EMEA News
Viking Line Sells M/S Isabella
With the dual-fuel M/S Viking Grace now in operation, Viking Line says it has sold the ship that it replaced on the Turku-Stockholm route, M/S Isabella, to AS Tallink Grupp.
A statement by AS Tallink Grupp said it's total invest for the acquisition was about €30 million ($39 million), and the vessel will replace the older and smaller Silja Festival on its Siga-Stockholm route, meeting increased demand.
Viking Line said the timing of the sale will change the plans it made for its Helsinki-Tallinn route.
"It is, without question, unfortunate that the time of the sale took place so very near to the beginning of operations," said Viking Line Managing Director Mikael Backman.
The company said it had planned the sale of the Isabella since it began working on the Viking Grace project in 2009, but it had appeared unlikely that a sale would take place before the summer.
The company therefore made plans to use it for trips between Helsinki and Tallinn during the summer season.
Backman said the company will be in touch with all customers who have booked tickets on the vessel.
