Keith Taylor News

Holland America Line celebrated a significant construction milestone today as the first steel was cut for ms Nieuw Statendam, due for delivery in November 2018. The ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, and the block being built there will later be moved to the Marghera yard where the ship will be constructed. Holland America Group’s Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations Keith Taylor was at the yard for the event. The 99,500-ton ship — the 15th in the fleet — is the second Pinnacle Class vessel for Holland America Line, joining sister-ship ms Koningsdam that sailed its first cruise in April 2016. The steel cutting follows a period of design and development for the 2,650-guest ship that will feature enhanced Pinnacle Class amenities and innovations.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched its first cruise ship destined for the Chinese market, and will now begin interior fittings ahead of the vessel’s delivery scheduled for spring 2017. The newbuild Majestic Princess is the third ship of the Royal Princess class built for the shipowner Princess Cruises, a brand of the Carnival Group. The vessel was launched at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone at a ceremony attended for the shipowner by Keith Taylor, Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations of Holland America Group…

The keel laying ceremony of “Seabourn Encore”, the first of two ultra-luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri will build for Seabourn, brand of Carnival Corporation, was held today at the Marghera shipyard. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Mr Keith Taylor, Executive Vice President Fleet Operations Holland America Group, while Fincantieri was represented by Antonio Quintano,  Marghera’s yard manager. “Seabourn Encore”, due to join the Seabourn’s fleet at the end of 2016, will be built according to the standards and technical solutions that make Seabourn one of the most prestigious brands in the ultra-luxury segment and will continue the fleet’s modernization that began in 2009.

Holland America Line celebrated the keel laying of its new 2,650-guest Pinnacle Class ship on August 22 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. A 680-ton block was lowered by crane into the yard’s building dock, marking the official beginning of construction. The 99,500-gross-ton ship is scheduled for delivery in February 2016. The event was attended by Holland America Line’s Keith Taylor, senior vice president, fleet operations and Cyril Tatar, vice president, newbuild and technical operations. “The keel laying of our new Pinnacle Class vessel heightens the anticipation for delivery because very soon we’ll see the ship begin to take shape,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. The ship will showcase decors by leading hospitality designer Adam D.

Holland America Line was named the 2014 Marine Environmental Business of the Year by the Port of Seattle. Port commissioner Courtney Gregoire presented the award to Keith Taylor, senior vice president, fleet operations, at the Seattle Propeller Club’s Maritime Festival Lunch held Tuesday, May 13, 2014, aboard Carnival Miracle, which was docked at Port of Seattle. The cruise line was recognized for its efforts to reduce its global environmental footprint through a series of objectives that greatly reduce consumption of fuel and water, engine emissions and generation of solid waste, along with increasing recycling across its fleet of 15 ships.

This time last year, the U.S. Coast Guard was busy taking comments on the proposed rulemaking for Subchapter M. A very vocal discussion ensued, with the predominant comments focused on impending requirements for rebuilding vessel electrical systems, the standard six on six off “boxed” watch schedules and whether elements of the Crew Endurance Management Systems (CEMS) should be included in the rulemaking. As of today, the industry has yet to hear of any definitive outcome of Subchapter M discussions, or plans for a final rulemaking.