Passagiersschepen - Países Bajos: libros - historia y compañías navieras

Holland America Liners 1950-2015

Fundada en 1873, la Holland America Line prestaba servicios de transporte de pasajeros y mercancías entre los Países Bajos y Norteamérica. Al finalizar la Segunda Guerra Mundial, solo nueve de los veinticinco barcos de la Holland America Line habían sobrevivido, y la compañía emprendió la reconstrucción.

El orgullo de la flota de HAL de la posguerra era el SS Rotterdam, terminado en 1959, que fue uno de los primeros barcos en el Atlántico Norte equipado para ofrecer travesías transatlánticas de dos clases y cruceros de lujo de una sola clase.
Sin embargo, la competencia de las aerolíneas provocó que a principios de la década de 1970 Holland America pusiera fin a sus servicios transatlánticos de pasajeros. En 1973, la compañía vendió su división de transporte de carga.
Actualmente propiedad de la compañía estadounidense de cruceros Carnival, Holland America ofrece viajes alrededor del mundo y cruceros por el Mediterráneo, el Caribe y Asia.

En este libro, el renombrado historiador y autor especializado en transatlánticos, William H. Miller, analiza la Holland America Line y su flota de posguerra hasta 2015.

Detalle del libro

Autor:	William H. Miller
Presentación:	128 páginas, 24.5 x 17 cm, tapa blanda
Ilustración:	150 fotos en b/n y color
Idioma:	Inglés
Editorial:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2016)
ISBN:	9781445658834

SS Nieuw Amsterdam (Classic Liners)

Este libro narra la distinguida trayectoria del Nieuw Amsterdam, buque insignia de la Holland America Line. Uno de los transatlánticos más populares del Atlántico, visitaba con frecuencia Southampton, Hoboken-Nueva York, Rotterdam y, posteriormente, Fort Lauderdale y el Caribe.

El buque insignia holandés de estilo art déco recibió su nombre del asentamiento de Nueva Ámsterdam, la actual Nueva York. Su vida útil antes de la guerra fue breve y, tras la caída de los Países Bajos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, fue requisado por el Ministerio de Transporte británico, bajo la dirección de Cunard. Tras su conversión, sirvió como transporte de tropas británico, llevando a miles de soldados aliados a todos los rincones del mundo.

Tras la guerra, permaneció al servicio de Holland America Line hasta 1974, siendo el último barco en conservar las chimeneas verdes, amarillas y blancas de la compañía. A pesar de los problemas con las calderas en 1967, se le instalaron calderas excedentes de la Armada estadounidense y continuó navegando, realizando cruceros, hasta su retirada del servicio en 1974.

Enriquecida con objetos originales e imágenes a color espectaculares, esta exhaustiva narración ofrece un relato completo de las hazañas bélicas del barco - cuando fue equipado con cañones y cargas de profundidad -, su resurrección como crucero de éxito después de la guerra y su eventual desguace.

Detalle del libro

Autor:	Andrew Britton
Presentación:	120 páginas, 15.5 x 23.5 cm, tapa blanda
Ilustración:	ricamente ilustrado con fotos en b/n y color
Idioma:	Inglés
Editorial:	The History Press Ltd (GB, 2015)
Colección:	Classic Liners
ISBN:	9780750961028

SS Nieuw Amsterdam - The Darling of the Dutch

Entering service in 1938, the Nieuw Amsterdam was the Holland America Line flagship until the construction of the Rotterdam in the late 1950s. Her prewar life was short and she was used as a troopship during the Second World War, carrying many thousands of Allied troops to all corners of the world. Of 36,000 tons, she was the largest vessel built in Rotterdam and was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in April 1937.

A perennial favourite of the Dutch and their finest Ship of State, Nieuw Amsterdam remained in Holland America Line service until 1974, the last ship to retain the Holland America Line's familiar green, yellow and white funnels.
Despite boiler problems in 1967, she was refitted with US Navy-surplus boilers and sailed on, cruising, until withdrawn from service in 1974. Sailing to the breakers, the art deco 'Darling of the Dutch', as she was affectionately known, was broken up.
Today, she still has a following, from those who sailed on her but also from those who have grown to appreciate the importance of the Nieuw Amsterdam in terms of ocean liner design.

Detalle del libro

Autor:	William H. Miller
Presentación:	128 páginas, 17 x 24.5 cm, tapa blanda
Ilustración:	190 fotos en b/n y color
Idioma:	Inglés
Editorial:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2015)
ISBN:	9781445650487

Holland-Amerika Lijn - geschiedenis van een rederij

The history of the Holland-America Line has seen many ups and downs and reads like a thrilling novel. For more than a hundred years, Rotterdam was proudly the home port of this shipping company, with imposing ships at the Wilhelminakade defining the city's skyline.

From its founding in 1873 well into the twentieth century, HAL transported millions of passengers and vast cargo. The legendary shipping company grew into a globally renowned cruise company and continues to capture the imagination.

Famous ships such as the Statendam and the Rotterdam are known to everyone. The Nieuw Amsterdam was legendary for its rapid troop transport during the war. Many emigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the HAL in search of a new life. Freight transport between Europe and America contributed to the growth of the shipping company and the prosperity of the Netherlands.

The history of the HAL, including its highs and lows, is extensively covered in this richly illustrated book. With many previously unpublished images and a list of ships, it is a complete reference work for enthusiasts of Dutch merchant navy history.

Detalle del libro

Autor:	Nico Guns
Presentación:	176 páginas, 29 x 24 x 2.1 cm, tapa dura
Ilustración:	ricamente ilustrado con fotos en b/n y color
Idioma:	Holandés
Editorial:	Walburg Pers BV (NL, 2015)
ISBN:	9789462490413

ss Rotterdam - Een beknopte scheepsbiografie

As early as 1938, designers from the Holland America Line were commissioned to design a 'running mate' for the famous Nieuw Amsterdam, but due to the outbreak of World War II, the final construction order did not follow until 1955.
The luxury turbine steamship had to be suitable for both the Transatlantic passage (in two classes) and for cruises. The final design of the ship aroused both amazement and admiration throughout the nautical world.

The Rotterdam - the fifth HAL ship to bear this name - became the flagship of the Dutch merchant navy. After its launch in 1958, a life of Atlantic crossings followed, alternating with exotic cruises in the winter months. The HAL tourism division was sold to Carnival Cruises in 1989 and the Rotterdam went to Miami as a desirable 'asset'.
In 1997, the ship came into the hands of Premier Cruises under the name Rembrandt. However, the shipping company went bankrupt and the ship was detained in Freeport (Bahamas) in 2000.

After many complications, it was decided to bring this piece of Dutch maritime heritage back to her home port. Via Gibraltar, Gdansk and Wilhelmshaven, the ship - again called Rotterdam - returned to the Maasstad. There she is currently experiencing a quiet 'old age' in maritime terms, not concerned about the financial and political problems that came with her mooring at the 3rd Katendrechtsehoofd.
However, she is very much alive and in full use as a hotel, special event location, attraction, wedding location and more. For everyone who has a soft spot for the ss Rotterdam, there is now this richly illustrated ship's biography.

Detalle del libro

Autor:	Arnout Guns, Nico Guns
Presentación:	128 páginas, 28 x 22 x 1.5 cm, tapa dura
Ilustración:	ricamente ilustrado con fotos en b/n y color
Idioma:	Holandés
Editorial:	Walburg Pers BV (NL, 2015)
ISBN:	9789462490314