HAL’s Dan Grausz Visits Eurodam

Blog Board member Frank de Vries sent us this photo taken today of Dan Grausz, senior vice president of fleet operations for Holland America Line, visiting Eurodam (third from left) at the yard.

He’s on deck with (left to right) Henry Veringa, blog board member and project manager, HAL; James Moore, new build manager, CCS; Grausz; Pieter Rijkaart, blog board member and director of new builds, HAL; Ed Ramaekers, senior superintendent, HAL, and Koos van Beesten, chief housekeeper, HAL.

Tamarind to Charge for Dinner, Not Lunch

We just found out that Tamarind (shown in a rendering above), Eurodam’s new pan-Asian alternative restaurant, will charge $15 per person for dinner, but will not charge for lunch. The menus will be different, with the lunch menu of dim sum, a Chinese cuisine consisting of a variety of dumplings, steamed dishes and other light fare.

The restaurant, which is located on Deck 11 and offers panoramic views of the Lido Deck pool area, features a dinner menu that mixes Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian dishes. A sushi and sashimi menu is ofered as well. For a look at the restaurant’s location and menu, go here.

We Have Three New Blog Board Members

In recognition of their ongoing support, content contributions and excellent photography skills, we have added three new members to Eurodam News Blog’s blog board. They are Chief Engineer Frank de Vries, Chief Electrician Ed van Weijen and Project Manager Henry Veringa.

We certainly appreciate all they’ve done to help us make the Eurodam News Blog a success. Without their photos, explanations and descriptions, the blog would not be nearly as interesting to read or look at.

Welcome to the blog board, guys!

Show Lounge is Taking Shape

Here’s the latest photo of the show lounge. And below is a rendering of what it will look like when complete.

The Lido Pool Area

Here’s a recent photo taken of the Lido pool, as well as a rendering so you can see what the area will look like upon completion.

For Eurodam, HAL took a different approach to the pool sculpture. Made of lightweight stone, the elegant structure at the head of the pool functions as both a sculpture and an eight-foot-high waterfall guests can walk through as they enter or leave the pool. The word ‘water’ is subtly engraved in the stone in 100 languages from around the world.

Construction is moving along at a rapid pace.

What is a Bow Thruster?

Chief Officer Andre van Schoonhoven and First Engineer Marcel Kiers inspecting bow thruster #2 during the dry dock in Trieste.

We received this cool image of Eurodam’s bow thrusters taken during the ship’s recent dry dock, and we thought it would be interesting to post it with information on the function of the bow thrusters. So, we went to Captain Jeroen van Donselaar to find out the answer:

A bow thruster is a device that is fitted in the bow, as much forward as technically possible, to enhance maneuverability of the ship. Bow thrusters are only useful at slow speeds or when the ship is stopped, which is when the bow thruster is most efficient.

Unless in clear water or in drydock, the bow thrusters are normally not seen.

Most designs have a reversible propeller, driven by an electric motor, that sits in a tunnel which is part of the hull. Because the propeller is reversible, bow thrusters can be used to push the ship’s bow to port (left) or to starboard (right). When the bow thrusters are operated together with the pods, which are located at the stern of the ship, the ship can move sideways or turn on a dime.

Because of their large ’sail’ and subsequent need for ‘force,’ our Vista and Signature class ships are fitted with three bow thrusters.

Eurodam’s Dining Room Chairs are in Production

Rendering of Eurodam’s main dining room.

The actual chairs that will be used in the main dining room.

William A. Schuitema, CEO of Best of Europe, sent us images of the production version of the VFD13AHB Open Arms chairs that will be used in the main dining room. Here’s what William, who goes by the nickname Wim, told us about the chairs:

These chairs, meant for the main dining room, were designed by Mr. Frans Dingemans of VFD Architects in Utrecht and produced in collaboration with William Schuitema/Best of Europe in The Netherlands. The chair is the next generation of the first VFD13AHB, which is used on ms Zuiderdam.

The main difference from previous models (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Noordam) is that they are 13 cm (5.11 inches) lower and, for the first time, have a curved back. The comfort is very good and the chair is very strong. Most dining room chairs will have open arms, 45 will have closed arms and there are 20 armless chairs.

The European leather is ‘Australia Red’, and the backside is upholstered in a fine fabric from Rentmeister. The beechwood is stained in transparent black and finished with satin lacquer.

Eurodam’s Captain Goes ‘Green’

Captain Jeroen van Donselaar at the helm of his roof.

We just finished posting a three-part interview with Captain Jeroen van Donselaar, master of Eurodam. The captain sent us a photo and some information about what he’s been up to on his current vacation. Well, it doesn’t really sound much like a vacation. As you might recall from the interview, the captain likes to keep busy with home-improvement projects in his time ashore. Here is his account of what he has been up to lately:

My wife Pam and I recently bought a new home on Long Island, New York. While on vacation we have been enjoying many home projects. One of these projects has been “going more green” by installing an electric solar system on our roof. We feel it is vital to take action now and leave a less of carbon footprint by using renewable energy such as solar power.

Other green efforts we have been doing are planting more trees in our yard, using only compact fluorescent bulbs, recycling as much household waste as we can, and using one large recyclable bag for all of our groceries to avoid using the small plastic bags given at the supermarket.

The photo-voltaic system installed consists of 20 panels. Each is rated at 200 watts and is expected to generate approximately $1,000 worth of electricity a year. All depending on the weather of course!

The system is hooked up to the grid, this enables us to literally sell back electricity to the Long Island Power Authority in case we generate more than we use. It is great to see the meter spin backwards. I have also hooked up the system to the Web so I can log in via the Internet from the ship and check on electric production.

Whether on vacation or at home, everyone’s small contributions can make a big difference!

Sea Trials Update

Left to right: Ed Ramaekers, senior superintendent, HAL; Henry Veringa, project manager new building, HAL; Pieter Rijkaart, director new building, HAL; Michele Ronchi, captain, Fincantieri; Frank de Vries, chief engineer, HAL; and Prash Karnik, deputy director nautical operations, HAL.

Henry Veringa sent us this photo with an update after Eurodam returned from its “official” sea trials this past weekend. According to Veringa, Eurodam returned safely to port after a successful sea trail under the command of Captain Michele Ronchi. The ship exceeded both the contractual speed of 21.8 knots and maximum speed of 23.9 knots by .6 knot. All machinery tests carried out were satisfactory and no open issues remained. All safety equipment and maneuvering tests were conducted according to all SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and classification society requirements.

Veringa also sent us these images taken by Prash Karnik of the fire/rescue boat test carried out during the sea trials. They were taken just after the ship left the yard at Trieste. Fire/rescue boats must be capable of being launched and towed while the ship is making headway at a speed of 5 knots in calm water.

Interview with Captain Jeroen van Donselaar, Part Three

Capt. Jeroen van Donselaar

Today we post the final installment of blogger and Carnival Cruise Lines Senior Cruise Director Jon Heald’s interview with Captain Jeroen van Donselaar, master of Eurodam.

John Heald: Finally, I have this tradition on my blog, and I wonder if you could fill in the blanks here. The scenario is that you are hosting a captain’s table and you need to choose the menu for dinner using all traditional Dutch foods and then you must choose your seven dinner companions.

Captain Jeroen van Donselaar: Well this is tough. Outside of the Netherlands one does not find too many restaurants that serve traditional Dutch fare. There must be a reason for that. I like to cook, but my favorite dishes are more in the French style. I enjoy it a lot when the whole house smells like boeuf bourguignon or cocq au vin — both dishes that have to simmer for many hours.

Anyway, if I would have to put together a Dutch dinner this is what the menu would be like:

Appetizer: This would be a seafood platter with raw herring, smoked eel, smoked mackerel and shrimps.

Salad: For us Dutch this is not a course but a mere side dish. I would suggest a simple salad with a vinaigrette dressing and blue cheese crumbs.

Main Course — Two Choices: Stamppot Andijvie. This is in essence mashed potatoes mixed with thinly sliced pieces of endives. It comes with traditional Dutch meatballs and gravy. This is a winter dish with lots of calories to keep you warm!

Rijstafel: Not a Dutch dish, but given our colonial history, I will take it anyway. Made popular by the rich Dutch plantation owners and traders in the Dutch East Indies — now Indonesia — the very best that Indonesian cuisine has to offer. The base ingredient is fried rice and it comes with beef and chicken in many different ways cooked with many different spices.

Dessert: Hopjes vla with slagroom, this is butterscotch pudding with whipped cream.

JH: Now we’re going to ask you to select your dinner companions. First, someone from the world of the cruise/ocean liner industry.

JvD: Captain Stephen Card. He is the painter who paints all those fabulous ship paintings that adorn the stairwells of the HAL ships.

JH: Someone to make you laugh.

JvD: George Carlin or alternatively Jay Leno

JH: Someone from the world of sport.

JvD: Anyone who can make me ski better than I do now!

JH: A famous actor or actress.

JvD: Sean Connery.

JH: One politician or esteemed mind.

JvD: I really want to say Bono of U2 but I’ll go with Dave Evans aka the Edge, U2’s guitarist. I need some help to understand his delays and effects.

JH: One beautiful lady.

JvD: My wife Pam and my mom.

JH: Thank you Captain so very much for taking your time to answer these questions. We have 1.7 million readers around the world who will enjoy your interview very much. What a terrific interview and I am sure we all wish this brilliant vessel bon voyage. We will catch up with the Captain and crew once they start sailing.

Thanks again to John Heald for sharing this interview with us. You can check out his blog here.