The hand-over ceremony of the cruise ship "Rotterdam", built at the Fincantieri Venezia-Marghera Shipyard for Holland America Line (HAL) has taken place in Venice (7 November). The ship features a 60 thousand GT, and can accommodate over 1,600 passengers.

The "Rotterdam" has been conceived to be the flagship of the HAL fleet, and is therefore a unique ship, with advanced characteristics, born out of the long co-operation between Fincantieri and the Owner. Fincantieri has in fact already built four 55 thousand GT cruise sister ships ("Statendam", "Maasdam", "Ryndam", and "Veendam"). The latest of the series, the "Veendam", handed over to the Owner in Venice in April 1996, had also been built at the Marghera Shipyard, which has now on schedule the construction of further two 65 thousand ton ships for the same Owner.

The "Rotterdam" has a particular characteristic: A 25 knot speed, 20 per cent more than cruise ships currently in service. This ship is therefore a special ship, and sets herself in a class apart. The "Rotterdam" is 237 metres long, with a maximum depth of 50 from the load line, and has 659 cabins to accommodate up to 1,600 passengers, plus a crew of about 600.

More information: Fincantieri