:cry: :cry: A sad part of an otherwise WONDERFUL venture and adventure :!: :!: :lol:

A ship is coming home. As you all might know, I have been involved with the s.s. Rotterdam for quite some time. Even when I stepped down from the board of the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation, I still remained very interested and tried to get as much information as was possible. When we heard that the s.s. Rotterdam was going to be towed back to Rotterdam, we (Henny Westenburger, Leon Beesemer, Co Spruit and myself) discussed what to do on that day. We enquired with De Rotterdam BV and the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation what they had planned, but the answers were very vague. Henny enquired with boat-charter companies, but their prices were quite high and they wanted to know the exact date, which was still unknown. As I am involved with the Stichting Paradijsvogel, owning a former minesweeper, we decided that I would inquire with the board. I did so, and we agreed to charter the AMS60 BERNISSE on a still unknown date. Meanwhile we contacted people to join us and ended up with a group of 27, who were willing to share in the costs. On Saturday 2 August, early in the morning, it was decided that the s.s. Rotterdam should depart from Wilhelmshaven and that she would arrive at Maas Pilot Station on Monday 4 August around 02.30 pm. As Henny, Leon and Co left on Friday evening to see the departure from Wilhelmshaven, I emailed and telephoned all to gather at the berth of the BERNISSE on Monday between 11.00 am and 11.30 am. Unfortunately 3 people had to cancel, so we had a group of 24 people, of which 4 came from the U.K. and 1 from Denmark. Mr. Dick Wijnstekers, a retired shipping-master of Rotterdam Port Authority and now skipper of the ms BERNISSE stayed in contact with his former colleagues and decided to depart around 01.00 pm. Around 02.00 pm we arrived at Hook of Holland and were informed that the winds at sea were 5 to 6 Beaufort. To avoid people becoming seasick, Mr. Wijnstekers decided to sail around in the entrance of Europort. Shortly after 02.30 pm we noticed far away at sea a familiar silhouette and we all got very excited as she came closer. The s.s. ROTTERDAM was towed by two seagoing tugs of Kotug, the RT Magic and RT Spirit. At Maas Pilot Station, two more tugs came to assist, being the SD Shark and SD Seahorse. Around 03.30 pm the s.s. ROTTERDAM was between the piers. The RPA15, RPA16 and another RPA welcomed her with the firehoses and while they passed us, the Bernisse saluted her, blowing the horn, which was followed by all ships. At 04.00 pm, the lines with the RT Magic and RT Spirit were shortened and the voyage up river continued, surrounded by a little armada of small boats. The Bernisse sailed behind the s.s. Rotterdam, passed her, turned, and did it all again. The shores were lined with parked cars and a lot of people were waiting to welcome the s.s. Rotterdam back home. Around 05.00 pm we passed Maassluis, and when we passed Vlaardingen around 05.30 pm, we agreed to sail on to the Merwehaven to have dinner. After dinner we sailed down the river and at 07.30 pm the s.s. Rotterdam passed Schiedam. At 08.00 pm the s.s. Rotterdam passed the place where she was built, the premises of the Rotterdam Drydock Company. At that moment, all ships surrounding the s.s. Rotterdam blew their horns. Around 08.30 pm she reached the entrance of the Maashaven and she was slowly brought in. Around 09.00 pm all lines were ashore and the s.s. Rotterdam was finally back home. The Bernisse sailed back to her berth in the Werkhaven, where we all thanked the skipper and the whole crew for making this day so wonderful. All Dutch people went home, and the U.K. and Danish guests (plus myself) went to their hotel in Rotterdam. For making this homecoming possible, we have to give credit to a group of enthusiasts who did not want to see the s.s. Rotterdam go to the beaches of Alang. They formed the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation and lobbied to find a company who was willing to invest a lot of money in the project. They found a listening ear at Mr. Joep van den Nieuwenhuizen, CEO of Rotterdam Drydock Company, who financed the purchase with a loan guaranteed by Mr. Willem Scholten, director of the Rotterdam Port Authority. Those enthusiasts are in alphabetical sequence: Leon Beesemer, Jan-Willem Koene, Ronald Kole, Klaas Krijnen, Willem van der Leek (volunteer, and in 2003 asked to replace Remco van Mourik in the board), Remco van Mourik, Co Spruit (volunteer). = = = Willem van der Leek Hoorn, 11 August 2008.

It was exciting to watch her arrive home on the cams! I can only imagine how exciting it must have been for you and the others onboard Bernisse to welcome s.s. Rotterdam home in person! 8)

It is a wonderful outcome for a wonderful "Lady of the Sea". I am grateful that you have shared this experience with us. THANK YOU! :D

Willem. Thank you for the info and details of the saving of a wonderful lady. I know you are all proud of what was accomplished.

photos ! !
The s.s. Rotterdam was scheduled to be towed to her homeport in the first week of August. Early in the morning of Saturday 2 August, the decision was made to depart from Wilhelmshaven. On Monday 4 August, we had chartered the former minesweeper AMS60 ms Bernisse to welcome the s.s. Rotterdam at sea and to accompany her to her new berth in the Maashaven. This new album can be accessed (as usual) via my website.

Wonderful, Willem! :D Looking forward to Part II.

photos part 2
On Monday 4 August, around 04.00 pm, the s.s. Rotterdam, towed by RT Magic and RT Spirit (assisted by SD Shark and SD Stingray) passed Hook of Holland on her way to her homeport Rotterdam. This new album can be accessed (as usual) via my website.

She received quite a nice welcome home! :D Thank you for sharing your albums with us, Willem!

Great photos,.......THANKS, Willem :D :D

Wonderful photos. Thank you, Willem :D