Rotterdam Successfully Sails Through Sea Trials in Italy

It was smooth seas and fair winds for Holland America Line’s newest ship, Rotterdam, which returned in the evening of May 6 to Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard in Italy, after successfully completing two sets of sea trials off the country’s Adriatic coast.

Rotterdam left Marghera April 25 and performed the preliminary sea trials over two days before going into dry dock at Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard where standard pre-delivery hull maintenance and painting were performed. The ship started its official sea trials on May 3, returning to Marghera May 6, where the final steps in the construction process will be completed. Rotterdam is scheduled for delivery July 30.

sea trials rotterdam

Sea Trials Rotterdam

“The successful completion of sea trials gives us great confidence as we head into the final weeks of outfitting for Rotterdam and prepare for delivery of this historic ship.” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Construction of Rotterdam has continued through the global challenges of the past year with Fincantieri maintaining the highest level of dedication to staying on schedule. Congratulations to everyone involved for completing this significant milestone.”

RODM sea trials

During sea trials, Rotterdam underwent a series of rigorous performance tests on the ship’s systems, machinery and engines. Captain Werner Timmers, Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert, Chief Engineer Stefan Dullaert and other members of Rotterdam’s designated senior bridge and engineering teams participated in testing the ship’s maneuvering characteristics and safety systems in collaboration with the shipyard’s team of naval architects, engineers and builders.

We look forward to welcoming our new beauty in a couple of months!

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5 Comments

  1. Arlette Stirnimann-Vanlishout May 23, 2021 at 7:22 pm - Reply

    Thank you very much for this great news about MS Rotterdam VII. After three cancelled HAL-cruises since March 2020 due to the pandemic (one of which with Rotterdam VI, now sailing as MS Borealis), I am so very, very much looking forward to my transatlantic cruise in October 2021!

  2. Marion Habets-Duykers May 23, 2021 at 3:18 am - Reply

    We verheugen ons er nu al op om in september aan boord te gaan van dit mooie schip.
    We hebben het steeds als een genot ervaren om gast te zijn op een van jullie schepen.
    En al zal het anders zijn in de corona tijd met de nodige regels aan boord te gaan maar samen maken we er een mooie beleving van op dit mooie schip moet dat lukken.

  3. Richard Kroeger May 8, 2021 at 10:25 am - Reply

    We are so ready for the inaugural cruise! The 21 days will be a great experience welcoming back all of the crew and enjoying the time on this ship.

  4. patsy martin May 8, 2021 at 9:23 am - Reply

    Are all the ports open that Rotterdam is planning to sail to in August?

  5. Cornelis Hoogeveen May 8, 2021 at 8:59 am - Reply

    With all the Negativity we see and hear each day, it is great that Holland America continues to look forward to normal times in a POSITIVE manner with the soon NEW addition to the fleet.
    The MS Rotterdam will be, just as her Sister ships are, a pleasure to be a guest on and travelling the world.

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