MS Veendam
{{Short description|Cruise ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = MS Veendam Near Gloucester (recropped).jpg | Ship caption = Veendam sailing outside Gloucester, Massachusetts }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = * Veendam (1996–2020)
| Ship namesake = Veendam | Ship owner = * Wind Surf Ltd, Bahamas (1996-2006)
| Ship operator = Holland America Line (1996-2020) | Ship registry = * {{flagicon|Bahamas}} Nassau, Bahamas (1996-2006)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = 5954 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 20 September 1994 | Ship launched = 24 June 1995 | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship completed = 1996 | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = 1996 | Ship in service = 1996 | Ship out of service = 2020 | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = 2016 | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9102992}}
| Ship motto = | Ship nickname = | Ship status = Laid up in Aigio, Greece since 2020 | Ship notes = | Ship badge = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = S-class cruise ship | Ship tonnage = * {{GT|55,451}} (as built)
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|719|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | Ship beam = {{convert|101|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = 13 | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = 2 × 12-cylinder 8640 kW, 3 × 8-cylinder 5760 kW diesel generators | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|20.9|kn|lk=in}} | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = 1,350 passengers | Ship crew = 568 }} |
MS Veendam is a cruise ship operated by Holland America Line from 1996 to 2020 and named after the municipality of Veendam in the Netherlands. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the vessel was sold to Seajets, Greece, renamed Aegean Majesty, and has remained laid up.
Holland America Line
Veendam was the fourth S-class/Statendam-class ship, ordered following the success of her three sister ships. Her keel was laid by Fincantieri as Hull Number 5954 in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/veendam/|title=Fincantieri {{!}} Veendam|website=www.fincantieri.com|access-date=25 March 2020}} The ship was launched on 24 June 1995 and completed in May 1996.{{Cite ship register|register=MSI|id=9102992|accessdate=22 September 2021}} Actress Debbie Reynolds became the ship's godmother, and sailed on her maiden voyage on 15 May 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/topics/hal-history/140-years-young-welcome-veendam/|title=140 Years Young: Welcome Veendam {{!}} Holland America Blog|language=en-US|access-date=25 March 2020}} The ship was the fourth Holland America Line ship to be named after the town of Veendam, Netherlands. Her registered owner was Wind Surf Ltd, and she was registered at Nassau, Bahamas.
Veendam was transferred to the Netherlands flag in 2006 and to the ownership of HAL Nederland NV, Rotterdam, continuing under Holland America operation. In April 2009, the ship underwent dry dock renovations at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Grand Bahama which included significant changes to her stern. Two new decks of verandah accommodation were added which necessitated the removal of a portion of her upper decks, and the bridge wings were extended. To structurally support the resulting change in weight, a ducktail was added to her hull.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/destinations/caribbean/veendam-dry-dock-update-march-30-2009/|title=Veendam Dry-Dock Update: March 30, 2009 |work=Holland America Blog|date=31 March 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=25 March 2020}}
During winter months Veendam operated from South American ports and, during the summer season, sailed from New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/FindCruises.action?destCode=&dateCode=&durationCode=&portCode=&shipCodeSearch=VE |title=Cruises to Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and the world on Holland America, one of the best cruise lines |website=Hollandamerica.com |access-date=18 February 2016}}
On 25 January 2015, Veendam was called by the United States Coast Guard to rescue a pilot who had ditched his plane after experiencing a mechanical failure {{convert|225|nmi|lk=in}} from the coast of Maui, Hawaii. Coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Veendam launched Lifeboat 2 in a successful rescue operation.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/destinations/hawaii/veendam-rescues-pilot-who-ditched-his-plane-in-the-pacific-ocean/|title=Veendam Rescues Pilot Who Ditched His Plane in the Pacific Ocean|date=26 January 2015|publisher=Holland America}}
Later history
The ship was sold in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to Greek ferry operator Seajets along with sistership Maasdam. After delivery in Katakolon, Greece in August, Veendam was renamed Aegean Majesty by registered owner Mediterranean Dream Inc, reflagged from Netherlands to Bermuda, and berthed at Corinth.{{cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/greece-cruising-restart-roiled-hal-ships-go-seajets |title=Greece cruising restart roiled, HAL ships go to Seajets |work=Seatrade Cruise News |date=28 August 2020 |access-date=4 September 2020}}{{cite news|title=Four Holland America Line Ships Sold |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23246-four-holland-america-line-ships-sold.html |work=Cruise Industry News|date=15 July 2020 | access-date =21 July 2020}}{{cite news |title=Here Are The Cruise Ships Carnival Is Selling |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23517-here-are-the-cruise-ships-carnival-is-selling.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Cruise Industry News |date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128051814/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/23517-here-are-the-cruise-ships-carnival-is-selling.html |archive-date=28 January 2021}} In the early morning of 7 November 2020, in strong winds, the ship broke its moorings in Corinth and grounded on a sandbank in the harbour.{{cite news |title=Οι άνεμοι παρέσυραν σαν χάρτινο καραβάκι κρουαζερόπλοιο στο λιμάνι Κορίνθου! (The winds swept away a cruise ship in the port of Corinth like a paper boat!) |url=https://notospress.gr/article.php?id=55260 |access-date=9 November 2020 |work=Notos Press |date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109195535/https://notospress.gr/article.php?id=55260 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |language=el}} Two days later she was refloated, undamaged.{{cite news |title=Στα ανοιχτά της Κορίνθου πλέον το Aegean Majesty (Aegean Majesty now off the coast of Corinth) |url=https://arxipelagos.gr/%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%B9%CF%87%CF%84%CE%AC-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B8%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%AD%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%BF-aegean-majesty/ |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Archipelagos |language=el|date=9 November 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|IMO 9102992}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080116050028/http://hollandamerica.com/cruiseships/Veendam Veendam official page (2008)]
{{Seajets}}
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Holland America ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veendam}}
Category:Ships built by Fincantieri
Category:Ships built in Monfalcone