Cruise Talk: Veendam too big for St. George's

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Veendam too big for St. George's

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Topic: Veendam too big for St. George's

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 12-16-2009 05:36 PM

It appears that the Veendam is a little too large to sail in through the Town Cut into St. George's. apparently she draws too much water and might scrape bottom. So for this upcoming season, she will anchor north and west of Fort St. Catherine and tender passengers into St. George's on the Bermudian. She will still dock in Hamilton for the other two nights. HAL seems to feel that there might be an engineering solution for 2011 that might allow her to enter the harbor. We will see what happens.

Veendam

Zenith sailing through Town Cut.

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

TampaMike
First Class Passenger
Member # 4445

posted 12-19-2009 06:20 PM

The refit on Veendam has her sitting lower / drawing more depth.

But I will entertain the idea that St Georges just thinks she is too ugly to berth there.

Posts: 246 | From: Tampa | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 12-21-2009 08:21 AM

Seems odd as the former Volendam and Veendam went in and out of St. George's easily depending on the winds.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 12-21-2009 11:27 AM

I omitted in my last post that I assume the old Volendam/Veendam drew more water than the new Veendam and her sisters even though the newer sisters are longer and broader.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 12-21-2009 05:00 PM

If shes drawing up too much water, could they bring her in via tugboats? I know not the best solution, but I would assume it would reduce the cost of using tenders?

Best regards,

Brian

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 12-21-2009 07:22 PM

The Royal Gazette 2002; guess nothing much changes. Widening has been talked about for over 10 years, doubt it will be done. Problems from ships thrusters' undermining the docks has also been mentioned in other reports.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

BYEFairwind
First Class Passenger
Member # 4416

posted 12-21-2009 07:23 PM

The old V ships did have their problems going through the Town Cut. I'd have to ask my Dad who worked for HAL the details but I know one summer - I believe it was Volendam - did extensive damage to one of her props twice. From what I remember HAL threatened to pull out of St Georges unless the government did some blasting which they did.

Posts: 21 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

TampaMike
First Class Passenger
Member # 4445

posted 12-21-2009 10:08 PM

Draft alone is not the total issue. When I was aboard Horizon, it was said the Horizon and Zenith were built to be maximum beam for the cut, but also overall size and maneuverability.

Veendam is larger still and the concern comes from a combination of draft, ship's thrust and wind effect. Wind will cause these bulky, yet proportionally shallow draft ships to be dangerous in the cut, or simply moored in the harbor at St Georges.

Horizon took out more than one yacht maneuvering in the harbor and that cut is ridiculously tight for a vessel size of Veendam.

They are simply pushing the envelope unrealistically.

[ 12-21-2009: Message edited by: TampaMike ]

Posts: 246 | From: Tampa | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

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