Birka´s New Cruise Vessel will be Birka Paradise

The cruise vessel to be delivered in autumn 2004 for Birka Line had to day its keel laid at Aker Finnyards in Rauma. The vessel will be named Birka Paradise. The name reflects the vessel´s concept, the pattern of a Caribbean luxury cruiser. Next year a dip in the pool and lunch under palm trees in an exotic atmosphere is possible also in the Baltic! Over 50 of the 3500 suggestions received in the name contest arranged last summer proposed “Birka Paradise”. The new vessel is a full-blooded cruiser without car decks. It will be 177 m long and 28 m wide comprising eleven decks, five of which are dedicated to passenger accommodation: there are cabins and suites for in all 1,800 passengers. Three decks hold passenger public spaces: restaurants, bars, two night clubs, large conference area, shopping area, etc. Upmost there will be the recreation deck with observation lounge and pool & spa compartments. Birka Paradise can also on good grounds be called the most environmentally friendly vessel in the Baltic Sea -- it fulfils two very new classification criteria: DNV`s Clean Design rule defining several environmental solutions as to the ship structures, and the Comfort Class rule securing a noiseless and vibration free environment for the passengers. In addition, the vessel of course complies with the same environmental quality standards as the already sailing Birka Princess, i.e. equipped with an exhaust gas treatment system and closed sewage treatment systems, using only low-sulphurous bunker oil and atoxic bottom painting etc. The hull form is optimised to avoid wave forming and bottom suction in the sensitive archipelago environment the vessel will be sailing in. Birka Line Abp domiciled in Mariehamn, Åland is registered on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Since 1971 the company performs cruises out from Stockholm . More information of the company at: www.birkaline.com Aker Finnyards in Rauma has extensive experience in the building of ropax ferries. During the last ten years the yard has built fifteen passenger ferries, the recent ones having been of cruise ship standard. There are also five cruise vessels in the yard`s reference list, among them the twin hull SWATH “Radisson Diamond”.