Veendam News

Caribbean ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reported a busy 2016 for retrofit, refurbishments and repairs to vessels from the leading cruise lines. GBSL said it performed work on 20 cruise vessels during 2016, with scope of works included significant propulsion and technical systems overhauls, hull treatment, accommodations and public spaces upgrades and the addition of onboard attraction facilities. The trend continues: for 2017, GBSL has confirmed 23 cruise vessels scheduled for refit, refurbishment or revitalization from its customer base.

As Cruiseport Boston closes out its successful 2016 season, 2017 is already shaping up to be a record year with 151 calls scheduled for next cruise season. The 2016 season saw 115 calls by a record 32 unique ships with ten maiden calls to the port, including Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to ever call the Port of Boston. Cruiseport Boston has seen years of steady growth which has contributed to the booming cruise business in Boston.

The captain and crew of Holland America Line’s ms Veendam were honored by the Association for Rescue at Sea with a prestigious AFRAS AMVER Award for the 2015 rescue of a pilot who ditched his aircraft in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. The Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System was implemented by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1958, and the AMVER Awards were created in 1971 to recognize vessels that participate in the program. Holland America Line received the award at the annual Coast Guard Award Ceremony Sept. 21, 2016, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Veendam’s Captain Eric van der Wal accepted the honor on behalf of the cruise line.

Repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) is in store for a busy year, with 20 cruise vessels booked for repair, maintenance and overhaul work in 2016. The scope of projects includes propulsion and technical systems overhaul, accommodations and public space upgrades and the addition of attraction facilities onboard. These vessels are typically booked at least two years in advance to allow for planning and communication between the yard and clients. The first cruise ship to enter GBSL’s dry-dock in 2016 is Holland America Line operated Maasdam…

On Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at 5:21 p.m. local time while en route to Lahaina, Hawaii, Holland America Line’s ms Veendam answered a request for assistance from the United States Coast Guard to rescue a pilot who had ditched his single-engine Cirrus SR-22 after he experienced a mechanical issue with the fuel system. The pilot was located approximately 225 nautical miles off the coast of Maui, Hawaii. In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Veendam was able to successfully rescue the pilot, who deployed the aircraft’s airframe parachute system and safely exited the plane into a life raft. Holland America Line crewmembers brought him aboard Veendam and provided him food and accommodations. The pilot, who was in good condition, disembarked today, Jan. 26, at Lahaina.

Holland America Line is returning to the pink sands and pastel-colored skyline of Bermuda on seven-day cruises aboard ms Veendam. Sailing roundtrip from Boston, Mass., six departures will sail in May, June and July, and feature three days and nights at Hamilton, the country’s capital known for its gorgeous beaches and abundance of golf courses. Carrying 1,350 guests, Veendam offers a mid-size ship experience in Bermuda that enables the vessel to dock at Hamilton in the center of town. The seven-day voyages spend a day at sea after departing Boston and arrive at Hamilton mid-day with enough time for guests to go ashore and enjoy the town. The ship then spends three nights alongside, where guests can experience local nightlife and dine ashore, if desired.

When Holland America Line’s ms Volendam completes dry-dock in December 2014, the ship will feature 21 new exclusive lanai staterooms, the contemporary bar area Mix and updated bathrooms in all suites and select other stateroom categories. With the conversion of existing outside staterooms to the new lanai accommodations, Volendam’s guest capacity of 1,432 will not change. The unique lanai accommodations feature large sliding-glass doors with direct access to the Lower Promenade wrap-around teak walking deck. Each lanai stateroom includes reserved deck chairs, and the sliding-glass doors have a one-way mirrored coating to ensure privacy. Holland America Line ships already outfitted with lanai staterooms are ms Maasdam, ms Rotterdam and ms Veendam.

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.

Holland America Line offers extensive South America cruise program this year, next. Guests looking for vibrant ports of call, historical adventures and an extreme range of climates can chart a southerly course to South America aboard three Holland America Line ships come fall 2012. ms Veendam, ms Maasdam and ms Prinsendam head to South America on a series of cruise expeditions featuring exceptional scenic cruising around the continent. The popular itineraries range from 13 to 68 days and include a new 49-day extended, port-intensive Amazon and Carnival Voyage aboard Maasdam in early 2013. A 23-day Amazon Explorer Cruise in November…

When Holland America Line's ms Statendam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam emerge from nearly month-long dry docks with an additional $200m in investments, one of the highlights will be The Retreat, a new resort-style pool area on the aft of the Lido deck. The main focus of the new pool experience will be a shallow area with forty-four lounge chairs where guests can relax and dip their fingers and toes in the water. Built-in benches create another place for guests to relax and dangle their legs in the refreshing water.

Holland America Line installed Spurs Marine’s line and net cutter system on both CP propellers of its cruise ship Volendam. This follows a similar installation on the sister vessel Veendam in May, this year. The cutter systems have two rotary cutting blades and one stationary cutting blade assembly and are designed to instantly cut any line or net before becoming entangled with the propeller, thus avoiding any possibility of aft seal oil rupture and resultant pollution.

ABB Automation Technologie’s division Marine Ventilation (former ABB Fläkt Marine) in Gothenburg Sweden, has been rewarded the total retrofit of the HVAC-systems onboard the S-class ships (M/S Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Veendam) for Holland America Line (HAL). The four ships are included in a 3-year, $225 million conversion program named “Signature of Excellence”. The ABB scope includes conversion of the HVAC-systems in the following areas that will be totally upgraded or remodeled:

New emission reduction technology was recently proven in a joint test with Holland America and RINA. The test was conducted aboard Veendam. Pictured is sistership Zaandam. Reduced emissions from diesel engines at sea has become a rallying cry from legislators to ship owners to diesel engine manufacturers to fuel and additive suppliers. Last month a significant milestone in the fight to reduce emissions was achieved, as emission-reduction technology reportedly been tested successfully on Carnival's Holland America (HAL) ship, Veendam. The tests were carried out jointly by Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding, HAL and RINA within a common R&D project. The technology is based on injecting water into fuel to create micro-droplets of emulsified fuel.

Carnival Corporation's Holland America (HAL) ship, the Veendam. within a common R&D project. fuel to create micro-droplets of emulsified fuel. Two pilot units were built and retrofitted on board Veendam. tested in accordance with an on board testing protocol developed by RINA. extremely successful. emissions from the diesel engines as well as a decrease in fuel consumption. without producing visible smoke," he said. emission since the late 1970s. however, because the fuel and water soon separated. plant. after treatment, we re-use it to lower emissions." he explained. European Union nations, United States and Japan by Ing. and owner of Mec System, an Italian company and partner in the R&D project. thermal plants and for public bus transportation. RINA and Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding.