The Hollandica inclines like a dream, whilst the Britannica gets displaced!

May 9 2010, 12:42am

After the Hollandica got back from her official ship trials at the end of April, she headed back into the shipyard dock for a day of inclining tests, which took place on Sunday 25 April. Obviously these need to be done indoors where there’s no wind, so she was finally taken back inside for the first time in weeks. The tests involved inclining the Hollandica at different angles to test her metacentric height, or GM, and check her stabilisers and that her stability was 100 per cent. Everything worked properly which was really pleasing. Whilst the Hollandica had her inclining tests done the Britannica had to be taken out and laid in the berth in Wismar. She’s still just a colossal ship-shape mass of metal at the moment where everyone is busy installing ramps. She also has lots of outfitting going on, with cabins being worked on and cables and pipes being installed. As she’s not coming into service until the autumn – probably October – she’s a long way behind the Hollandica and looks barely recognisable in comparison. For the Hollandica there have since been a few more trials! The final ones will be taking place in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on 5 May and carried out everything to ensure that she’ll be ready for her maiden voyage on 16 May….But I’ll write about those later in the week! //Captain