The Netherlands has chartered a Holland American Line cruise ship to house about 1,500 Ukrainian refugees in Rotterdam for three months.
City and national officials have signed an agreement with the Carnival Corp brand to dock the 1,432-berth Volendam (built 1999) at Merwehaven, a port on the north side of the port city’s River Maas.
Keeping the ship there will allow Ukrainian families to easily access needed services in Rotterdam as part of the nation’s effort to accommodate 50,000 war refugees, Carnival said.
“We are in a unique position to accommodate the immediate need for food and housing, so we felt it was very important to work with the City of Rotterdam and charter this ship,” Holland America Line president Gus Antorcha said.
“Our company was founded in Rotterdam around the mission of helping immigrants find a better life. So today we’re proud to be a small part of a similar mission for Ukrainians who have tragically been displaced.”
Under the charter agreement, Holland America will provide three hot meals per day, private staterooms, housekeeping, use of public spaces, fitness facilities, internet access and other necessities.
The vessel will be staffed with approximately 650 crew members.
“It will truly be an honour for us to make Volendam a comfortable and caring environment for these families who have been through so much,” Capt Ryan Whitaker said
Volendam was scheduled to return to service on 15 May, with voyages from Rotterdam to Norway, the British Isles and Iceland.
To accommodate the charter, Holland America will cancel three of those voyages and resume service on 3 July.
Holland America notified guests on Friday and will accommodate them on similar itineraries, Carnival said.
“We hope they understand the unprecedented nature of this situation and why we felt it was important to work with the government on this initiative in support of these families in need,” Antorcha said.
Holland America Group is also helping its Ukrainian employees through a $1m emergency assistance fund that provides direct financial support.
The Carnival subsidiary is also providing counselling, free internet service to communicate with family and shortening or extending onboard stays to Ukrainian seafarers as needed.
Costa Cruises brand is also helping Ukrainians by donating medical supplies and medicines to those in the besieged country.
It has also offered one of its ships to the Italian government’s national civil protection plans s a potential temporary hub for Ukrainian refugees, if needed.
In addition, Micky’s Foundation, a charitable entity set up by Carnival chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine, has pledged $3m to charities helping Ukrainian refugees.
“We stand for peace and our hearts go out to everyone whose lives have been upended by the invasion of Ukraine,” chief executive Arnold Donald said in a statement.
“We have crew members from 145 countries and we sail with guests from nations around the globe, so we feel deeply the impact of this humanitarian crisis and we join many others in supporting relief efforts.”
