Some more dates, regarding m/s "HEL":
1968.03.29 - signing the contract for first two vessels - "HEL" an "JURATA";
1969.05.27 - keel laying for "HEL" (so is dated a corresponding photo published by arkiv.dk);
1969.11.12 - launching;
1970.06.05 - departure from Nakskov Skibsvaerft;
1970.06.11 - ceremonial comissioning in Gdynia, as noted by "Morze"; (1970.06.14 in some sources);
1970.06.14 - beginning of first commercial voyage to the Far East.
There was a small delay in the schedule, as contemporary press had expected the comissioning still in May.

High service speed enabled completing voyages around the world in just below 80 days.
On the other hand, the costs were high vibration and consumption of 69 tons of FO per day.
In late seventies the service speed was reduced, cutting the FO consumption by almost half.
I was told that "JURATA" had her CP propeller's wings cut, reducing speed to some 16,0 kts.

General cargo ship "HEL" Built in the Danish shipyard Nakskov Skibsvaerft for Polish Ocean Lines (PLO). The ceremonial launching and naming took place on November 12, 1969. On June 14, 1970, the commissioning and ceremonial raising of the Polish flag took place. The ship entered service on the Far East Line. In 1971, he inaugurated a taqk called the "express line". M/v HEL was the first PLO ship to make a voyage around the world. On May 30, 1987, in a very thick fog, he collided in the English Channel with the tanker m/t SKYRON (Liberian flag). The damage threatened to sink, the Polish crew left the ship, which was towed to VLAARDINGEN. An on - site damage assessment showed that refurbishment was uneconomical . In August 1987, the ship was sold for scrap. After a makeshift repair, under the name HELO, the ship was delivered to the port of ALIAGA in Turkey, where it was dismantled.

Technical data ...

Tonnage:(1969) 7,704/10,970 GRT; 4255/6408 NRT; 9754/14170 tDW
(1984) 14157 tDW
Dimensions: 166.57 x 23.36 x 9.99 [m] (1984: draft = 10 m)
Number of holds: 6
Passenger cabins: 6 double (12 passengers)
Drive : 1 screw ; 1 B&W 8K84EF engine - 20,000 horsepower
(14720kW)
Top speed 22.5 knots
Classification Society: PRS

My personal relationship with the ship.
My father, a ship mechanic officer, supervised the construction of m/v HEL and m/v WLADYSLAWOWO (last in the series) on behalf of PLO.
Later, he worked on all five express vessels.
As a family member, I welcomed ships calling at the port of Gdynia, including Hel. I was on board a few times as a guest, and in 1972, as a passenger (with the shipowner's consent), I made a short journey from Antverp to Gdynia via Rotterdam, Hamburg, and the Kiel Canal. It was an unforgettable experience.

Beautiful photo of a fine ship, Malcolm