Friday, November 6, 2009
Vol. 12, Issue 44

The float-out ceremony for Nieuw Amsterdam was held Friday, Oct. 30, at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. The float out is considered a significant milestone in the construction of a new ship, and is accompanied by several traditional ceremonies, including placing coins under the mast, blessing the ship and a champagne bottle breaking.

Hana Rijkaart, wife of Pieter Rijkaart, director of newbuilds for Holland America Line, had the honor of performing the Coin-Under-the-Mast ceremony, an ancient practice of shipbuilders believed to bring good fortune to a vessel. She also donned a welder’s mask and gloves to seal the compartment containing two coins minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s explorations of America that led to the founding of the settlement of Nieuw Amsterdam. Additionally, she broke the traditional bottle of champagne across the ship’s hull.

After the ceremonies, the flood gates on the dry dock opened and the ship was towed to the fitting-out dock to be finished.


Above: The blessing (left) and bottle break.


Above: Hana Rijkaart and Fincantieri Shipyard Director Mr. Attilio Dapelo.


Above: Welding the commemorative Henry Hudson coins into place.


Above, left: The sun shines on the group photo taken to memorialize this momentous occasion. Above, right: Water rushes into the dry dock.


Above: Nieuw Amsterdam floats out of the dry dock!

Photos courtesy of Ed van Weijen, electrical project manager for the Nieuw Amsterdam, and 3rd Engineer Rob Matthew. For more information, visit the Holland AmericaBlog posting here: http://www.hollandamericablog.com/nieuwamsterdam/.