Bjorn Storbraaten News

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.

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.

The company's new Pinnacle-class cruise ship to feature interiors designed by two leading firms. Holland America Line has selected two design companies to create the interior spaces of the line's new 99,000-ton ship that is slated for delivery in February 2016. The first in a new Pinnacle-class of vessel, the ship will showcase decors by designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten. Tihany will join Storbraaten, who successfully worked with Holland America Line on Eurodam and  Nieuw Amsterdam, in designing the ship's public rooms. Adam D.

Residential Cruise LineLtd. (RCL), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) with Aker Yards to build the world's largest residential cruise ship, the Magellan. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Norwegian firm of Petter Yranand Bjorn Storbraaten Architects A.S., the Magellan offers fractional and full-ownership of luxuriously appointed residences and penthouses as well assuch unprecedented amenities as a full-service retractable marina, on-call private Bell 429 helicopters, a 450-seat satellite broadcast capable theater and 24-hour on-call concierge service to name just a few. Private residences on the Magellan range in price from $1.875m to $8m for penthouses and from $156,250 for fractional ownership residences.

While this year's Sea Trade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami, Fla. offered up the usual fare of new innovations and ideas for the cruise industry, Fincantieri introduced not a new vessel or concept, but a book outlining the concepts and designs that the yard has based its European traditions. Rather than focusing on just the vessels themselves, Fincantieri's executive team, namely Executive Chairman Corrado Antonini and Giuseppe Bono, the company's CEO, approached the situation as an historical artifact. Therefore, the company sought the assistance of Fiora Steinbach Palazzini, a writer and communication consultant, who is also a professor at Trieste University.

With the construction of new sister ships progressing as scheduled and the recently signed contract to manage the world's first ocean-going luxury residence, Silversea cruises is well poised for growth in the next millennium. The line was founded in 1992 with the concept of offering all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruises to all parts of the world. The first ship, Silver Cloud, debuted in 1994, followed by Silver Wind in 1995. In five years, the line emerged as a leader in the ultra-luxury cruise market and is internationally recognized as the world's best small ship cruise line. The company's strong performance has made it possible to expand the fleet after only four years of operation. In May 1998, Silversea signed a contract for two new ships.

With the construction of new sister ships progressing as scheduled and the recently signed contract to manage the world's first ocean-going luxury residence, Silversea Cruises is well poised for growth in the next millennium. The line was founded in 1992 with the concept of offering all-inclusive, ultra-luxury cruises to all parts of the world. The first ship, Silver Cloud, debuted in 1994, followed by Silver Wind in 1995. In five years, the line emerged as a leader in the ultra-luxury cruise market and is internationally recognized as the world's best small ship cruise line. The company's strong performance has made it possible to expand the fleet after only four years of operation. In May 1998, Silversea signed a contract for two new ships.