MS Noordam is a member of Holland America Line's Vista class, and the fourth Holland America Line vessel to bear the name. The ship was christened on February 22, 2006, in New York City by the actress Marlee Matlin.[2] Noordam is a sister ship of MS Oosterdam, MS Westerdam, and MS Zuiderdam, alongside five other Vista-class ships. The ship's name is a portmanteau of the Dutch word noord, meaning 'north,' and the suffix -dam, a common Dutch placename suffix used in the names of all Holland America Line ships.
Design
The ship is powered by a CODAG arrangement of five diesel generators (3 x 16,000 HP units, and 2 x 12,000 HP units) and one gas turbine (18,000 HP), for a total power output of approximately 62.6MW (84,000 HP). The power generated is used both for propulsion, via two 17.5MW (23,467 HP) ABB Azipods, and the ship's "hotel load," which includes HVAC