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Ocean Liner History and Stories from the Sea, Past and Present. With an In Depth focus on Holland America Line

Tag: Good Deeds

Captain’s Log: Donation at Port of Spain, Trinidad

January 12, 2011 / / 0 Comments

On December 30th, the Prinsendam made a large donation of curtains and diapers to the local rotary club of Port of Spain, Trinidad. This was a follow up to our previous donation in Manaus, Brazil on December 12th. The local rotary club (oldest established club in Port of Spain being 54 years old) will take care of further distribution.

Here is a picture of members of housekeeping and store room department offloading the boxes. Photo by Mike Willock, Prinsendam’s human resources manager.

Captain Albert is Prinsendam’s master.

Captain’s Log: A Major Donation in Manaus, Brazil

December 14, 2010 / / 0 Comments

On December 10, the crew of the ms Prinsendam donated over 40 boxes with pillows, bedspreads, curtains, personal clothing, housekeeping items and medical materials to two good causes in Manaus. Our first donation took place in March of this year, when we donated bathrobes and children’s clothing. That was followed by our most recent donation that grew into an excess of 40 boxes.

In the past month, Holland America Line has been upgrading the ms Prinsendam’s guests cabins with soft goods. As we were going up the Amazon during that same period, we were able to donate the replaced items to these good causes. All of the items went to the children’s home of Lar Batista Janelle Doyle (wwww.larbastistamanaus.com.br) and a retirement home called Fundacao de Apoio ao Idoso Dr.Thomas, two well-known organizations in Manaus.

Hotel Manager Francois Briarda, myself, Human Resources Manager Mike Willock and the representatives from the children’s home.

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Captain’s Log: A Special Donation in Barcelona

November 23, 2010 / / 0 Comments

As part of the continuous upgrade of the Prinsendam, the ship received 320 new cabin chairs during the call at Barcelona on 15 November 2010. The new chairs have a slightly higher back but most importantly are more fire retardant. Chief Officer Ryan Whitaker, in charge of interior maintenance, asked the agent in Barcelona whether a charity would be willing to take the 320 old chairs coming of the ship, which were still in good condition.

The charity that responded was La Nau, which specializes in collecting non-food materials for the socially excluded. Items obtained are cleaned and repaired and then forwarded to welfare organizations. Thus retirement homes, orphanages, night shelters, etc., will now all benefit from our gift. As can be seen from the photos, Housekeeping and the Deck dept. set up a system whereby the old chairs were removed from the cabins and unloaded in the morning and the new chairs loaded and brought to the cabins. Before departure all guests had a new chair to sit on. The carton was recycled on the dockside at the same time and thus did not have to come on board.

At Barcelona, Spain.

Albert Schoonderbeek is master of Prinsendam.

Captain’s Log: Maritime Academy Donation

July 27, 2010 / / 1 Comment

During the January 2010 dry dock, the ms Prinsendam received a new GMDSS system (emergency telecommunication system for the bridge) and a new steering system, gyro compass and auto pilot. Normally, the old systems are recycled for scrap. As the Prinsendam would be calling at Vlissingen, the Netherlands, during the summer season, the idea came up to donate these items to the local Maritime Academy.

During the next six months the bridge team collected and kept all the old charts, nautical books and other related items that would be of use for nautical students. On 20 July 2010, the ms Prinsendam visited Vlissingen and all that was collected was handed over to the lecturers of the Maritime Academy.

Recycle team, from left: S.E.H. Officer Willem van Woerkom, for environmental and compliance; 2nd Officer Navigation Simon Allcock; 1st Officer Joris Poriau, a graduate from the Maritime Academy Michiel de Ruyter of Vlissingen, and 4th Officer Adam Gardner, assistant navigation officer.

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