Captain’s Log: Getting to the Ship

Today we start a new feature, “Captain’s Log,” with regular updates from Eurodam’s master, Jeroen van Donselaar, who has just joined Eurodam in Marghera.

Greetings Eurodamnews.com readers!

After Blog Board Member Chief Engineer Frank de Vries’ contribution about my arrival at the yard in Marghera today, I would like to take this opportunity to personally say hello to you all! It will be my pleasure to update you on the Eurodam from my perspective and perhaps even to welcome you on board during the inaugural season!

Today, April 30th, has been the first day of a long but exciting assignment that will see me all the way through to October 1st.

After having been appointed the master-designate of the first Signature-class ship now more than a year ago, I have been looking forward to seeing the Eurodam myself and today is the day!

The last few days have been busy for me with packing and traveling. I left our new home on Long Island last Saturday and was dropped off at JFK Airport by my wife Pam, who will join me in a few weeks, to catch the late KLM flight to Amsterdam, arriving there at noon on Sunday.

While in The Netherlands on Sunday night I took the opportunity to have dinner with my parents whom I had not seen since February. On Monday morning I went to Rotterdam to get my annual physical done, which, next to having a certificate of competence or CoC as Master, is a requirement in order to take command of a ship. Although Holland America Line will not actually own the Eurodam until mid June and I will not take command until then, I will probably not have another opportunity to travel back to Holland and get this done.

On Monday afternoon I had meetings over at HAL’s office in Rotterdam with the directors of human resources and nautical operations to go over the upcoming events. I also met the harbormaster as well as some representatives of “Cruise Rotterdam,” which is an organization involved with the Eurodam’s visit to Rotterdam and the events that will take place there.

I was very relieved to learn that I will have to dock the Eurodam portside alongside the pier. Not only is this considered “good seamanship” to moor “bow out,” this was the “default” berthing side along this pier for the many years HAL ships regularly docked there. It also makes for a more graceful departure when we will be able to come off the berth and make headway rather than sternway.

The reason for Eurodam’s portside docking is that in this way the bow with the name of the ship will be better positioned for the christening ceremony, which will take place on a podium between the Rotterdam Port Control Centre building and the passenger terminal itself.

After having inspected the terminal at the Wilhelminakade and the dockside itself, I returned to my hotel at Schiphol Airport.

On Tuesday afternoon I once again boarded a KLM plane for a short flight to Venice. I had not been there since 1999/2000 when I was the supervising chief officer during construction of the Zaandam. Nevertheless, it was familiar ground.

I was greeted at the Venice airport by Eurodam’s Chief Officer Andre van Schoonhoven and First Officer Dan Wardle, both of whom I have worked with before and am very happy to have on the team.

As the ship is as of yet uninhabitable, all officers and crew are staying in local apartments or hotels until we are able to move on board. In my case a room was reserved at a nice downtown hotel in Mestre, adjacent to the yard in Marghera, until June 1, which is the tentative date for us to move on board. The company also supplies me with a car so I can move about freely.