Opera's Departure from Tilbury
Silja Opera arrived at Tilbury on 25 May 2006 [09:26] for lay-up whilst looking for a purchaser.
Renamed Opera in July 2006 she sat gathering dust. 10 May 2007 she was sold to Louis Cruise Lines as a replacement for Sea Diamond who sadly hit rocks off Santorini on 5 April 2007 sinking in the early hours of 6 April 2007.
Barely a month later after much work on her engines, she cast off just after 11:00 BST, destination Piraeus. She emerged from within the locks an hour later and was visible from Tilbury Landing Stage at 12.20 BST. Here is a series of photos as she sailed by on a damp and misty day.
Adsteam Mercia accompanied her through the docks and stood by down the Thames. Quite how far I don't know, but did not return until after 19:00 when Opera was off Dover. At 03:30 BST she was off the Isle of Wight making way at 12kts. She is due to call for bunkers at Gibraltar 08:00 16 June 2007. Bon Voyage!
Opera has had quite a checkered history, originally Viking Saga, 1980, see http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/viking_saga_1980.htm
As Sally Albatross she suffered a devastating fire in 1990, but was subsequently rebuilt emerging again as Sally Albatross in 1992, see http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/sally_albatross_1992.htm
A few bumps and scrapes have also been encountered over the years. Let's hope she now has a good few more years of mishap free sailing.
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