MS Borealis
Borealis in A Coruña, 2022
| |
History | |
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Name |
|
Operator |
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Port of registry | Until 2020: Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since 2020: Bahamas |
Builder | Fincantieri, Trieste, Italy |
Yard number | 5980 |
Launched | 21 December 1996 |
Completed | 1997 |
Maiden voyage | 11 November 1997 |
In service | 11 November 1997 |
Identification |
|
Status | In service |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Rotterdam-class (R-class) cruise ship |
Tonnage | 61,849 GT |
Length | 780 ft (237.7 m) |
Beam | 105.8 ft (32.2 m) |
Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
Capacity | 1,404 passengers |
Crew | 600 |
Borealis is a cruise ship of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, sailing since July 2021. She was built as MS Rotterdam and was the co-flagship for Holland America Line, for which she sailed for 22 years.
Construction and career
As Rotterdam
Commissioned in 1997 by the
Rotterdam carried an art collection on board worth over US$2 million and featured fine art and antiques.[2]
In September 2004, the vessel lost power when all four engines failed during
During the summer of 2011, Rotterdam conducted Holland America Line's first standalone transatlantic crossing since 1971, making a single trip both eastbound and westbound.[4]
Refit
In 2012, Rotterdam received a major refit in Hamburg. The upper aft superstructure was rebuilt with the addition of extra cabins, and the removal of the aft swimming pool.[5]
Sold to Fred Olsen cruises
Due to the pandemic and shutdown of the cruise industry, the flagships Rotterdam and sister Amsterdam were sold to Fred Olsen Cruises in summer 2020.[6][7] The ship sailed from its namesake city one final time as the Rotterdam on 11 August 2020.[8] A new MS Rotterdam (VII) debuted in July 2021.
As Borealis
In the fall of 2020 the ship sailed to Scotland and was laid up with the rest of Fred Olsen fleet prior to being refitted for service. The name Borealis refers to a ship of the same name that was part of the Fred. Olsen line in 1948, before it became a cruise line. The transformation of Rotterdam to Borealis started in August 2020 at Damen Shipyards in Schiedam, near Rotterdam with completion in July 2021.[9] Shortly after making its maiden trip,[10] Borealis suffered a technical issue that caused the cancellation of a cruise as the ship remained in Portsmouth.[11]
Borealis’ homeport is Liverpool.[12]
References
- ^ "Princess Margriet Helps Celebrate ms Rotterdam's 100th Call at Rotterdam". Holland America Line blog. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ OCLC 923338666.
- ^ "'Cruise from hell' terrifies passengers". CBC News. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ^ Sloan, Gene (18 November 2010). "After three decades, Holland America returns to classic trans-Atlantic crossings". USA Today. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Rotterdam Gets a Makeover in Time for the Holidays". Holland America Blog. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ Mathisen, Monty (15 July 2020). "Fred. Olsen Buys the Amsterdam and Rotterdam from Holland America". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Holland America Line sells four cruise ships". Ship Technology. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ Tuesday, August 11, 2020: Ms Rotterdam - Last Farewell, retrieved 27 April 2022
- ^ "14 July 2021; ms Rotterdam (VI) Revisited. – – Captain Albert's Blog –". Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Williams, Angus (5 July 2021). "'Momentous day' as Suffolk cruise line sets sail again after pandemic". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Staff, C. I. N. (16 July 2021). "Fred. Olsen's New Borealis Suffers Technical Problems". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Cammell Laird completes Fred. Olsen's Borealis' multimillion-pound refurb". Seatrade Cruise News. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
External links
- Media related to IMO 9122552 at Wikimedia Commons