Cammell Laird Wins HAL Cruise Ship Fix

Cammell Laird (Gibraltar) has won the contract to repair the former Holland America Line cruise vessel Rotterdam, the vessel arriving in Gibraltar on July 11, 2004, and due to stay at the yard for between six and 12 months. Rotterdam is one of the oldest if not the oldest cruise ships afloat, and it is the intention of the Dutch Government, after the repairs, to tow the cruiseship to her final resting berth in Rotterdam. The grand old lady will have hotel and conference facilities and part of the vessel will become a Museum allowing people from all over the world to see the luxury of this vessel. Works will include various amounts of steel and pipe work, cleaning, upgrades, drydocking, painting. The full extent of the repairs are not yet known, the Dutch project team arrive this week in Gibraltar to discuss the works. Meanwhile, vessels under repair at the yard include the cruiseships Eloise ex Azur, and Bolero, both owned by Ravenscroft Shipping Inc, Coral Gables, the 1,271 dwt bulk carrier Nordica, owned by Stefan Trybom A/B, Gefle, the 9,584 dwt tanker Mar Vigina, owned by Marpetrol S.A, Madrid, and two container vessels - the 43,222 dwt Hispaniola, which is owned by Splosna Plovba, Portoroz and the 17,375 dwt Alexander Maersk, owned by A.P Moller, Copenhagen. Also at the yard are the two super yachts at the yard which is the Moondance and the Opium.