MS Crown Seaways

History
Name: Crown Seaways
Operator: DFDS Seaways
Route: Copenhagen — Oslo
Builder: Brodosplit, Split, Croatia
Launched: 6 April 1992
Completed:
  • 11 June 1994
  • Rebuilt: 2005
Identification: IMO number: 8917613
Status: In service
General characteristics
Type: Cruiseferry
Tonnage: 35,498 GT
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:
Speed: 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)
Capacity:
  • 2,136 passengers
  • 450 vehicles

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

Crown Seaways has three sister ships: Amorella and Gabriella in the Viking Line fleet and Isabelle in the Tallink fleet.

History

Euroway originally planned to operate two cruiseferries on a route connecting Malmö, Sweden to Travemünde, Germany. To achieve that two identical cruiseferries were ordered from Brodosplit, Croatia, to be called Frans Suell and Frans Kockum. The ships were a somewhat enlarged version of Amorella and Isabella that the shipyard had built for SF Line in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Due to the Croatian War of Independence the delivery of 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 Frans Kockum.

The Crown of Scandinavia in its former livery, departing Oslo (2010).

After the order was cancelled, the ship was renamed 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 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.

2014 engine incident

On 27 April 2014, the vessel experienced engine problems near the Danish island of Anholt, whilst travelling from Copenhagen towards Oslo. It is reported that passengers heard a loud bang, a shudder and smoke at about 21:30, when the vessel suffered an engine failure and crank explosion. The ship soon continued on its way towards Oslo. The cause of the incident is unknown.[1]

Decks

Crown Seaways in Copenhagen
  1. Engine room, bakery, storage
  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. Information desk, bureau de change, tax free shops, children's playroom, Baresso Coffee, commodore and seaways-class cabins, crew cabins (for shop assistants, cleaning assistants and galley assistants)
  8. Galley, 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. Sky club & discothèque commodore-class cabins, crew mess, crew cabins (stewardess and deck hands)
  10. Sky club & discothèque (second floor), Conference Centre, crew cabins (catering officers)
  11. Commodore de luxe lounge, commodore balcony cabins, crew cabins (deck officers)
  12. Bridge

References

  1. ↑ Peterson, Neil. "Engine accident on DFDS Crown Seaways ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo". Demotix. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
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