15 years ago the ss Rotterdam was opened for the public

15 years ago, on February 15 2010, the ss Rotterdam opened her doors for the public. On a cold and windy morning a group of children from a school in the neighbourhood and several celebrities were invited to come to the schip.

Willem Smit, managing director operations and Onno van den Brink, managing director of the owner of the ship had a talk for the press.

The children boarded the ship accompanied by the sounds of a street organ. A street organ was a tradition when passenger liners of Holland America Line left Rotterdam.

Pictures Klaas Krijnen

First world cruise ss Rotterdam

On January 28 1961 the ss Rotterdam started her first world cruise. Holland America Line continued a tradition that started in 1958 with the first world cruise of the ss Statendam. The Rotterdam left New York for the Mediterranean from where she sailed through the Suez canal to India, Singapore, Hongkong, Japanese harbours, Honolulu and the west coast of  North-America. After visiting Los Angeles, Acapulco, Balboa and Cristobal she arrived in New York after 77 days on April 14. It was the start of many world cruises that ended for the ss Rotterdam in 1997 when she was sold to Premier Cruises.

New compressor for the horn of the ss Rotterdam

Airpress donated our foundation a new compressor for the horn of the ss Rotterdam. In 2010 our foundation took care of ‘the voice of the Rotterdam’, installing a new compressor and a renovating the horn in the radarmast. After 14 years the compressor needed to be replaced. Our volunteer Jan van Pijkeren contacted Airpress who donated us a new compressor. Last Wednesday the compressor was handed over to our foundation. The sound of the horn: The shipshorn of the ss Rotterdam

Robin Snoek and Michel van Ravenswaay of Airpress and Jan van Pijkeren of Friends of the ss Rotterdam celebrated the fruitful cooperation. Picture Klaas Krijnen

Michel van Ravenswaay, Robin Snoek and Jan van Pijkeren at the upper Bridge deck near the compressor room. Picture Klaas Krijnen

 

 

New star between the smokestacks

Our volunteers produced a new star to celebrate Christmas on the ss Rotterdam. A long tradition continues. The new star can be dismantled and stored in a proper way to prevent damage.

Picture klaas Krijnen

Maiden voyage started on September 3 1959

On September 3 1959 the ss Rotterdam started her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York. During this liner voyage Princess Beatrix was special guest on her way to New York to celebrate 350 years connection between the Netherlands and the United States.