MS Gabriella - Concept and Construction

Concept and Construction

Euroway was a concept developed during the latter half of the 1980s by the Sweden-based Sea-Link Shipping. The new brand was planned to operate two state-of-the-art cruiseferries between Malmö in Sweden and Lübeck in Germany via Travemünde in Germany, with the service aimed in particular at conference groups. Sea-link decided to order the ships from Brodogradiliste Split in what was at the time the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The ships were based on the same design as the MS Amorella and MS Isabella that had been built by the same shipyard for the Finland-based SF Line for Viking Line traffic in 1988 and 1989, respectively. The Euroway sisters were designed with a somewhat different layout of public spaces and cabins, as well as an additional cabin deck.

The order for the first ship, Frans Suell, was placed on 28 September 1989, with the delivery date projected in mid-1991. The ship was launched on 23 January 1991, but due to the war in Yugoslavia her construction was severely delayed, and she was not ready for her first sea trials until January 1992. Following her second sea trials in March 1992 the Frans Suell sailed to Rijeka—in what was now independent Croatia—for finalization of her construction and to receive the Euroway livery. The ship was finally delivered to her owners on 4 May 1992 and left Split for Malmö.