Thank you for the pictures, Willem. Yes, it looks like a lot of work needs to be done, and :shock: :shock: it certainly does look like there has been a fire :?: I am surprised about the rust......wasn't this supposed to be a paint job using special "technically advanced" paint :?: :?:

Thank you for sharing the great pictures, Willem! Even with the rust and moustache, she is a beautiful ship...I do wonder if there was a fire though and why no one heard about it. :?

Enjoyed the pictures. CJ

Thank you, Willem. Great pictures. Glad you were able to have an enjoyable day visiting the ship.

I am told it was caused by the exhaust of a generator :roll:

Well, that is good to know. :D Possibly the exhaust system could have been rigged a bit better :?

Looks like the rear end of most of our cars in Kansas.

It has been very quiet around the ship, but I hope to give an update now. When the s.s. Rotterdam was towed to Wilhelmshaven, the owners stated the ship should be there for six to eight weeks, during which the asbestos waste should be offloaded and restoration work to the exterior would be done. She is there now alsmost six weeks (on Saturday) and so far nothing has been done yet. Last week a friend of mine tried to get information about promotion material and merchandise and also inquired about the status of the work. My friend was told that finally all licences were completed and that the work would be started this week. A longer stay in Wilhelmshaven was not excluded. They did not confirm the return to Gdansk. My correspondent in Wilhelmshaven has not yet informed me about having seen any work carried out. As soon as there is any news, I will inform you.

Thanks, Willem :D Was wondering just yesterday what was happening. The saga continues :? :?

My correspondent in Wilhelmshaven has reported that Turbo-Technik has built a 'container' living/storage building on the quay near the ship. However, there is no sign at all that any work is carried out on the ship, in spite of the information that all licences have been completed and the work would start in the week of 9 October. Two new photos (made by mr. Cai Rönnau, Wilhelmshaven) can be seen on my website.

Unconfirmed rumours are going around, that because of all problems encountered, the s.s. ROTTERDAM will not return to Gdansk for further restoration. I wonder if there is a penalty-clause in the contract which was signed in July by the owners and the yard. :?: :?:

Hmmm :?: :?: . and if she does NOT go back to Gdansk, then what :?: :?:

My source in Wilhelmshaven tells me that as of last Tuesday it looks like work has started. He says a lot of 'bully's' with Dutch numberplates have been seen around. According to the 'coastal gossip' the delay is caused by non-functioning of the sprinklerinstallation. I am curious if the work is finished by the end of October.