From the English Channel to the Åland Sea

	ILLUSTRATION: HÅKAN SJÖSTRÖM

In the 1960s a ferry named “Ålandsfärjan” plied the waters between Kapellskär and Mariehamn. Although she by no means was the first car ferry on this route, she still belonged to the pioneers in the ferry traffic on the Åland Sea.
Her history began long before she in 1963 was bought to Åland. In fact, 30 years had passed since she in 1933 had been delivered as “Brittany” by the shipyard WM Denny in Dumbarton to Southern Railways for service between the Channel Islands and France. During the war “Brittany” took part in the evacuation of France in 1940 and was after that rebuilt as an auxiliary netlayer. She also participated in the invasion of Southern France early in 1944.
In autumn 1962 the master mariner Gunnar Eklund – one of the founders of Vikinglinjen, which was the first ferry company on the Åland Sea – was planning the start of a new ferry service. As a result of his initiative, the company Ålandsfärjan Ab was formed.
“Brittany” had been taken out of service in November 1962 and was bought for the traffic, which was inaugurated in June 20, 1963. Now painted yellow, “Brittany” had been renamed “Ålandsfärjan” (”the Åland Ferry”).

Powered by steam turbines
During the first season “Ålandsfärjan” sailed between Mariehamn and Gräddö, which is situated a little bit north of Kapellskär in the Roslagen archipelago. As “Ålandsfärjan” was not ice-strengthened, she was in service during the ice-free season only.
Already the following season the traffic was moved to the port of Kapellskär.
“Ålandsfärjan” had two Parsons steam turbines developing 1,400 hp each, giving a speed of almost 16 knots. She had a gross tonnage of 1,542 register tons, a length of 79.0 metres and a beam of 11.9 metres. She had no cabins but could take 800 passengers. The only access to the car deck was over a stern ramp and she had capacity for some 40 private cars and two trucks.
“Ålandsfärjan” became a successful vessel, which enabled the company to place an order for its first newbuilding – “Kapella”. But “Kapella”, which was delivered in 1967, did not replace the “Ålandsfärjan”. She steamed on for a further five years, until she was withdrawn from service in May 1972 after grounding off Remmargrund. After that accident the old lady was condemned and sold for scrapping. She was broken up at Teijo.
Although the company since has altered its name, first to SF Line and later to Viking Line, the name Ålandsfärjan lives on in its fleet. The current “Ålandsfärjan” was built in 1972 and also sailed on the English Channel for a while before she was bought to Åland.

//Pär-Henrik Sjöström

Back to SSG 22, 28 November