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With
Maritime
Historian
Creation,
Construction, Launching to Her Maiden Voyage
SS
Rotterdam - History Part One
Photographs,
postcards and images on this page are from the author’s
collection
Best
wishes,
Reuben
Goossens.
And
the “Save The SS Rotterdam Campaign.”
****************************
The great SS
Rotterdam, which is a greatly loved Trans-Atlantic Liner and also
a popular luxury Cruise Ship, thankfully remains with us today
and below is her story in brief:
The SS Rotterdam was
the very last great Dutch “Ship of State” and there
were many of the finest designers, workers and artists from
throughout the
SS
Rotterdam seen at her current permanent berth and owned by the
“WestCord” Hotel Chain
Photographer
is unknown – Please see the Photo Notes at the Bottom of the
Page
The
author is well known for his “Save the Classic Liners
Campaign” but with Carnival having already control over
Holland America Line and when I heard the news in 1995 of
Carnival’s desire to rid themselves of “that Old
ship” my campaign went up a notch and my “Save the SS
Rotterdam Campaign” commenced! However, at a later date an
excellent Dutch Organisation “Stoomschip
Rotterdam.nl” headed at the time by a dear friend Mr.
Klaas Krijnen to whom I later handed over the campaign, but I
continued the promotional side, as I had a massive worldwide
support system with millions of readers and with individuals who
would act on the campaign effectively! Thankfully the Rotterdam
was officially saved and having been being completely restored,
in 2005 the “Grande Dame of the Sea” slowly made
her way up the River Maas in Rotterdam bound for her soon to be
new berth, where she became a fine Hotel and popular tourist
complex, come convention centre.
Today
the SS Rotterdam is without a doubt the finest fully restored of
the Classic Liners that remain today, for apart from her
accommodations that required modifications, the rest of her has
been restored to her original 1959 condition and to perfection!
Reuben
Goossens.
Commenced
in the Passenger Shipping industry in 1960.
Founder
“Save the Classic Liners Campaign” Commenced
in 1995.
ssmaritime.com
& ssmaritime.net have received over 505 million visitors.
****************************
Here
we see the 1908 built SS Rotterdam IV off the coast of
Holland
America Line photograph
Holland America
Line (HAL) was well aware that they required a running mate for
their popular liner, SS Nieuw Amsterdam. Thus as economic
conditions had become favourable a new ship was built, being a
smaller 24,294 GRT SS Statendam that was completed in 1957. This
ship was remarkable for she gave the idea of the
“horizontally divided ship” for her first Class was
located up on Boat Deck, whilst Tourist occupied all of Promenade
Deck, thus giving both classes, as was said the “Run of the
ship.”
A
postcard of the 1957 SS Statendam
The magnificent SS
Rotterdam would be the Fifth Ship to carry this proud name and
today there is new cruise ship, a motor ship, the ms
Rotterdam VI.
With plans
completed and approved, it was on October 27, 1955 that Holland
America Line (HAL) officially placed their order for their new
ship to be built by the “Rotterdamsche Droogdok
Maatschappij NV” or the “Rotterdam Dry Dock
Company” in Rotterdam the Netherlands. After a great
deal of preparation, on December 14, 1956 building commenced with
“
SS Rotterdam was
the last of the great Dutch Trans-Atlantic liners and she was
crafted by some of the finest Dutch artisans, both in her
construction and fitting out process.
In the four-year
period, from being commissioned to delivery, the Rotterdam has
been considered as being one of the greatest Dutch Passenger
Liners ever built, however as for myself and to be honest, the
vast majority of maritime experts worldwide, and these do include
some of the greatest names in the industry, believe that the 1937
built SS Nieuw Amsterdam (2) was the most beautiful and perfectly
balanced liner ever built as well as her interiors being some of
the finest examples of Art-Deco and grand luxury seen on a liner,
the ship that in her later years became a very popular cruise
ship featuring a great hull with the traditional HAL gold ribbon
running around it!
This
was a postcard produced by HAL prior the SS Nieuw Amsterdam was
completed
However, as this
new modern liner was being built she was slowly taken shape, one
that certainly became greatly loved. Dutch maritime architects
created a ship design that was certainly greatly advanced for her
time with a brand new “horizontal” public venue system
and I will explain what is meant by this later. In addition a
multitude of artists and interior decorators contributed to her
excellent interiors that made the
SS Rotterdam became
known throughout the
Photo
Gallery; A ship in planning & construction
This
was a model of an as yet unnamed liner, which was greatly based
on the very popular SS Nieuw Amsterdam but it was a
more
streamlined and a far more modern version for the 1950s. But it
was rejected as a more futuristic & streamlined ship was
required!
The
laying of
The
above and the 6 photo’s below are all - A RDM Photograph
– But from the authors private collection
Her
double keel being completed (February 26, 1957) and she is slowly
building up
The
Her
starboard propeller is being fitted on August 21, 1958
The
The
Naming & Launching
HRH
Queen Juliana watches the bottle of Champagne smash and break
against
During
the naming she wished the ship “I name you the
Here
we see the SS Rotterdam slide down the slipway into the
SS
Southern Cross, the world’s first 100% passenger liner for
she did not carry cargo, except for baggage!
Although at first
she was considered as being somewhat controversial, however as
she was such a well-balanced ship, having long slender and
graceful hull lines, that was perfectly balanced but sharply
raked bow that gently flowed through to just below her forward
superstructure. Her hull was in Holland America Lines new livery,
being the grey hull with the traditional gold ribbon two decks
down, thus on the grey part of the hull with an all white
superstructure and as well as her Radar Mast. However her twin
tall exhaust uptakes (funnels) aft were painted in a pale silvery
grey colour as was the crossbar between them close to the top.
The two exhaust outlets and the single mast with the navigation
light, atop between the funnels were black. There were two King
Posts forward and two aft and these were also in this grey
colour.
The SS Rotterdam
had two Whistles, one was located on the first crows nest level
of the white Radar Mast, whist the second one was located two
thirds way up the portside forward Kingpost! If you look at the
photograph below you can clearly see small unit on the right side
of the post! You were able to hear the sound of her horns
(whistles) for a good 9 miles or 14.5 kilometres. Click refresh
to hear her whistles again!
On what was
originally considered an unusual centre housing topside
amidships, where the regular funnel would normally be, was the
location to show off the Company logo, for on the plain white
sides there was painted the NASM official House standard
(flag) that stood for; “Nederlandsch Amerikaansche Stoomvaart
Maatschappij” or the “Netherlands American Steamship
Company.” The other standout colour on board was her 18
buff to yellow fibreglass lifeboats.
One
of the early promotional photographs of the SS Rotterdam
There
is a special page online with and advanced look at the
This superbly
beautiful liner cost US$30,000 to build in 1959 and upon
completion she was without a doubt a beautiful ship externally,
as well as simply a piece of art internally! Besides her
aft-situated machinery and twin exhaust slender stovepipes
funnels, the
There is no doubt that Holland America Line are
innovator’s when it comes to amazing design, for they seem
to have that speciality and a reputation for always that tends to
be a radical departure from the norm in every new ship’s
design or their layout. On the
This amazing feat was done by the means of a
“trick” Main Staircase that was used together with six
elevators (lifts). During her Trans Atlantic Voyages, the
But on the SS Rotterdam Classes were spread
over various decks and a special means of movement was required!
The unique idea of the “Secret Central Stairway”
being a two-way system came to Mr. Willem H. de Monchy who is the
joint President and Director of the Holland America Line several
years earlier when he visited the Chateau de Chambord in the Loire
Valley, France. The massive Chateau from the renaissance area has
a central stairway that has two separate overlapping spirals and
it was designed in order that a person going up the stairway
would not meet anyone descending it.
Modifications of the stairwell provided
optional exits and entrances that were used at the required decks
at certain times, etc. This enabled a First Class passenger to
proceed from their stateroom on A, B, C, or D deck to the public
rooms topside, or to the Dining Room or Indoor Swimming Pool on
the lower decks, without using the Tourist Class side. Tourist
can enjoy the same advantage at different times.
Elevators have an automatic gear system
designed to serve only one class or the other as is required to
conform to the staircase arrangement. During cruises, when there
is only one class on board the whole ship is open to everyone.
The
famed Secret Central Stairwell
From
the author’s private collection
As built; SS
Rotterdam accommodated 1,456 passengers, made up of 655 in First
Class and 801 in Second Class and a crew of 776. However, whilst
she was in a One Class cruise mode she would accommodate just 730
passengers.
There was a great
deal of work done as her interiors were added and finished, as
well as her stovepipe funnels fitted and she was made ready to
sail. In October 1958 there was a great moment as the ships
two sets of Parsons Steam Turbines had been installed. In May
1959 Prins Bernhard, the Queen’s Consort, made an official
visit to the Rotterdam and he was most impressed with HAL’s
new flagship ship as she was close to being ready! Soon she would
enter one more time into dry-dock for her final paint job in May
for the process was now very close to being completed.
The
A
RDM Photograph – From the authors private collection
The Rotterdam
having been completed a year after her naming and launching, she
departed the RDM berth for her first sea trials on July 11, 1959
and then she returned to her berth. Next she went out again to
the North Sea for her technical trails from August 1, continuing
to the 6th, after which she returned to
Above
& below: SS Rotterdam seen during her sea trails on July 11
& August 1 to 6, 1959
On August 20, the
SS Rotterdam looked absolutely magnificent as she was finally
berthed at the HAL official Terminal at the Wilhelmina Kade,
having been there a day after completion of her sea trails. She
also had been manned and fully stocked for that afternoon a very
special event would take place as she would be heading out to sea
once again for an overnight “Test Voyage”
Here
see the SS Rotterdam heading out on her “Test Voyage”
and note that from the very top of her Radar mast is a very
special flag!
It would be later
in the afternoon of August 20, 1959 that Rotterdam locals who
were still admiring this magnificent ship from across the river
or closer by, noticed that suddenly the Royal Standard had been
raised to the very top of SS Rotterdam’s radar mast. This
was because Her Royal Highness Queen Juliana of the
In charge of this
great liner was the Commodore of the Holland America Line fleet,
Commodore Coenraad Bouman who was a wonderful man, whose family I
used to know personally. Whilst the ship had departed and it was
still daylight, there was an official handing over ceremony
topside when the Queen took part in raising the HAL House
Standard (flag) to below the Royal Banner and making the handover
of the ship between “Rotterdam Drydock Company” and HAL
official with a Royal seal of approval!
Here
we see a smiling Queen Juliana assisting in the raising of the
HAL House Standard
Prins Bernhard is on the Queen’s left with Commodore Bouman standing next to him
Obviously
there was a festive, yet a most luxurious party atmosphere on
board and at Diner the Menu contained some of the finest foods to
be found in some of the worlds grandest restaurants, all served
with some of the most amazing wines. All this was being served in
the two deck high grandiose golden Dining Room of this fine ship!
HRH
Queen Juliana & her husband Prins Bernhard (left) with the
Director of HAL Mr. De Monchy in the Dining Room
SS Rotterdam’s magnificent Dining Room in all its grandeur
After a successful
overnight voyage, with all systems, kitchen & galleys,
service boarding and disembarkation, etc, having worked to
perfection under severe pressure, and with everyone on board
being more than impressed and agreed with the HAL slogan that had
become so popular throughout the Netherlands that the Rotterdam
was without a doubt; “The ship of Tomorrow, Today a
Reality!”
On
the 21st.at 9am sharp (being on time is so traditionally Dutch)
she had not only returned to the HAL Wilhelmina Kade but she was
tied up and the gangways were fastened. The ship was now
officially a Holland America Line vessel as the Queen and the
Ship Builders had handed her over during the Mini Voyage!
The
Builders Plaque forward of the deckhouse below her funnels
HAL Image
Having
been delivered and all official duties completed just a little
under a month later on Thursday September 3, 1959 SS
Rotterdam was ready for her maiden voyage, which would be her
first to New York, sailing via Le Havre and Southampton!
Once
again the SS Rotterdam was blessed by hosting a member of the
Royal household, this time the Crown Princess Beatrix who later
became Queen of the
Her
Father, Prins Bernhard escorted his daughter on the
---
Above:
Crown Princess Beatrix and her Father, the Queens Consort Prins
Bernhard board the
Below:
Princess Beatrix and Minister Lund play shuffleboard
Above
& below: a special Maiden Voyage Buffet Luncheon Cover and
Menu
Of
course, the cove features the SS Rotterdam and impressions of the
Halve Maen
SS Rotterdam
arrived in New York on September 11 and the there was no doubt
that the American’s know how to create a show as they gave
the new Dutch liner a grandiose welcome with a large number of
tugs
The
SS Rotterdam arrives in
Amazingly, the Rotterdam’s arrival in New
York coincided with New York State’s celebration of the
350th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch sailing vessel
owned by the “Dutch East India Company” Halve
Maen (Half Moon) but under the command of Henry Hudson as he
discovered the Hudson River, which he named after himself, and
the place that became known as Nieuw Amsterdam that was later
renamed New York City. The Halve Maen anchored close by Staten
Island, being not far from
The little Halve
Maen (“Half Moon”) is a vessel that remains featured
together with the massive bow of the SS Nieuw Amsterdam of 1937
on the Holland America Line logo to this very day!
HAL
Logo showing the grand bow of the SS Nieuw Amsterdam and
“Dutch East India Co” sailing ship, the Halve Maen
This
special envelope was issued by HAL for philatelic enthusiasts for
collection, as it was the 350th.anniversary of the arrival of the
Halve
Maen
With
the huge success of the Test Mini Voyage mentioned on this page,
she was certainly ready for her maiden voyage and she soon
departed on her successful maiden voyage and commenced her
official career!
The
Being
such a well built ship and perfectly laid out she proved to be a
popular ship throughout all her days, both as a liner and a
one-class cruise ship. In addition we know well that she outlived
the vast majority of Trans-Atlantic liners and most other
International liners as well as more modern Cruise Ships for that
matter and the SS Rotterdam sailed successfully for an amazing 48
years!
Her side by side
aft funnel controversy was certainly short lived, for soon this
design idea became the norm with ships, such as the famed 1961
P&O liner SS Canberra that also had her engines aft and was
fitted with side by side upright exhaust stacks and this time
there was no controversy! The reason being, the new trend had
already been set by the great Trend Setter that Elegant Dutch
Liner, the SS Rotterdam which was known was as “The
ship of Tomorrow, Today a Reality”
First
& Tourist Class Mini Photo Album
Thus
many venues look rather bare, especially in Café de la Paix
where the Bar had not been stocked as yet.
Not
even the ashtrays were placed on the tables and yes, sadly,
smoking in those days was still the norm!
First Class
The
beautifully designed Smoking Room, looking aft and located on
Upper Promenade Deck
This
series of photographs are by Holland America Lines Promo
department in 1959
But
have been part of the Author’s private collection since 1960
Tourist
Class
Sun
Deck
The
delightful Sunroom with a view aft over the Tourist Sports deck
there was a spiral stairwell down to the venue below
Boat
Deck
Amidships
starboard side was the Children’s Playroom, available to
both First & Tourist Class
First
Class reached it via lifts or the “Central Secret
Stairwell” - cabins were just forward
Tourist
Class reached it via stairs from the Sun Room Above or the
Central Stairwell
Promenade
Deck
The
spacious and elegant Queen’s Lounge was located just aft of
the largest Cinema at sea, it was a popular dance venue
Far
aft was the delightful, but a bare looking Café de la Paix with
its spacious stripped dance floor
on
both sides of the Bar was the aft “Verandah” being a
popular place for a coffee and a snack overlooking the Pool and
Lido Deck!
The
Lijnbaan is the popular Shopping Centre, which is named after
being
one of the first large open air Shopping Malls ever, for the
Nazis had completely flattened this region and much of the city
centre
on May 14, 1940. The
There is no doubt that I greatly love the SS
Rotterdam, and I did love it when she returned to her dark blue
hull, for it was a return to the old HAL days. Yet sadly when
Carnival took over HAL I knew that things would change for the
worse, but thankfully, HAL did set in stone a good number of
strict rules and they are very important and they remain in place
to this day. These things can be discovered on my cruise pages
and I suggest that you visit one of my cruise reviews at; ms Oosterdam 2014 Review. Although the ship is
certainly no SS Rotterdam, or even in the style of my more
favoured S-Class (S for Statendam) or R-Class (Rotterdam Class),
but her interiors are superb and she has over U$1. million worth
of fine and historic art that fills the ship and her lounges have
a blend and old style gracefulness to sheer beauty in modern
design, which is so typical HAL. I just loathe her Carnival
designed Vista Class boxlike exterior! But, onboard the service,
cuisine, entertainment and the standards onboard were supreme!
Reuben Goossens.
Call
sign:
PHEG.
IMO:
5301019.
Tonnage:
38,675 GRT (gross registered tonnes)
Height,
keel to
top
of radar mast:
201.10 ft - 61.52m.
Engines:
De Schelde Double Reduction Geared Triple Expansion Steam
Turbines – 38.500 SHP
Screws:
Two
. 801 Second Class.
Cruising: 730 One Class.
Crew:
776
For
many more details – Go to Part Seven!
One
of HAL’s Posters featuring their Big Three ships and two
other Passenger Liners the Ryndam & Maasdam
As
well as Passenger-cargo liners MS Noordam & Westerdam that
carried up to 150 passengers
SS
Rotterdam departs for
This Seven Page SS Rotterdam V Feature
is being completely updated.
Reuben
Goossens.
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SS
Rotterdam INDEX
Part
Eight:
Saving the
Where
the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos
Story
Also
visit my
“Save The
Classic Liners Campaign”