The keel laying ceremony for Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam took place today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera (Venice).

The first building block of the ship, 11.3 meters long, 34.8 wide and weighing about 260 tons, is part of the central section of the Nieuw Statendam, which will launch into service at the end of 2018.

It is a sister ship to the Koningsdam, part of the Pinnacle-class ships. 

The ships are 99,800 tons with capacity for up to 2,650 passengers.