Fincantieri Cuts Steel for Holland Americas New Cruise Ship

Fincantieri Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held a steel cutting ceremony of the bow section of Nieuw Statendam, the new cruise ship being built for US-based cruise company Holland America Line, part of Carnival Corporation, on July 8 at its shipyard in Palermo. Weighing about 3,900 tons, the section will be transported by sea to Fincantieris shipyard in Marghera, where it will be assembled to set up the entire unit, the shipbuilder said. Featuring 99,500 gross tons, the Nieuw Statendam will have a length of 300 meters. The vessel will be capable of accommodating up to 2,650 passengers in more than 1,300 cabins. According to Fincantieri, the ships technology is aimed at optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact and it responds to the current safety regulations. The delivery of the cruise ship is scheduled for end-2018. The newbuild will be a sister ship of Koningsdam, delivered in March from the shipyard in Marghera. The ship was christened on May 20 in Rotterdam. Being the 14th and the brands largest ship, the Koningsdam belongs to a new Pinnacle class of ships.