Two times premiere calls of the Pinnacles (Port of Aarhus vol. V)

Express_3_departing_Aarhus_001 — Above: NIEUW STATENDAM left Aarhus the same day at 16:45 for a whole day at sea in The North Sea on the final leg of cruise back to Amsterdam. Right: EXPRESS 3 departs with LAXFOSS and NIEUW STATENDAM in the horizon.

Just after Molslinjen’s EXPRESS 3’s 05:45 departure Friday morning, Holland America Line’s newest cruise vessel NIEUW STATENDAM appeared in the horizon on the approach to her premiere call in Aarhus. In front of her lay Eimskip’s container feeder LAXFOSS loaded with frozen seafood from the North Atlantic Islands.

Nieuw_Statendam_maiden_call_Aarhus_011 — Still quite a way to go – shot with a 600 mm lens.

NIEUW STATENDAM is the second and final newbuilding in Holland America Line’s latest class of cruise vessels, the so-called Pinnacle-Class. An evolution from the Signature-Class comprising EURODAM and NIEUW AMSTERDAM. NIEUW STATENDAM was delivered November 2018 and had her inaugural season in the Caribbean before returning to Europe for the spring and summer season here.

Nieuw_Statendam_maiden_call_Aarhus_009 — The pilot boat returning.

The premiere call in Aarhus was the last stop before returning to Amsterdam, from where the 21 nights cruise stated May 5. With a few days difference, it is two years ago since NIEUW STATENDAM ‘s 2016-built Pinnacle-sister KONINGSDAM had her first visit to Aarhus. Back then I missed the arrival but managed to photograph the departure.

Port_of_Aarhus_213 — The new EXPRESS 4’s 06:45 departure.

Some selected technical facts about the Pinnacles

Length o.a.: 299,7 m
Beam: 35 m
GT: 99,800
NT: 68,000
Lower pax berths capacity: 2,650
Crew no. (approx.): 1,000
Propulsion: Diesel electric, 2 X ABB Azipods, 4 X MaK 12V43C-based gensets, total output 50,400 kW.
Builder: Fincantieri
Concept- and basis design: Fincantieri
Interior design: Adam D. Tihany and YSA Design (Bjørn Storbraaten)
Register: Holland
Home port: Rotterdam
Turning around just outside the outer piers.

The sister KONINGSDAM departs Aarhus on her premiere call two years ago.

Heading out in the Bay of Aarhus.

KONINGSDAM seems very close to the outer jetty, but large focal length press everything together.

There were in fact enough space for the, back then, brand new EXPRESS 3 to pass.

16:45 last Friday, NIEUW STATENDAM is moving.

And sets the course toward Kattegat followed by the pilot boat, which will collect the harbour pilot within the next half hour.

Goodbye!