MS Ilmatar

Ilmaltar in Copenhagen on 19 June 1981
History
Name
  • 1964–1984: Ilmatar
  • 1984–1997: Viking Princess
  • 1997–2015: Palm Beach Princess
NamesakeIlmatar (original name)
Owner
  • 1964–1980: Finland Steamship Company
  • 1980–1984: Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab
  • 1984–1997: Grundstad Maritime Overseas
  • 1997–1999: Deerbrooke Invest
  • 1999–2006: MJQ Corporation
  • 2006–2008: Cruise Holdings
  • 2008-2011: Mauro Sebben / Platinum Real Estates LLC
  • 2011: Imperial Ships LLC
Operator
Port of registry
Ordered14 July 1962
BuilderWärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki, Finland
Yard number375
Launched29 October 1963
Christened29 October 1963 by Sylvi Kekkonen
Completed1964
Acquired15 June 1964
Maiden voyage1964
In service15 June 1964
Out of service2010
IdentificationIMO number: 6402937
FateScrapped in 2015.
General characteristics (as built)
TypeFerry
Tonnage
Length108.27 m (355 ft 3 in)
Beam16.40 m (53 ft 10 in)
Draught4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)
Decks6 (passenger accessible)
Installed powerWärtsilä-Sulzer 12MD51 (3,300 kW)
PropulsionOne propeller
Speed16.50 knots (30.56 km/h; 18.99 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,000 passengers
  • 332 passenger berths
  • 50 cars
Crew93
General characteristics (after 1973 refit)
TypeFerry
Tonnage
Length128.31 m (421 ft 0 in)
Installed power
PropulsionThree propellers
Speed19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Capacity
  • 1,210 passengers
  • 470 passenger berths
  • 75 cars
Crew113
General characteristics (after 1979 refit)
TypeCruise ship
Tonnage6,659 GT
Decks6 (passenger accessible)
Capacity470 passengers
NotesOtherwise same as built

The MS Ilmatar was a cruise ship operated by Palm Beach Cruises as Palm Beach Princess on casino cruises out of the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach, Florida. She was built in 1964 by Wärtsilä Hietalahti shipyard, Helsinki, Finland for Finland Steamship Company as Ilmatar. From 1970 until 1974 and again from 1978 to 1980 she was marketed as a part of Silja Line fleet. In 1973 she was lengthened at HDW Hamburg, Germany by 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in). Between 1975–1976 she was chartered to Finnlines. In 1979 she was converted to a cruise ship.

In 1980 the Ilmatar was sold to Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab, without a change of name. In 1984 she was sold to Grundstad Maritime Overseas and renamed Viking Princess for cruising with Crown Cruise Line. In 1997 she received the name Palm Beach Princess. After several further changes of ownership, the ship was sold for scrap in 2011.

On 28 November 1968 the Ilmatar collided with the Siljavarustamo ferry Botnia in the Åland archipelago, resulting in the death of six people on board the Botnia.