Beatrix News

Concordia Damen said it has been selected to build a new training vessel for the STC Group for delivery in 2022.The new, environmentally conscious vessel will replace two training vessels – the Princess Christina and the Princess Beatrix – that the Rotterdam-headquartered maritime training institution has used to train students for more than 50 years.In 2018, students and teachers at STC Group, along with supporters from the business community, began to develop the ideas behind the vessel.

The Dutch Princess Beatrix, in the presence of the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, officially opened the 3rd lock chamber Princess Beatrix Lock. The Princess rang a ship’s bell, giving the go-ahead for the first official passage of ships through the new lock.The official opening of the lock closes a construction period of 2.5 years. The two lock heads are each 30 x 60 meters. Each lock head contains two lock gates, each weighing 490,000 kilos and measuring 28 meters wide, 14 meters high and 6.25 meters thick.In total, 44,875 m³ of concrete and 17,900 tons of reinforcement were used to build this new lock.

The last oceangoing vessel of the year is scheduled to leave the Port of Duluth-Superior, signaling the beginning of the end of the 2017 commercial shipping season in the Twin Ports and across the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system. Weather permitting, the Beatrix is set to finish loading 12,000 metric tons of spring wheat tonight at the CHS elevator in Superior—grain bound for the United Kingdom. The 512-foot Wagenborg vessel flies the flag of the Netherlands. Its estimated time of departure may be 8 p.m. (or later), enabling the ship to clear the Seaway locks by Christmas Day.

Holland America Line revealed the name of its new 99,500-ton cruise ship slated for delivery in February 2016 will be ms Koningsdam. While the name pays homage to the company’s rich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, it also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an original in Holland America Line’s 141-year history. Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. Since 1883 every Holland America passenger vessel has borne the “dam” suffix, and ms Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word koning means “king” in Dutch, and the name celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also pays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in over a century. Holland America Line has a long, proud history with the Netherlands.

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands christens the boat 'Polaris' at the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam. Conoship's member shipyard Barkmeijer had earlier launched Pilot Station Vessel ‘Polaris’ (NB 324). This vessel design is the result of close collaboration between the Dutch Pilot Organisation, Barkmeijer Shipyards and Conoship International. Special attention was paid to motional behaviour in typical all year round North Sea environment.  Conoship developed the new hull lines in collaboration with SasTech, and the excellent sea keeping characteristics were confirmed in the extensive model testing program at MARIN. The vessel has already commenced operations for the Dutch Pilot Organisation, and two sister pilot boats will follow her in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Evergreen Group Chairman Dr Y F Chang is honored in Rotterdam with Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Aug. 22, 2011)-- Evergreen Group Chairman Dr. Chang Yung-Fa was presented the honor of Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of his contribution to the port of Rotterdam and the development of Dutch economy. The award was presented on behalf of Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, the Queen Regnant of the Netherlands, by the Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb at a ceremony held in the Wereldmuseum and witnessed by many local dignitaries. Said Dr. Chang: "Evergreen has enjoyed a successful and professional relationship with the Netherlands for more than three decades.

The man who led Seattle-based Holland America Line through years of steady growth and significant impact to the local economy has earned a prestigious Puget Sound award. Business and community leaders honored former Holland America Line CEO, A. Kirk Lanterman, with the Puget Sound Maritime Person of the Year award for 2005. Lanterman received the award on May 11, at the 54th annual Seattle Maritime Festival Luncheon. The Puget Sound Maritime Press Association began bestowing the honor to individuals in 1951 to recognize long and distinguished careers and specific achievements benefiting the local maritime community. From 1983 to 2004…

The christening ceremony and the commissioning of the second pilot tender Perseus for the Netherlands Loodwezen B.V. will take place on the January 20 in Rotterdam. The christening ceremony will be performed by Princess Margriet von Oranien-Nassau, the sister of the Netherland’s Queen Beatrix. Other policy, economy and industry representatives from the Netherland’s, Belgium and Germany will be attending. The contract for two SWATH@A&R pilot tenders and an option for four additional vessels was signed on May 2004. The vessel was built in 16 months. It is the seventh SWATH@A&R vessel delivered by Abeking & Rasmussen.

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands served as godmother to Holland America Line's newest ship, the ms Oosterdam (pronounced OH-STER-DAM), in a lavish ceremony dedicating the ship in Rotterdam on Tuesday, July 29. More than 5,000 people attended the gala event. Princess Margriet broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the hull to officially name the ship, assisted by Captain Johannes van Biljouw, master of the Oosterdam. The event capped a three-day celebration of Holland America Line's 130 years in business in the city that was the Seattle-based line's original headquarters through the 19th and early 20th centuries.