World's largest cruise ship docks at Rotterdam harbour
1 July 2004
AMSTERDAM — The world's largest cruise ship, Queen Mary 2, docked at 6.30am on Wednesday in Rotterdam amid tight security.
The 71m high and 344m long ship with 2,620 passengers and about 1,200 crew entered the world's largest harbour as it sailed past Hoek van Holland at about 1.30am, news agency ANP reported.
The ship came to a stop at the Eemshaven at about 4am and two tug boats towed the ship to the centre of Rotterdam, where it docked at the Holland Amerikakade, under the Erasmusbrug.
To allow for the ship's passage, the Nieuwe Mass needed to be deepened prior to its arrival, Dutch public news service NOS reported.
The Rotterdam Harbour Company said several hundred people welcomed the arrival of the Queen Mary 2. It said a large crowd was seen at Hoek van Holland, but the wharves in the city centre were not completely full.
But despite a spokesman saying "it is clearly not Sinterklaas who pulled in", the harbour company was nevertheless pleased with the turnout.
Due to tight security measures, sightseers were kept at an appropriate distance from the ship and police kept private boats a minimum of 200m from the bow and 60m from the side of the colossal cruise ship.
The EUR 632 million ship — which has 10 restaurants and five swimming pools spread over 14 levels, plus a planetarium, ballroom, library, theatre, casino, hot tubs, boutiques and children's facilities — will depart again at 5pm on Wednesday for the UK.
Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 left Southampton on 12 January on her maiden voyage for a 14-day voyage to North America. In her inaugural year, the ship will make 13 transatlantic crossings.
[Copyright Expatica News 2004] |
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