The keel of the Svea-owned ship was laid on 2 June 1971, and she was launched six months later on 3 December 1971. On 13 February 1972 a storm broke the ship loose from her fitting-out berths, resulting in minor damage. Despite the difficulties the ship was delivered to Rederi AB Svea on 26 May 1972, and christened Svea Regina by Mrs Ingegerd Hägglöf, the wife of Mr Ingemar Hägglöf, the Swedish Ambassador to Finland. Following delivery the Svea Regina sailed from Nantes to Stockholm via the Kiel Canal. On 30 May 1972 she arrived at Nybroviken, Stockholm.
