HOLLAND America Line’s latest ship Nieuw Statendam has moved a step closer to completion with a coin ceremony held at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy yesterday.
A member of Holland America Line’s President’s Club, Anne Marie Bartels, was chosen to help weld a Dutch guilder to the mast of the ship as a token of good fortune, using a coin minted in 1898 – the year Holland American Line’s first Statendam came into service.
“The coin ceremony is one of the most time-honoured traditions in the building of a ship, and having Anne Marie, one of our most valued guests, serve as Madrina makes the celebration all the more special,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line.
The 99,500 ton ship will be fully floated on 21 Dec and moved to a pier for outfitting, ahead of its scheduled launch late next year.