The message I posted yesterday, was my translation of a statement in Dutch on the owner's website. Today they finally found that also English speaking and Polish speaking people might be interested in this 'happening' and they placed following on their website. Preparations in full swing 17.08.2006 - This past Monday, the SS Rotterdam was to set sail for the Kaliningrad harbour in Russia in order to dispose of the asbestos bags and to start renovations for the outside. However, departure was delayed until today, Wednesday, August 16th. One of the consequences of the delay is that the insurance company has to renew its approval for departure. The harbour in Kaliningrad is currently making preparations for the ship’s arrival in its harbour. The ship’s departure will be delayed an additional few days due to this work. Until that time, the SS Rotterdam will remain at the Ore Pier in Gdansk. After all those months I understand that the asbestos waste has to be disposed outside Poland, but I do not understand why they are starting renovations for the outside. as the ship has been in Cadiz from 25 November 2005 till 10 February 2006 where the outside has been painted in the original colours by Hempel's Maritime Paints. The advanced painting system should conserve the ship for at least 15 years. http://miasta.gazeta.pl/trojmiasto/1,35612,3553809.html is the website of one of Polish newpapers with very interesting articles. As my knowledge of the Polish language is insuffient, I am using Poltran to make translations. Poltran sometimes make a mess of these, but when reading three or four times, you understand what is written. http://www.poltran.com/

Late last night I found an article in the Algemeen Dagblad (one of the Dutch newspapers) of which I made a translation which you will find below. = = = The continuing soap around steamship Rotterdam by GERT ONNINK ROTTERDAM/GDANSK, 18 August 2006. A travel full of adventure. It is one of the mottos of the long-awaited return of cruiseship Rotterdam to its homeport. But meanwhile that also applies to the whole matter around the restoration of the historical steamship. Who has followed all developments around the former flagship of the Holland America Line, has witnessed this year a bizarre consecution of unexpected events. In the Polish port of Gdansk there have been a lot of problems with the authorities concerning a dangerous load of asbestos on board. Later brooding swallows held back the ship and this week it was the bad weather on the Baltic Sea. Before this, the almost fifty years old ship was in the ports of Freeport (Bahama's), Gibraltar and the South-Spanish city of Cadiz. Wednesday the Rotterdam would then at last be towed away from Gdansk to Kaliningrad in Russia. But as if the soap wants reach but not an end, that had be again postponed. At least on Saturday the ship must sail. On the Navy yard of the Russian enclave (Kaliningrad lie jammed in between Poland and Latvia) the party asbestos is overloaded on the cargo liner Selicca. Those will bring so-called Gibraltar-zakken to the Netherlands. Also the outside work of the ship will be worked on. After maximum six weeks the Rotterdam returns to Poland. On the yard Stocznia Gdanska.the interior of the ship will be restored, so that next spring she can return to Rotterdam. Also a considerable party asbestos will be removed in Gdansk. ,,Everything what could go wrong, has meanwhile gone wrong,'' representative Rob Hagens of shipping company De Rotterdam has sighed. Still he is glad that the ship at last can leave Gdansk and that he can off-load the much-discussed freight of asbestos (outside Poland).

La-*test*-('") news from my correspondent in Poland. = = = : : I was just calling to Tug Dispatch - and he told me that they didn't : order tugs (harbour tugs) for today to tow away Rotterdam from harboour. : : : But from the other hands a sea tug from Petrobaltic - named Bazalt since : yesterday is in harbour - and probably is waiting to start to tow Rotterdam. : : : In my opinion they will not start to tow Rotterdam until monday.

I just received following information from Gdansk. The shipowner has announced that next Thursday (24 August), the s.s. Rotterdam will leave Gdansk and will be towed to Wilhelmshafen in Germany and not to Kaliningrad in Russia as declared earlier. The 'Celica', the cargoship on which the toxic waste will be transferred, is still on the roads of Gdansk.

WHAT :shock: :shock: :shock: Would really wonder if ANYONE knows what is going on :?: :?: :?: Is THIS where she is supposedly going now :?:

Maybe we will be able to see Rotterdam on this cam??? http://www.swwv.de/webcam/webcam.jpg

FANTASTIC FIND, Terry :D :D :D :D

Thanks Terry for the link. Liz, I really don't know what is going on. I think the owners can look forward to some claims if the do have a contract with the yard in Gdansk as they claim. We have to wait till Thursday and than we see if they REALLY depart :roll:

Yes, WE SHALL SEE :roll: Terry the Wilhelmshafen cam seems to have multiple views :D :?:

Every hour, a new picture :D http://www.swwv.de/2004/eng/swwv_46.php

Just one hour ago I received the news that they are working on the Rotterdam. Chains are loaded at the stern and bow. Probably the towing equipment. My contact in Gdansk will try to find which tug, what time of departure and which destination. I hope to hear from him soon.

I was from home during the weekend, but my wife Ank kept me informed via mobile phone. On Friday, 25 August, a message from my friend in Poland arrived, with the news that two harbourtugs towed the ship out of the harbour of Gdansk at 02.25 pm. At 03.20 pm the seatug 'Bazalt' joined and a voyage of about 6 or 7 days started in the direction of Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The ship will be berthed at a quay at the yard of Turbo Technik and will stay there for six to eight weeks. The asbestos waste will be offloaded and transported to Hengelo, however the governmental licence for this transport has lost its validity with all these delays. Photos, made by my friend in Gdansk who could join a harbourtug, can be viewed on my website. http://www.vdleek.nl/Rotterdam/Rotterdam.html I am in process of getting the daily positions which I can mark on a map.

Thank you for the update, Willem! Finally, there is something happening. The pictures of her departure from Gdansk are wonderful! :D

Thank you, THANK YOU, Willem. And a BIG THANK YOU from all of us to Mr. Jakub Bogucki :D :D :D

Great weather and wonderful pictures...of another vessel that looks like a ship should! CJ