Holland America Holds Keel Laying Ceremony for Eurodam

Giant cranes lower the first modular section of Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam into place on the construction dock at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard near Venice, Italy. A priest offered a blessing for the ship during the event, part of the traditional Italian keel-laying ceremony.

Construction of Holland America Line’s new Signature-class premium cruise ship ms Eurodam reached a milestone with the recent keel-laying ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Italy. The 2044-passenger ship is scheduled for delivery in June 2008. The ceremonial keel laying involves lowering the first modular section of the ship onto the construction dock. Subsequently, other modules are put into place, much like fitting together a giant, multi-layered jigsaw puzzle. The $450-million Eurodam, with 11 passenger decks, features a new class of staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows on the top two decks, as well as many traditional Holland America Line amenities.