12 September 2011

Princess Maria in Helsinki, 30 June 2011

Princess Maria

IMO 7911533
Previous names: Finlandia, Queen of Scandinavia
Built 1981 Wärtsilä Turku, Finland
Tonnage 34 093 GT
Length 168,05 m
Width 29 m
Draught 6,72 m
Ice class 1 A Super
1638 passengers
395 cars
4 Wärtsilä-Pielstick diesels, combined 22 948 kW
2 controllable pitch propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 sterns thruster
Speed 21,2 knots

For a history of the Princess Maria, please refer to this previous entry on her. The sight of her sailing through the Kustaanmiekka strait will (again) soon be history, as the company's Helsinki terminal will relocate to the West Harbour later this month.

Princess Maria departing Helsinki on 30 June 2011. Photographed from Kustaanmiekka. Click on the individual images to view in larger size.

By the terms of their looks, the ex-Finlandia and her sister are probably amongst the least liked to have sailed on the North Baltic (although the general population seems to often dislike everything, as long as it's big). For whatever reason, I really like the Princess Maria's exterior.
A sight from the time before I was born. And after. But in different incarnations, the Princess Maria has been around for a long time. Come to think of it, last April was the 30th anniversary of her maiden voyage.
I'm not entirely pleased with the way this image has been cropped. But the ship looks good regardless.

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