A good example will be imitated

Looking back, it must be concluded that the ROTTERDAM was a trendsetter when it came to the positioning of her propulsion machinery. After the aforementioned and smaller SOUTHERN CROSS, ARGENTINA, and BRASIL, the ROTTERDAM was the first large passenger ship to place her machinery aft.

The ss Argentina and ss Brasil were introduced in 1958. In 1971 they became Veendam and Volendam for HAL

The ss Canberra was introduced in 1961

Other large liners followed, such as the CANBERRA (45,733 GRT), the NORTHERN STAR (24,733 GRT) and the OCEANIC (38,772 GRT). This trend was confirmed with the creation of the HAMBURG and the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in the 1960’s, and it continues with today’s mega-cruise ships where “two-thirds aft” is the norm. We have by now, however, become so accustomed to this layout that compensatory design measures are no longer necessary.

In summary, it can be stated that the ROTTERDAM, both in her machinery and its placement within the ship, was a most progressive example of a generation of passenger ships which were still being designed as line vessels. The ROTTERDAM was the last large passenger ship to be driven by steam turbines to be built in the Netherlands.