Holland America Line has laid the keel for its new Pinnacle-class cruise ship Ryndam at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Venice.
Due for delivery in May, 2021, Ryndam is the third vessel in Holland America Line’s Pinnacle-class, joining Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam.
Like her sister ships, she will carry 2,668 passengers in 1,340 cabins.
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“The keel laying is an important construction milestone because it marks the moment when we can really start to watch the ship take shape and progress toward its launch in 18 months,” said Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line.
In traditional shipbuilding the keel was laid first, with the rest of the ship’s structure welded onto and around it, so that the steel plates of the hull could then be riveted on.
However, in modern shipbuilding the keel is usually now the mid-section of the lowest ‘block’. It’s no longer the first section to be built, as was seen with Ryndam when her forward bow section was completed before the ‘keel’ was laid.
The block that forms the centre of Ryndam’s keel that was lowered by crane into the yard’s building dock is nearly 46 feet long and weighs more than 500 tons.
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It is one of 85 blocks in total that will make up the ship, while Ryndam herself is the 14th ship to be built for Holland America Line by Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.
Holland America Line has not released any details about Ryndam thus far, but it is expected to be nearly identical to its sister ships with on-board features such as a Music Walk with a B.B. King’s Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, Billboard Onboard and Lincoln Center Stage.
Restaurants onboard will likely include French brassiere Rudi’s Sel De Mer, the line’s signature steakhouse Pinnacle Grill and Italian eatery Canaletto.
Bars and cafes will include Blend, a wine-blending class created in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle, along with two dozen other venues, and up top she’ll likely have two pools, two hot tubs, an outdoor sun deck with a retractable roof and an open-air cinema.
The Retreat, an extra-fee alfresco lounge deck, debuted on Pinnacle-class ships and will probably be expanded or offer new services aboard Ryndam.
The ship will be the fifth in the 100-plus-year history of Holland America Line to carry the name Ryndam.
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