MS Viking Song

MS Regina Baltica en route to Stockholm in April 2009.
History
Name:	1980–1985: Viking Song 1985–1991: Braemar 1991–1996: Anna Karenina 1996 onwards: Regina Baltica
Owner:	1980–1985: Rederi Ab Sally 1985–1996: Fred. Olsen 1996–1997: Nordström & Thulin 1997–2002: Estonian Shipping Company 2002-2015: Tallink 2015 onwards: Scandinavian Interests
Operator:	1980–1985: Rederi Ab Sally (in Viking Line traffic) 1985–1990: Fred. Olsen Lines 1991–1996: Baltic Line 1996–2001: Estline 2001–2009: Tallink 2009 (June - September): Acciona Trasmediterránea 2010 (May -September): Acciona Trasmediterránea 2010 (September–October): Strandfaraskip Landsins 2011 (June–September): Acciona Trasmediterránea 2012 (from February): Floating Hotel in Sheringham, England
Port of registry:	1980–1985: Mariehamn,  Finland 1985–1991: Kristiansand,  Norway 1991–1996: Saint Petersburg,  Russia 1996: Limassol,  Cyprus 1996–2006: Tallinn,  Estonia 2006 onwards: Riga,  Latvia
Route:	none
Builder:	Wärtsilä Perno shipyard, Turku, Finland
Yard number:	1248
Launched:	15 February 1980
Acquired:	29 August 1980
In service:	30 August 1980
Identification:	Call sign: YLBP MMSI number: 275054000 IMO number: 7827225
Status:	Floating hotel, North sea, Bard 1 wind farm
General characteristics (as built)
Type:	Cruiseferry
Tonnage:	13,878 GRT 2,830 DWT
Length:	145.19 m (476 ft 4 in)
Beam:	25.51 m (83 ft 8 in)
Draught:	5.52 m (18 ft 1 in)
Decks:	12
Ice class:	1 A
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Pielstick 12 PC2SV 19.480 kW (combined)
Propulsion:	2 propellers 2 bow thrusters
Speed:	21.3 knots (39.4 km/h; 24.5 mph)
Capacity:	2,000 passengers 1,250 passenger berths 462 cars

MS Regina Baltica is a cruiseferry owned by the Estonian shipping company Tallink. She was built in 1980 as Viking Song by Wärtsilä Perno shipyard, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally, one of the owners of the Viking Line consortium. She has also sailed under the names Braemar (for Fred Olsen Lines) and Anna Karenina (for Baltic Shipping Co.).

Delivered in August 1980, Viking Song was the last newbuilding delivered to Rederi Ab Sally for use on Viking Line's routes. She served alongside her sister Viking Saga on the route connecting Helsinki, Finland to Stockholm. Although she was the newer of the two ships, when SF Line brought their new Mariella to Helsinki–Stockholm service in 1985, the Viking Song was withdrawn from service and sold to Norwegian Fred. Olsen Lines.

After rebuilding at Blohm + Voss, Hamburg where a second storey was added to her nightclub, Viking Song emerged as Fred. Olsen's new MS Braemar. She was initially set on a route connecting Oslo, Norway with Harwich, UK, although her route varied a lot during the next five years, with Hirtshals, Denmark replacing or appearing alongside Harwich as the main destination. In December 1990 Fred. Olsen sold their ferry operations to the new Color Line, however Braemar was not included in the sale and she was laid up.

In January 1991 Braemar was chartered to Baltic Shipping Company and renamed Baltica for planned service between St. Petersburg, Russia and Stockholm. This service was never realised however, and for the time being the only change was moving the ship to Hamburg where she was again laid up. Later in the same month the ship was sub-chartered to the Russian army for transporting troops out of former East Germany. The ship, renamed Anna Karenina, was badly vandalised by the troops transported on board, and had to be docked in Hamburg afterwards for repairs.