Blog Board: Pieter Rijkaart

BOARD MEMBERS

Pieter Rijkaart is director of new builds for Holland America Line. Since 1987, he has been responsible for the construction of all HAL ships (with the exception of Prinsendam). Rijkaart splits his time between Seattle and Italy where Eurodam is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard.After graduating from the Nautical College in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Rijkaart joined Holland America Line as an apprentice engineering officer in 1964. He served the last 11 years of his seafaring career as chief engineer on various HAL ships until he came into the office as technical superintendent and, later, newbuild project manager at the shipyard construction site.The first major responsibility in his newbuild career was in 1987 with the lengthening of the previous Westerdam at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

Pieter Rijkaart, Director, Newbuilds