MS Rotterdam

MS Rotterdam is the lead cruise ship of the Rotterdam class (R class) in the Holland America Line. Built in Italy in 1997, she is the sixth Holland America vessel to bear the name. She is named for SS Rotterdam of 1959, and also named after the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands. MS Rotterdam and her sister ship MS Amsterdam are loosely based on the original ship. Amsterdam and Rotterdam were co-flagships of Holland America Line (HAL).

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named SS Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in Warnemünde, 2018
History
Name: Rotterdam
Operator: Holland America Line
Port of registry: Rotterdam,  Netherlands
Builder: Fincantieri, Trieste, Italy
Yard number: 5980
Launched: 21 December 1996
Completed: 1997
Maiden voyage: 11 November 1997
In service: 11 November 1997
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Rotterdam-class (R-class) cruise ship
Tonnage: 61,849 GT
Length: 780 ft (237.7 m)
Beam: 105.8 ft (32.2 m)
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Capacity: 1,404 passengers
Crew: 600

Rotterdam carries an art collection on board worth over US$2 million and features fine art and antiques.

Construction and career
MS Rotterdam at Rotterdam in 2018 August.

In September 2004, the vessel lost power when all four engines failed during Hurricane Karl while doing a transatlantic crossing. Swells reached 10 to 15 metres (33 to 49 ft). Many passengers suffered injuries during this period, the most severe being fractured bones. Rotterdam regained power and continued its journey to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving on 28 September.[1]

During the summer of 2011, Rotterdam conducted Holland America Line's first standalone transatlantic crossing since 1971, making a single trip both eastbound and westbound.[2]

Rotterdam sails around Europe during the summer and South America in the winter. Commencing in 2012, the cruise ship was based year-round in Rotterdam.[3]

2020 Coronavirus pandemic

In March 2020, Rotterdam was dispatched to transport medical supplies to sister vessel Zaandam after four passengers died, and passengers and crew of Zaandam were found to have symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus.[4][5] Passengers found not to have COVID-19 symptoms were transferred to Rotterdam to reduce the spread of infection during Zaandam's return journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On 27 March, both vessels were briefly denied transit through the Panama Canal after Panamanian authorities claimed Zaandam posed an infection risk to the local community.[6] Transit was later granted by Panamanian authorities on 28 March.

Rotterdam followed Zaandam on its way to Florida. An unstated number of asymptomatic passengers from Zaandam were transferred to the second vessel on 28 March 2020.[7][8][9] At that time, the crew of Zaandam included four physicians and four nurses while Rotterdam's roster included two physicians and four nurses.[10]

As of 30 March 2020, Holland America had not received permission to dock either vessel at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale as planned. According to news reports, the city's mayor, Dean Trantalis, "said he didn't want the ship to dock near his city, at least without extensive precautions" and a briefing by the federal government.[11][12] By 31 March, Rotterdam had taken almost 1,400 people from Zaandam; none had flu-like symptoms. That left 450 passengers and 602 crew members on its sister ship with nearly 200 exhibiting symptoms.[13]

News reports on 2 April stated that both ships would be allowed to dock at Port Everglades that afternoon. The cruise line was making arrangements for passengers from other countries to leave via chartered aircraft.[14]

References
  1. "'Cruise from hell' terrifies passengers". CBC News. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. Sloan, Gene (18 November 2010). "After three decades, Holland America returns to classic trans-Atlantic crossings". USA Today. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  3. Sloan, Gene (18 May 2011). "Holland America to base Rotterdam year-round in Europe". USA Today. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  4. Andone, Dakin & Gallman, Stephanie. "4 'older' guests died on a cruise ship where 2 people have tested positive for coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. Hines, Morgan. "Four dead, 138 sick on Holland America's MS Zaandam cruise in limbo amid coronavirus crisis". USA Today. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. Hines, Morgan. "Coronavirus: Holland America's Zaandam, Rotterdam get permission to transit Panama Canal". USA Today. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  7. Hines, Morgan (28 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Holland America's Zaandam, Rotterdam get OK to transit Panama Canal for Florida". USA Today. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. Silverman, Hollie (30 March 2020). "A cruise ship headed to Florida has reported more sick people on board after 4 die and 2 test positive for Covid-19". CNN. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  9. "Coronavirus: Cruise ship off Panama coast transfers passengers". BBC News. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  10. Winsa, Patty (28 March 2020). "Passengers on cruise ship in Panama transferred to new vessel". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  11. "Authority: Stranded ships begin transiting Panama Canal". WFLA News Channel 8. Associated Press. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  12. Neal, David J. & Dolven, Taylor (30 March 2020). "Fort Lauderdale mayor not ready to accept the coronavirus-hit Zaandam at Port Everglades". Miami Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  13. Gomez, Adriana Gomez & Kennedy, Kelli (31 March 2020). "Florida Docking Plan in the Works for Ill-fated Cruise Ships". NBC New York. Associated Press. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  14. Burke, Minyvonne (2 April 2020). "Cruise ship with sick passengers and sister ship will be allowed to dock in Florida". NBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
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