinavia in Copenhagen harbour, December 2008.
Career
Name:	MS Crown of Scandinavia
Operator:	DFDS Seaways
Route:	Copenhagen — Oslo
Builder:	Brodogradilište Split, Split, Croatia
Launched:	6 April 1992
Completed:	11 June 1994 Rebuilt: 2005
Identification:	IMO number: 8917613
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Tonnage:	35,498 Gross Register
Length:	171.5 m (562.7 ft)
Beam:	28.2 m (92.5 ft)
Draft:	6.25 m (20.5 ft)
Decks:	12
Ice class:	1 A Super
Propulsion:	4 × Pielstick diesel engines 23,760 kW
Speed:	21.5 kn (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)
Capacity:	2136 passengers 450 vehicles

MS Crown of Scandinavia is a cruiseferry operated by DFDS Seaways on a route connecting Copenhagen, Denmark to Oslo, Norway. The ship was built in 1994 by Brodogradilište Split in Split, Croatia. She was originally ordered by Euroway and was to be called MS Frans Kockum but never sailed under that name. The ship was also temporarily renamed MS Thomas Mann during construction.

History

Euroway originally planned to operate two cruiseferries on a route connecting Malmö, Sweden to Travemünde, Germany. To archieve that two identical cruiseferries were ordered from Brodogradilište Split, Croatia, to be called MS Frans Suell and MS Frans Kockum. The ships were a somewhat enlarged version of MS Amorella and MS Isabella that the shipyard had built for SF Line in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Due to the Yugoslav wars the delivery of the Frans Suell was delayed by nearly a year, from 1991 to 1992. Poor profitability of the route, further delays in construction of the second ship and a joint operations agreement with Silja Line made Euroway decide to cancel the order for MS Frans Kockum.

Crown of Scandinavia in port.

After the order was cancelled, the ship was renamed MS Thomas Mann and work on her was continued, but at a more leisurely pace. In March 1994 the Thomas Mann sailed from the shipyard in Split to the Fincantieri shipyard at Trieste, Italy, where finalising touches were put on her. On 2 May 1994 DFDS made a tentative agreement to purchase the ship, and bought her ten days later. The ship was finally delivered on 11 June 1994. From Trieste she sailed to Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany, where stern sponsons were added to the ship for increased stability.

On 26 July the ship was renamed MS Crown of Scandinavia and began sailing on Scandinavian Seaways (a marketing name for DFDS passenger operations) Copenhagen — Helsingborg — Oslo -service. In 1999 the company name reverted to DFDS Seaways. Sometime between 1999 and 2003 the ship's livery was slightly altered, the frames of her bridge windows (originally black) were now painted white, arguably unbalancing her profile. In January 2005 the ship was rebuilt at Öresundsvarvet, Landskrona, Sweden. On 15 October 2006 the call at Helsingborg was dropped from the route in order to cut down fuel and pilot expenses.

Decks

1. Engine room
2. Seaways-class cabins, crew gym, crew cabins (for waiters)
3. Cardeck
4. Car platform, can be lowered hydraulically.
5. Seaways-class cabins
6. Adventure club spa, seaways-class cabins, crew cabins (for catering assistants)
7. Youth@club, information desk, bureau de change, tax free shops, children's playroom, Baresso Coffee, commodore and seaways-class cabins, crew cabins (for shop assistants and galley assistants)
8. 7 Seas buffét restaurant, Latitude Café, Blue Riband restaurant, Explorer's restaurant, Navigator's Bar, Marco Polo restaurant, Red & White wine bar, Columbus night club
9. Heaven 11 club & discothèque commodore-class cabins, crew mess, crew cabins (stewardess and deck hands)
10. Heaven 11 club & discothèque (second floor), Conference Centre, crew cabins (catering officers)
11. Commodore de luxe lounge, commodore balcony cabins, crew cabins (deck officers)
12. Bridge

External links

• MS Crown of Scandinavia at Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish)
• Company Website for Crown of Scandinavia (in Danish)
• Company Website for Crown of Scandinavia (in English)
• The Ferry Site