MS Regina Della Pace

MS Fantaasia in St. Petersburg in 2004
History
Name:	1979–1988: Turella 1988–1996: Stena Nordica 1996–1998: Lion King 1998–2008: Fantaasia 2008–2010: Kongshavn 2010 onwards: Regina della Pace
Owner:	1979–1988: SF Line 1988–1996: Stena Line 1996–1997: Lion Ferry 1997–2008: Tallink 2008–2010: Kystlink 2010 onwards: Blue Line International
Operator:	1979–1988: SF Line (in Viking Line traffic) 1988–1996: Stena Line 1996–1997: Lion Ferry 1997–2005: Tallink 2005: Algérie Ferries 2006: Tallink 2006–2007: Comanav 2007: Algérie Ferries 2007–2008: Kystlink 2010 onwards: Blue Line International
Port of registry:	1979–1988: Finland, Mariehamn 1988–1996: Sweden, Gothenburg 1996–1998: Sweden, Halmstad 1998–2008: Estonia, Tallinn 2008–2010: Norway, Langesund 2010–2010: Malta, Valletta 2010–2014: Panama Panama 2014 onwards: Cyprus, Limassol
Ordered:	17 March 1978
Builder:	Wärtsilä Turku shipyard, Finland
Yard number:	1242
Launched:	21 November 1978
Sponsored by:	Margareta Lundqvist
Christened:	21 November 1978
Acquired:	4 June 1979
In service:	4 June 1979
Identification:	IMO number: 7807744
Status:	In traffic
General characteristics (as built)
Type:	Cruiseferry
Tonnage:	10,604 GRT 3,700 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
Length:	136.11 m (446 ft 7 in)
Beam:	24.20 m (79 ft 5 in)
Draught:	5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)
Ice class:	1 A
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Pielstick 12PC2-2V diesels 17,650 kW (23,670 hp)
Speed:	21.5 kn (39.82 km/h)
Capacity:	1700 passengers 740 passenger beds 554 cars
General characteristics (as Kongshavn)
Tonnage:	16,405 GT
Decks:	10
Speed:	19 kn (35.19 km/h)
Capacity:	1,550 passengers 1,440 lanemeters
Notes:	Otherwise the same as built

MS Regina della Pace is a cruiseferry owned by the Croatia-based ferry operator Blue Line International, and operated on their service between Split and Ancona. She was built in 1979 as MS Turella by Wärtsilä Turku shipyard, Finland for SF Line for use in Viking Line traffic. In 1988 she was sold to Stena Line, becoming MS Stena Nordica. In 1996, she was transferred to Lion Ferry and was renamed MS Lion King. In 1998, she was sold to Tallink and renamed MS Fantaasia. As Fantaasia she also sailed under charter to Algérie Ferries, Comanav and Kystlink during the years 2005–2008. Following the end of her charter to Kystlink in 2008 the latter company bought her, renaming her MS Kongshavn. After Kystlink was declared bankrupt in late 2008 the ship was laid up until sold to her current owners in 2010.

SF Line begun planning for a new larger ferry for the Viking Line traffic between South-West Finland and Sweden in the mid-1970s. The main person in charge of the design of the new ship was SF Line's founder and CEO Gunnar Eklund, with her son Nils-Erik Eklund and the company's technical inspector Kaj Jansson participating in the design process. Experiences from SF Line's previous new buildings — particularly MS Aurella of 1973 — heavily influenced the design of the new vessel, which was drawn with large car-decks. However, the new vessel was planned to be twice as large in terms of gross register tonnage as Aurella, and she was to have twice as many cabins.