Ilmatar
1964
(Risaloweska RI-268)
- Type: Ferry
- Displacement: 5,101 tons
- Dimensions: 355 x 54 x 15 ft.
- Machinery: 1 Sulzer diesel, 4500bhp, single shaft = 16.5 knots
- Passengers: 110 first class, 222 second class, and up to 1,068 unberthed.
- Vehicles: 50 cars
- Crew: 93
- Builder: Wärtsila Helsinki New Shipyard, 1964
- Notes: Ilmatar was the first motor passenger ship for the Finland Steamship Co. She was delivered in 1964, and operated on routes from Stockholm to Turku or Helsinki. In 1973, she was rebuilt in Hamburg, increasing in size to 7,355grt and 420ft long. Two additional Nohab wing diesels were added, increasing speed to 19 knots. She was then used on the Helsinki-Trävemünde route. She was later used on cruises in the Baltic, Mediterranean and along the Norwegian coast.
In 1979 she was refitted as a Mediterranean cruise ship by her builders Wärtsila. In 1980, she was sold to Vesteraalens Steamship Co of Norway and continued cruising under the Norwegian Cruises banner without change of name. She later received Vesteraalens funnel colours. She was reportedly renamed Viking Prince in 1982, but was laid up in Toulon and offered for sale. In 1984 she was bought by Crown Cruise Line, renamed Viking Princess and operated out of Palm Beach, Florida on cruises to the Bahamas. From 1997, she was renamed Palm Beach Princess, operating on the same route for Palm Beach Cruises. Out of service in 2011 and scrapped 2015.
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