View source for MS Westerdam

{{short description|Vista Class cruise ship owned by Holland America Line}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Westerdam Nov 24 2015.png
| Ship caption = ''Westerdam'' at [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] in 2015
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = ''Westerdam''
| Ship namesake = Western compass point
| Ship operator = [[Holland America Line]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship awarded = 
| Ship builder = [[Fincantieri]]
| Ship yard number = Marghera
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = 16 July 2003
| Ship sponsor = 
| Ship christened = April 2004
| Ship status = In service
| Ship completed = 
| Ship in service = 2004–present
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9226891}}
*{{MMSI Number|244128000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: PINX
| Ship registry = {{NLD}}
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = (as built)
| Ship class = {{sclass2|Vista|cruise ship|||2002}}
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|81,811}}
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{convert|936|ft|m|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|105.8|ft|m|1|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = 
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = [[Diesel-electric]]; [[ABB Group|ABB]] [[Azipod]]s
| Ship speed = *{{convert|24|kn}} (maximum)
*{{convert|22|kn}} (service)
| Ship capacity = 1,964 passengers
| Ship crew = 800
| Ship decks = 11 passenger decks
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = (following April 2007 refit)
| Ship tonnage = {{GT|82,500}}
| Ship capacity = 1,964 passengers
}}
|}

'''MS ''Westerdam''''' is a {{sclass2|Vista|cruise ship|||2002}} owned by [[Holland America Line]]. She is the third ship of the class to be operated by the line, as well as being the third ship to bear the name ''Westerdam''.  Her [[sister ship]]s are {{MS|Oosterdam||2}}, {{MS|Zuiderdam||2}}, and {{MS|Noordam||2}}. The beginning of the four ships' names represent the four directions of the compass in Dutch.

==Construction and career==
[[File:Piräus Hafenterminal MS Westerdam@20171021 01.jpg|thumb|left|''Westerdam'' at a terminal in Hafen von Piräus]]
[[File:Kaohsiung Skyline 2023.jpg|thumb|left|''Westerdam'' at [[Kaohsiung]], [[Taiwan]] in 2023]]
''Westerdam'' was christened on 25 April 2004 in [[Venice, Italy]] by Dutch actress [[Renée Soutendijk]].<ref name="dedication">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/news/NewsRelease.action?newsReleaseId=232 |publisher=[[Holland America Line]]s |work=News release |title=Holland America Names Dutch Actress Renée Soutendijk As Godmother To MS ''Westerdam'' |date=9 April 2004 |access-date=3 August 2008 }}</ref> As with all Vista-class ships, ''Westerdam'' is equipped with a [[CODAG]] power plant and an [[Azipod]] propulsion system. The theme of her art collection is Dutch heritage in the [[New World]]. Paintings of historic Dutch ships, such as [[Henry Hudson]]'s ''[[Halve Maen]]'' (Half Moon), and various sculptures and statues are displayed throughout the ship. Contemporary pieces include an original [[Andy Warhol]] portrait and sculptures by [[Sedona]] artist [[Susanna Holt]].<ref name="MS Westerdam info">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruiseships/Westerdam |publisher=Holland America Line |title=MS ''Westerdam'' |access-date=25 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112001334/http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruiseships/Westerdam |archive-date=12 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  In an April 2007 refit 34 cabins were added as well as modifications to several public areas of the ship.<ref name="investment">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/news/NewsRelease.action?newsReleaseId=472 |publisher=Holland America Line |work=News release |title=Holland America Line's Investment in Signature of Excellence Surpasses $425&nbsp;Million |date=1 November 2007 |access-date=3 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="MS Westerdam - facts sheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/news/FastFacts_Westerdam.pdf |publisher=Holland America Line |title=Fast Fact Sheet – MS ''Westerdam'' |date=September 2007 |access-date=3 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611232433/http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/news/FastFacts_Westerdam.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2011  }}</ref>

On 10 May 2011 while maneuvering through [[Yakutat Bay]], south of [[Kluane National Park]], [[British Columbia]], ''Westerdam'' struck ice  and incurred hull damage {{convert|15|ft|m}} below the waterline.<ref>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press | title=Cruise ship hits fixed ice; some damage but hull not breached | url=http://www.adn.com/2011/05/11/1858168/cruise-ship-hits-fixed-ice-some.html | work=The Anchorage Daily News | date=11 May 2011 | access-date=12 May 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514232143/http://www.adn.com/2011/05/11/1858168/cruise-ship-hits-fixed-ice-some.html | archive-date=14 May 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 28 June 2014, ''Westerdam'' suffered a [[Fire room|boiler room]]{{clarify|reason=I don't think modern ships have boiler rooms for propulsion anymore. They are diesel-turbine powered|date=July 2015}} fire after leaving the [[Port of Seattle]]. There were 2,086 passengers and 798 crew members on board, with no reported injuries.  She returned to Seattle and was cleared the next day by the [[United States Coast Guard]] to return to sea.<ref>{{cite news| agency=Reuters| title=Boiler Room Fire Forces Cruise Ship Back to Port | url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-29/news/chi-cruise-ship-fire-20140629_1_boiler-ship-seven-day-cruise | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122212/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-06-29/news/chi-cruise-ship-fire-20140629_1_boiler-ship-seven-day-cruise | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 September 2014 | work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=30 June 2014 | access-date=1 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| agency=Associated Press| title=Boiler room fire forces cruise ship back to port | url=https://nypost.com/2014/06/29/boiler-room-fire-forces-cruise-ship-back-to-port/ | work=[[New York Post]] |date=29 June 2014 | access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref>

On 25 June 2015, a [[Promech Air]] [[de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter]] carrying a pilot and eight passengers from ''Westerdam'' on a Holland America Line sightseeing excursion over southeastern [[Alaska]] crashed into the face of a [[granite]] cliff near [[Ella Lake]], {{convert|20|mi}} northeast of [[Ketchikan]], killing all nine people on board.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/alaska-plane-crash-9-people-killed-after-sightseeing-plane-carrying-cruise-ship-1984911 Varandani, Suman, "Alaska Plane Crash: 9 People Killed After Sightseeing Plane Carrying Cruise Ship Passengers Crashes," ibtimes.com, June 26, 2015, 12:27 AM EDT.]</ref>

===2019–20 coronavirus pandemic===
{{see also|COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships}}
In February 2020, the cruise ship, departing after a stop in [[Hong Kong]] on 1 February, was denied to call in the [[Philippines]], [[Japan]], and [[Guam]] over concerns regarding coronavirus [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2|SARS-CoV-2]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cruise ship that visited Hong Kong searches for a port after Philippines, Japan deny entry |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2020/02/06/coronavirus-cruise-ship-denied-by-japan-philippines-holland-america/4676988002/ |date=6 February 2020 |website=USA Today |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Guam denies entry to ship over coronavirus concerns |author=Jerick Sablan |url=https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/02/07/guam-denies-entry-ship-over-coronavirus-concerns/4687803002/ |publisher=[[Pacific Daily News]] |date=7 February 2020 |access-date=9 February 2020}}</ref> After initially receiving approval on 10 February to let the passengers disembark in Thailand, as the ship was heading to Laem Chabang port near Bangkok, permission to dock was refused the next day. However, the ship was still maintaining its course to Bangkok and at around 10:30 am [[Central European Time|CET]] on 11 February, ''Westerdam'' sailed around the southern tip of Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thailand bars Westerdam cruise ship, China virus toll tops 1,000 |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1855034/thailand-bars-westerdam-cruise-ship-china-virus-toll-tops-1-000 |newspaper=[[Bangkok Post]] |date=11 February 2020 |access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Thailand refuses entry to cruise ship with no coronavirus cases |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-thailand-cruiseship/thailand-refuses-entry-to-cruise-ship-with-no-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN20503T?il=0 |access-date=11 February 2020 |work=Reuters |date=11 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/l/2322512|title=Nederlanders vast op cruiseschip Westerdam: 'We hebben behoorlijk spijt'|website=nos.nl|date=11 February 2020 |language=nl|access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> According to Flip Knibbe, a Dutch passenger on the ship, all the passengers have had their temperatures checked a second time. Speaking to [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] on 11 February, Knibbe said "''Dit schip is virusvrij''": 'This ship is virus free'. Unlike the cruise ship {{ship||Diamond Princess|ship|2}}, which is located in the port of Yokohama in Japan, those on board are not in quarantine. Everyone can move freely, shops and restaurants are open and the entertainment program continues.<ref name=":0" />

On 13 February, the ship was allowed to dock in [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]], Cambodia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51484625|title=Cruise ship rejected by five ports docks at last|date=13 February 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=13 February 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref> On 15 February, Malaysia reported that an 83-year-old [[Citizenship of the United States|US citizen]] who disembarked ''Westerdam'' and flew into Malaysia on 14 February had tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3050814/coronavirus-us-passenger-westerdam-cruise-ship-infected|title=Coronavirus: Westerdam cruise passenger infected, Malaysia confirms|date=15 February 2020|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> In a second test, requested both by the Holland America Line and Cambodian authorities, the woman tested positive again.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Woman from Cruise Ship Tests Positive Again for Coronavirus in Malaysia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/16/world/asia/16reuters-china-health-cambodia-cruiseship.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=16 February 2020 |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> Despite these findings, Cambodian Prime Minister [[Hun Sen]] visited the ship, discouraged use of masks, and encouraged the passengers to tour the city, sparking concerns that another spoke was being added to the contagion network.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Beech|first=Hannah|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/17/world/asia/coronavirus-westerdam-cambodia-hun-sen.html|title=Cambodia's Coronavirus Complacency May Exact a Global Toll|date=2020-02-17|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On 19 February, the last 233 passengers of the ''Westerdam'' cruise were cleared to disembark after all tests to determine the infection of COVID-19 in the 781 passengers of ''Westerdam'' gave negative results;<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20200219/473660015812/ultimos-pasajeros-abandonan-el-crucero-en-cambodia-after-discarded-covid-19.html | title = Last passengers leave the cruise ship in Cambodia after discarding COVID-19 | access-date = 2020-02-20 | date = 2020-02-19 | website = La Vanguardia | language = en }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> the 747 crew members remain on board pending a final decision from the owner [[Holland America Line]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/ships/ms-westerdam/statement-regarding-westerdam-in-japan/ |title=Updated Statement Regarding Westerdam|date=20 February 2020|work=hollandamerica|access-date=20 February 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref>

It is thought that about 650 of the guests on board the ship were from the US, 270 from Canada, 130 from the UK, 100 from the Netherlands, 50 from Germany and several passengers from Australia. The crew consisted largely of Indonesians and Filipinos.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51542241 |title=Coronavirus: How did Cambodia's cruise ship welcome go wrong? - BBC News |work=BBC News |date=20 February 2020 |access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

==Past ''Westerdam'' ships==
The first ''Westerdam'' sailed for Holland America Line from 1946 to 1965. It was a combined cargo/passenger ship with accommodations for 143 first-class passengers. While being constructed during World War II, this ship was sunk three times before making its maiden voyage. It was bombed and sunk by [[Allies of World War II|Allied forces]] on 27 August 1942 in the shipyard in [[Rotterdam]]. The [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] raised the ship in September 1944, but it was quickly sunk by the [[Dutch resistance|Dutch]] underground forces. After being raised a second time, the [[Resistance during World War II|resistance]] again sank it on 17 January 1945. The ship was finally completed and operated on the transatlantic run making two eight-day crossings each month between Rotterdam and New York.<ref name="HAL_facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/news/FastFacts_VistaName.pdf |publisher=Holland America Lines |title=What's in a Name: Vista Ships Reflect Tradition |date=January 2006 |access-date=29 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611232216/http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/news/FastFacts_VistaName.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2011  }}</ref> She ended her career on 4 February 1965 when she was sold to Spain as scrap.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shipsandcruises.com/ships_past.htm#Westerdam |title=The History of Holland America's ''Westerdam'' Ships |access-date=1 April 2010 |work=ships of the past |publisher=shipsandcruises.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312172536/http://www.shipsandcruises.com/ships_past.htm#Westerdam |archive-date=12 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The second ''Westerdam'' began service as {{MV|Homeric||2}} for [[Home Lines]] in 1986. Holland America Line acquired the ship in 1988 where the ship was lengthened in 1989 by 130 feet.  After 643 cruises spanning over 13 years with Holland America, she was transferred to sister company, [[Costa Crociere]] in 2002, and renamed {{ship||Costa Europa}}.<ref name="HAL_facts"/> Since then, she has been placed on a ten-year lease to [[Thomson Cruises]], active as of April 2010, and renamed once more as {{MS|Thomson Dream||2}}.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Holland America Ships}}
{{Vista class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westerdam}}
[[Category:2003 ships]]
[[Category:Cruise ships involved in the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Panamax cruise ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Fincantieri]]
[[Category:Ships built in Venice]]
[[Category:Ships of the Holland America Line]]