RTC Rijnmond (regional radio & TV station in and around Rotterdam) is now reporting that the s.s. ROTTERDAM will leave the Port of Gdansk before the upcoming weekend. The shipowners and the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation are silent for weeks now.

s.s. Rotterdam still in Gdansk
RTV Rijnmond (regional radio and TV station in and around Rotterdam) is reporting following: The s.s. Rotterdam is not yet leaving the Port of Gdansk. The ship is in Gdansk for restoration, but has to move to international waters to offload asbestos toxic waste. Before this can happen, there are some formalities to be done. A crane which is already on board has to be taken off and an other one has to be installed. They are expecting that the s.s. Rotterdam can be towed out of the Port of Gdansk on Monday.

Willem, is Rotterdam actually in Gdynia :?: I notice on AISLive there looks to be another harbour southwest of Gdynia which shows a cluster of ships which are not identified :?: In any event, I would not expect Rottterdam to be broadcasting an AIS signal, but her tug WILL BE :D If you hear its name announced, please let us know :D

I remember from the old forum that Willem said it was at Ore Pier (#36 on map) in the Port of Gdansk. Unless, it was moved at some point? http://www.portgdansk.pl/index.php?id=port_map&lg=en

Terry has a very good memory. The ship is indeed at the Ore Pier in Gdansk and that's the bunch of ships south-west of Gdynia on AISLive. That is part of the Norther Port (in Polish: Port Pólnocny). The Maritime Office in Gdynia reports her under 'Ships in port' as Port: PPolnocny, berth: Pirs Rudowy. http://www.umgdy.gov.pl/pium/jednostka;jsessionid=71A5A177C776E8E95D253329339E1BF9?menuId=2490&kodJednostki=9deijdl542.5fx0z4l541&id=8775 The region is called: Three Cities (Gdnynia, Sopot, Gdansk) whereas Gdynia seems to be the administrative centre of the port authorities. As soon as I receive further news, I will let you know.

:D Thanks, Willem. Had just identified where it is on AISLive from the map that Terry posted, but then was on the phone a long time, too, so couldn't post Looks like the Ore Pier is about where Geopotes-15 is showing on AISLive :?: BTW, Geopotes-15 is a "trailing, suction, hopper dredger" :D

Cruiseship Rotterdam to Russia
Rotterdam/Gdansk - The restoration of the cruiseship Rotterdam will be continued in Kaliningrad in Russia. The former flagship of the Holland America Line will be towed from the Polish port Gdansk to the Russian port of Kaliningrad on Monday 14 August. In this Russian enclave at three hours sailing from Gdansk, is a large navy-yard where the bags with asbestos toxic waste can be transferred to another ship. Also some maintenance of the exterior can be done. The ship will stay in Kaliningrad no longer than six weeks. For the transfer of the waste bags one week is needed. While the ship is in Kaliningrad, the port of Gdansk will be dredged. Ther Rotterdam will return to Gdansk Shipyard for further refurbishment to her new role as congrescentre, hotel, restaurant and trainingcentre. Next year the ship will be berthed permanently at Katendrecht. Bron/Source: Algemeen Dagblad, 12 August 2006.

In spite of many statements made in the Dutch press and on the website of the owners, that the s.s. Rotterdam (still registered in the Bahamas) would depart for Kaliningrad on Monday 14 August, she is still berthed at the Pirs Rudowy, Port Polnocny, Gdansk (Ore Pier, Norther Port, Gdansk). As per the la-*test*-('") statement on the owner's website, bad weather in Poland has delayed the departure. It is unknown when she will be towed to Kaliningrad. Why am I not surprised ? ?

:roll: :D And probably when the weather gets better, then the tug's crew will sleep too late in morning, and it will be too late to start :evil:

GdanskDAM to ROTTERgrad and Back? August 13: The la-*test*-('") news from the SS ROTTERDAM preservation front is that the historic liner will be towed from her Polish purgatory (where she has been swallowed up in asbestos-related controversy at Gdansk) to Kaliningrad, Russia for the removal of bags of asbestos waste and panels on board. The entire process is expected to take six weeks. In the meantime, the port of Gdansk will be dredged so that she can safely return to undergo a planned refit for her next role as a permanently berthed facility at Rotterdam's Katendrecht. It is hoped that she will be ready in 2007. MARITIME MATTERS

s.s. Rotterdam still in Gdansk because . . .
as De Rotterdam BV has stated on their website: Last Monday, 14 August, the s.s. Rotterdam should have departed from Gdansk to Kaliningrad in order to offload the asbestos toxic waste. Due to the weatherconditions, the voyage was delayed till today, Wednesday 16 August. Consequenses of this delay was that the insurance company had to approve the new day of departure. The Port of Kaliningrad also had to make new preparations to welcome the ship. Therefore the s.s. Rotterdam will stay a few days more at the Ore Pier in Gdansk. = = = :?: :?:

THIS is getting sillier and sillier :shock: :shock: WHAT, Kaliningrad had to re-book a band to welcome her :?: :?: And, unless someone's insurance policy was about to lapse, why would the insurance company have to approve the new date?????? Possibly, shades of Mahagonny, Ein Taifun is momentarily expected in the Baltic :roll:

I am curious what they will tell at the next delay :roll: :roll: My correspondent in Poland has just returned from his holidays and I asked him if he could get confirmation about the departure and the dredging of the harbour of Gdansk. This is what he wrote: Its very hard to confirm any informations because Hagens in changing all the things all the time..... :)))) According to Polskie Radio ship will leave harbour today..... but I was calling in the morining time to tug dispatch and he didnt know when they will order tugs..... He and I will keep a close watch on it.

Willem, do not know if the term "SOAP OPERA" translates :?: :?: :?: Hope it does :?: Anyway, there is one in the US called "As the World Turns" This one should be called "As Rotterdam Turns" Silly, stupid plot line, and, except for Rotterdam, herself, of course, an extremely silly and stupid cast of characters :!: