Seatec International Maritime Review 2/2022 | Page 16

Viking Line ’ s new vessel , Viking Glory , was christened in
the Port of Turku on 28th February 2022 . The company ’ s
new flagship sailed for the first time to Mariehamn and
Stockholm the following day .
VIKING GLORY – TIMELINE
3 / 2016
A letter of intent is signed with the Chinese shipyard XSI
8 / 2018
Construction on the vessel begins in Xiamen
5 / 2019
In a public vote , “ Viking Glory ” is chosen as the name of the new vessel
6 / 2019
The keel-laying ceremony at the shipyard
1 / 2021
Viking Glory is launched
6 / 2021
The vessel passes its first sea trial
11 / 2021
The vessel passes its second sea trial
12 / 2021
Viking Glory starts its journey home to Turku
3 / 2022
The vessel launches service on the Turku – Mariehamn – Stockholm route

Or , actually , Viking Glory already has quite a bit of sailing under her belt . Prior to christening ceremony , Viking Glory completed a five-week journey from China to Finland , reaching Turku on February 6th . The ship had started its journey from Xiamen , China , in December 2021 . The journey took Captain Ulf Lindroos and his crew of 40 via e . g . the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar before ending up in the Baltic Sea , which will be the operative environment for the new vessel .

Viking Glory was built by the shipyard Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co , Ltd . Commissioned in April 2017 , the ship came with a price tag of approximately EUR 225 million .
The new flagship replaces Amorella , which is now moving to Helsinki , and will increase Viking Line ’ s passenger capacity on the Turku – Mariehamn – Stockholm route by about ten per cent . The vessel
16 seatec 2 / 2022