Five people were injured in a serious collision between a van and a car in Mussel, a village in the Groningen province, on Wednesday morning. The accident, which occurred around 7:30 a.m. on the N366, also known as A.G. Wildervanckweg, left three individuals seriously injured, RTL reported. Emergency services responded swiftly to the crash with multiple fire teams dispatched from Ter-Apel A trauma helicopter was also called to the scene All five individuals involved in the accident were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment Local authorities have not released the identities of those involved The exact cause of the collision remains unclear and authorities are investigating the incident You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed but they are not in operation either: they are the ghost ships of the cruise industry sold during the pandemic and laid up ever since How does it happen that ships end up in limbo? Most of these cruise ships here were bought by other operators or holding companies and laid up – nautical speak for when a ship is kept at anchorage or dock somewhere in the world they’re kept at the ready to sail again – but the reality is that the longer these vessels are out of service the more expensive it will be to bring them back into service again While a skeleton crew of engineers and officers remains onboard and galleys quickly fall into disrepair if not kept in constant use These cruise ships face an uncertain future: they could be eventually sold for scrap on the cheap or to a willing buyer with the time – and money – to bring them back to life after almost half a decade of disuse These are the ghost ships of the cruise industry we’re keeping tabs on Aegean Odyssey (Photo: Voyages to Antiquity) Small-ship operator Voyages to Antiquity folded in 2019 following financial difficulties and a series of mechanical issues with the 1973-built Aegean Odyssey The ship started out as a ro-ro ferry before being converted into a cruise ship in 1988 and passed around a variety of operators including Golden Sun Cruises and Renaissance Cruises The ship was to undertake cruises for Road Scholar between 2020 and 2023 the 51-year old ship has ping-ponged around Greece Since being removed from the Celestyal Cruises fleet in 2023, Celestyal Crystal’s fate has been uncertain Rumors of a new deployment in Asia fell through and the diminutive ship – which was actually built in 1980 as a ferry before being stripped down and rebuilt as a cruise ship – has been laid-up ever since Celestyal Crystal has one of the more interesting histories in the cruise industry The ship served as Norwegian Cruise Line’s Leeward in the mid-1990s and was finally purchased by Celestyal Cruises (then known as Louis Cruises) back in 2007 as a replacement for the Sea Diamond Majesty of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean International) The last remaining member of Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign-class of ships (sisters Sovereign and Monarch went to the scrap yards in the Pandemic) Majesty of the Seas was snapped up by Greek shipping line Seajets in 2020 But rather than pressing the 1992-built vessel into service in various ports in Greece ever since under the name “Majesty of the Oceans.” Whether Majesty of the Seas sees future service is unknown Given the fact the ship has been unused for nearly four full years at this point it is unlikely that cruisers will get a chance to sail this once-innovative ship again P&O Cruises' former Oceana (Photo: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / Creative Commons) Seajets also snapped up P&O Cruises’ Oceana, which has languished in Greece ever since under the name “Queen of the Oceans”. Built in 2000 for Princess Cruises as their Ocean Princess the vessel was removed from service just two years later and sent to P&O Cruises under the name Oceana of the original Sun-class ships that debuted back in 1995 with Sun Dawn and Sea Princess – all of which now operate for other lines the ship could still have another decade of cruising life left in it – if returning it to operational status is even possible All of Holland America Line’s former Statendam-class ships have found new homes except for Veendam The last S-class vessel built in 1996 for Holland America following sisters Statendam depending on your opinion) by a 2009 refit that squared off its stern and extended its bridge wings substantially to accommodate new balcony cabins in the forward superstructure remained one of the coziest Holland America Line built and the ship found a new lease on life running cruises to Cuba before cruise travel there was halted again The ship is now in cold layup in Greece under the name Aegean Majesty having been purchased by Seajets during the Pandemic US-based radiopharmaceutical company SHINE Medical Technologies is to build a medical isotope production facility in Veendam The facility is intended to provide a reliable flexible supply of a range of vital medical tracers and cancer treatment elements for customers in Europe The company announced it had chosen the site for the facility’s construction in Veendam The facility’s construction is expected to begin in 2023 with commercial production scheduled for late 2025 The plant will create around 200 jobs once fully operational The production facility will be located next to the Dallen II industrial estate near Wildervank Veendam was the company’s preferred location for developing the facility after more than 50 possible business locations in various European countries had been examined It was chosen due to the region’s strive for innovation strong support for the development and production of life-saving medicine and the availability of a highly skilled and educated workforce Veendam also offers the required infrastructure and accelerator technology knowledge for the facility Veendam is easily accessible from other European markets through a good road network to both Groningen/Randstad and Germany It is also located close to Groningen Airport Eelde The country will provide SHINE with a logistically favourable location for supplying medical isotopes to European countries and markets The facility will initially focus on the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the precursor of technetium-99m, a diagnostic medical radioisotope used in medical imaging procedures to identify and treat heart disease The facility will also be used to produce other medical isotopes safer and more sustainable than a nuclear research reactor The facility will be capable of producing twice the European patients’ need for Mo-99 The combined capacity of SHINE’s Veendam facility and its existing production facility in Wisconsin will meet 70% of patients’ requirements worldwide and help solve the global shortage of medical isotopes SHINE Medical’s isotope production technology offers major advantages over other production technologies consumes less electricity and generates less waste more cost-effective and more reliable compared to current production techniques that use nuclear reactors SHINE can also make particles using a reactor SHINE also uses a nominal quantity of recyclable uranium that does not involve the removal process after each usage This further reduces waste production and the amount of uranium needed to produce the isotopes SHINE Medical Technologies is dedicated to the safe clean and affordable production of medical isotopes for the research and treatment of diseases such as cancer SHINE started the production of Lu-177 at its Janesville facility in Wisconsin in 2020 due to strong demand from clinical trial sponsors for cancer research which will focus initially on developing and marketing Lu-177 the company broke ground on a 54,000ft² facility in Janesville This facility will house its corporate headquarters and a large-scale production facility for the newly established Therapeutics division SHINE secured $150m of funding in a Series C-5 financing round led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) The proceeds will support the marketing of the company’s diagnostic and therapeutic medical isotope technologies Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network A classic mid-size ship – 57,092-tons with capacity for 1,350 guests – Holland America’s Veendam reminds me of playwright Channing Pollock’s definition of happiness: “a way station between too little and too much.” The Veendam is just that and she has all the amenities for a wonderful Here are 11 things that are special about her: 1) Her international crew – many from Indonesia and the Philippines – is warm Everyone greets you with a “Welcome home” on the first day of the voyage learns your name quickly and asks often if there is something they can do for you – a very happy situation for passengers Napoleon once observed that “an army marches on its stomach” and I say the same of cruise passengers Menus on the Veendam offer lots of choices: there are eight appetizers/soups/salads and more than a dozen desserts on a typical menu Always available items include French onion soup There is nothing like choice – and it makes for happy cruisers 3) The ship offers both two traditional dinner seatings and open seating so guests have freedom to dine when they wish on any given day 4) The alternative dining venues of The Pinnacle Grill (Pacific Northwest) and Canaletto (Italian) offer delectable fare Who can say “no” to the sinful Grand Marnier chocolate volcano cake (with a melting chocolate “lava” center) at The Pinnacle Grill Veendam’s Formal Restaurant | Photo: Georgina Cruz 5) The ship’s relaxed dress code is ideal for this day and age: on Gala Nights the requisite is a collared shirt and pants so guests who do not wish to wear a tuxedo suit or jacket and tie can still enjoy dinner in the main dining room guests who wish to dress to the nines can always do so 6) The Greenhouse Spa is an oasis with a relaxation room a thermal suite and a variety of treatments and salon services – perfect for a lazy day at sea or for relaxing after exploring the ports And for swimming enjoyment – even in inclement weather – the ship’s Lido pool is covered with a retractable glass dome has super-comfy leather chairs/ottomans in front of floor-to-ceiling windows It is ideal to watch port entrances and exits I could stay happily ensconced there a big chunk of each day 8) The enrichment lectures and activities including Digital Workshops powered by Windows are informative I also like the Oprah Winfrey programming including book club sessions and more; the America’s Test Kitchen culinary demonstrations; the BBC Earth Experiences including concerts 9) On Location activities bring the destination onboard These programs bring the culture and flavors of the places visited onboard and include port talks culinary selections on the menu from the region and special events including local folk entertainers who perform at the Showroom At Sea like a Norwegian Folk group while in Geigranger Floral Arrangements on Veendam | Photo: Georgina Cruz Public areas are adorned with fresh flower displays including local blooms sunflowers –so evocative of Van Goth – while in Amsterdam as well as a multi-million-dollar collection of art and antiques that includes the spectacular glass sculpture “Jacob’s Ladder” by the late Luciano Vistosi gracing the ship’s three-deck-high Atrium Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine has been an authoritative resource for international travel since the 1990s digital subscribers get the latest cruise and travel news with stunning photos and in-depth features on voyages Porthole Cruise and Travel is your one-stop shop for all things cruise-related our mission is to inspire and inform by bringing you the best in cruising and travel ©2025 Porthole Cruise and Travel – All Rights Reserved What's it like on a Holland America ship? Our latest Cruise Ship Tour offers a deck-by-deck look at the 1,350-passenger Veendam which is offering Panama Canal cruises this winter and soon will move to Boston for a series of New England and Canada sailings by veteran cruise writer and ship photographer Peter Knego the 18-year-old vessel is one of the most intimate ships in the Holland America fleet multiple eateries and a pool area with an all-weather steel-and-glass magrodome that can be closed at the flick of a switch Designed as a research tool for vacationers considering a voyage the Veendam photo tour is the 99th in our ongoing series of cruise ship galleries Sustainability - Hardt Hyperloop secures a 12 million euros Investment to create a European Hyperloop Center Hardt Hyperloop has secured new investments from public and private investors aimed at the completion of the European Hyperloop Center (EHC) and Hardt’s Hyperloop test vehicle It sets the stage for testing operations to commence in 2024 a 420- meter-long test facility including a lane switch will allow Hardt to prove all essential hyperloop technologies and amplify Hardt’s ambitions The funding comes from the EU’s €1.1B European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund the Dutch regional investment funds InnovationQuarter & Investment Fund Groningen and several of Hardt’s existing and new backers Notable among them is the entrepreneur Peter Goedvolk The investment follows the earlier private sector investments from key investors such as POSCO International (KR) and Urban Impact Ventures (EU) last year Both investments combined total more than €12 million the EHC wants to become “a cornerstone of hyperloop innovation” It features a fully operational hyperloop lane switch which is a critical attribute for implementing hyperloop networks The EHC will also be an open test facility inviting other hyperloop developers and companies interested in hyperloop components to perform tests at the center Cultivating an environment of shared learning and collaboration is supposed to boost the whole Hyperloop ecosystem The construction of the hyperloop pipes and the foundations has already begun and the first pipes will be installed by the end of the summer The EIC Fund is part of the EIC’s mandate to identify and support high-impact innovations within the EU Their backing of Hardt Hyperloop reflects a strategic decision to take a share in the success of European hyperloop technology and follows from their commitment to Hardt Hyperloop in 2021 member of the EIC Fund Board called Hardt Hyperloop a venture to revolutionize transportation “This investment signals the fund’s confidence in Hardt’s potential to deliver a transformative solution for the mobility landscape in Europe and beyond.” InnovationQuarter and Investment Fund Groningen the regional investment funds from the Dutch Provinces of South Holland and Groningen recognize the strong potential of Hardt Hyperloop InnovationQuarter: “We have always considered Hardt Hyperloop to be at the forefront of innovation in the Rotterdam/Delft area ever since the first investment in 2017 by UNIIQ we are even more committed to fostering these transformative hyperloop technologies and driving their growth in our region.” added: “Groningen is leading in supporting sustainable transport- and energy development Groningen committed to hosting the European Hyperloop Center Investing in Hardt’s hyperloop development We are excited to join Hardt on its journey and amplify Groningen as a key region for hyperloop developments.” affirmed the company’s appreciation and enthusiasm for the investors joining: “With these new investors alongside our existing backers we have a great foundation to further the development and commercialization of the hyperloop The continued support is a great sign of credibility and trust in our development roadmap It is also not just a win for Hardt Hyperloop — it is a great step for the hyperloop industry of which the EHC is an essential step in the roadmap towards a sustainable With the backing of these renowned partners Hardt Hyperloop is all set for completion and testing in the EHC Hardt Hyperloop has been busy in the past several months with international roadshows making headway with governmental agencies and business partners on solidifying plans for infrastructure development and potential pilot routes Hardt’s main goal is to enable sustainable high-speed transportation for everyone with a global hyperloop network SEATTLE -- Holland America Cruise Line has sold four of its cruise ships as the industry continues to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus outbreak Rotterdam and Veendam have been sold in pairs to undisclosed buyers The Maasdam and Veendam are going to one company in August while the other two will move on to another company in the autumn The cruise line along with all others remain saddled under a U.S no-sail order that was just extended by the CDC until Sept Major cruise lines are trying to save cash and borrow more money to survive the pandemic The ships' sale will cause some future Holland America cruises to be canceled and others to be transferred to other ships in their fleet Their 2021 Grand World Voyage is being postponed until 2022 and will move from the Amsterdam to the Zaandam All four ships were relatively mid-sized and carried between 1,250 and 1,400 guests The Maasdam was the oldest ship of the four “It’s always difficult to see any ship leave the fleet, especially those that have a long and storied history with our company,” Stein Kruse, CEO of Holland America Group and Carnival UK, said in a press release Holland America Line has a bright future ahead that includes recent Pinnacle-Class additions with a third sister ship next year that will continue to maintain our overall capacity in the marketplace.” there have been nearly 3,000 cases of COVID-19 or similar illnesses and 34 deaths on cruise ships There have been 99 outbreaks covering 80% of the ships in U.S Nine ships are still dealing with outbreaks Coast Guard figures show that on July 10 there were 14,702 crew members on board 67 ships Major cruise lines are trying to save cash and raise more money on the private credit markets to survive the pandemic said last week that it expects to burn about $20 million a day in cash through the rest of this year Coronavirus infections are rising in 40 states and daily deaths have climbed more than 20% from a week ago reported nearly 14,000 new virus cases and set a single-day record of 156 deaths reported on Thursday beating the previous high of 132 deaths reported Tuesday The Associated Press contributed to this report SHINE said Veendam was selected following a year-long search process that included the review of more than 50 proposals from sites across Europe It added that Veendam was selected because of "the area's strong support for the development and production of life-saving medicine its passion for innovation and the availability of highly-skilled and educated workers." In addition the municipality provides easy transportation access to the European market the presence of the highly-regarded royal university and accelerator technology knowledge and infrastructure Construction of the Veendam facility is expected to begin in 2023 with commercial production to start in late 2025 SHINE's European facility will be focused initially on the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) a diagnostic isotope relied on for procedures that identify heart disease the Veendam plant will be capable of producing double the European patient need for Mo-99 Its technology can also be used to produce a broad range of other medical isotopes "SHINE's selection of the municipality of Veendam as the site for our second production facility is great news for physicians and patients throughout Europe," said Harrie Buurlage SHINE's vice president of European operations "The production facility will be a solution for all of Europe flexible supply of a broad range of critical medical isotopes to European customers We look forward to working with our new partners in Veendam the province of Groningen and the Netherlands." SHINE broke ground on construction of its US production facility in May 2019 The Janesville plant is expected to be the largest medical isotope production facility in the world by capacity SHINE is installing the specialised process equipment in the facility during the next year and expects to begin producing Mo-99 in late 2022 The facility will be capable of supplying two-thirds of US patient demand for Mo-99 The Janesville and Veendam plants will be able to produce 70% of the global patient need Carnival subsidiary Holland America Line has sold four cruise ships S-Class Maasdam and Veendam ships will be transferred to an undisclosed company next month Norwegian company Bonheur has acquired the R-Class Amsterdam and Rotterdam and will be transferred in the next few months The cruise ship operator has cancelled the sailings on the four ships and some of the itineraries will be undertaken by other ships The 2021 Grand World Voyage on Amsterdam has been postponed until 2021 and will sail on board Zaandam Grand Africa Voyage that is scheduled to depart on 10 October 2021 will sail on Zaandam on the same dates Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Maasdam joined as the second of four S-Class ships in 1993 It has the capacity to accommodate 1,258 guests was delivered in 1992 and can accommodate 1,350 guests was delivered in 1997 and has a capacity of 1,404 guests joined the fleet and can accommodate 1,380 guests Rotterdam and Amsterdam will be operated by UK’s Fred Olsen Cruises The vessels will now operate as Bolette and Borealis Holland America Group and Carnival UK CEO Stein Kruse said: “It is always difficult to see any ship leave the fleet especially those that have a long and storied history with our company Holland America Line has a bright future ahead that includes recent Pinnacle-Class additions with a third sister ship next year that will continue to maintain our overall capacity in the marketplace.” Last week, Carnival announced plans to sell 13 ships from its fleet this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic Earlier this month, P&O Cruises sold the Oceana cruise ship which is one of the oldest ships in the fleet Last month, Carnival announced that it will sell six ships in the next 90 days to deal with a $4.4bn loss in the second quarter of this year Nominations are now open for the prestigious Ship Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network. Too many automated requests from this network 22 weekender bags for a super-stylish getaway 40+ travel gifts for globetrotting friends and family 8 travel cosmetic bags that hold everything you need Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission. allowing expansion in heat and contraction in cold connects tubes at a new European test center for hyperloop transportation technology which opens in Veendam (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)Image: ASSOCIATED PRESSVEENDAM Netherlands (AP) — A 420-meter (quarter-mile) white steel tube running alongside a railway line in the windswept northern Netherlands could usher in a new era in the transportation of people and freight involves capsules floating on magnetic fields zipping at speeds of arund 700 kph (435 mph) through low-pressure tubes Its advocates tout it as far more efficient than short haul flights But since Musk unveiled the concept that he said could shuttle passengers the nearly 400 miles (645 kilometers) between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 30 minutes it has progressed at a much slower pace from the drawing board toward the real world “I expect by 2030 you will have the first hyperloop route maybe five kilometers (three miles) in which people will actually be transporting passengers," said the center's director "Actually there’s already preparations being done for such routes in for example Italy or India.” Not everybody is as optimistic about Hyperloop's future “This is just another example of policy makers chasing a shiny object when basic investment in infrastructure is needed,” Robert Noland distinguished professor at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University said in comments emailed to The Associated Press Lamme said skeptics should come and take a look for themselves “We built the European Hyperloop Center and from what we have built we know that we can be competitive with high-speed rail," he said "And then we have not even included all the cost optimizations that we can do in the coming decade to reduce that even further.” The test center's tube is made up of 34 separate sections mostly 2½ meters (more than eight feet) in diameter A vacuum pump in a steel container next to the tube sucks out the air to reduce the internal pressure That reduces drag and allows capsules to travel at such high speeds A test capsule built by Dutch hyperloop pioneer Hardt Hyperloop will take part next month in the first tests at the center that is funded by private investment as well as contributions from the provincial government the Dutch national government and European Commission A unique feature of the Veendam tube is that it has a switch — where it splits into two separate tubes a piece of infrastructure that will be critical to real-life applications “Lane switching is very important for hyperloop because it allows vehicles to travel from any origin to any destination," said Marinus van der Meijs Hardt's technology and engineering director "So it really creates a network effect where you sort of have a highway of tubes and vehicles can take an on and offramp or they can take a lane switch to go to a different part of Europe or to a different destination.” hyperloop developers hope that destinations for their technology are forthcoming “Really the main challenge is finding government commitments to build routes and finding new funding to realize the necessary test facility and technology demonstration that you need to do to make this happen,” Lamme said Eric van der Wal of Bainbridge Island will certainly have an amazing story to tell when he gets home from his cruise around Hawaii a Holland America Line cruise ship that was called off course this weekend to rescue a pilot who had to ditch his single-engine airplane into the ocean after it ran out of gas hundreds of miles off the coast of Hawaii and many Kitsap candidates have already submitted their names for the numerous local seats… the BI Metro Park and Recreation District and the BI Parks &… One of Washington’s largest skill-building centers saw a massive funding increase this legislative session What's it like to sail on a Holland America ship? USA TODAY's cruise review site, VacationCruisesInfo.com, offers a glimpse this week in an in-depth review of the line's Veendam it's the most extensive appraisal ever of the 1,350-passenger Veendam to be posted online and it includes more than 1,000 photos showing nearly every interior and exterior space of the ship the reviewer gave the 16-year-old vessel mixed marks noting that "some areas of the ship felt neglected and unloved," with upkeep "not always at its prime." While the service from cabin stewards was"sweetly efficient" and meals were "for the most part .. very satisfying," the Veendam appeared to have a number of ongoing maintenance problems "an issue confirmed by frustrated crew members we spoke with (as well as passenger complaints we heard)." the reviewer did not experience problems with Veendam that have been the subject of recurring passenger complaints — particularly cabin air conditioning and plumbing problems "We did not experience either issue in our cabin," the reviewer notes. Visit VacationCruisesInfo.com to view the full Veendam review which was written by one of the site's in-house As with all VacationCruisesInfo.com reviews the reviewer traveled on the vessel incognito and at USA TODAY's expense VacationCruisesInfo.com was designed in collaboration with Reviewed.com a network of online review publications recently acquired by USA TODAY and it's devoted to helping would-be cruisers find the perfect ship VacationCruisesInfo.com is the first cruise review site to use anonymous reviewers VacationCruisesInfo.com reviewers never will travel on free cruises provided by cruise lines nor will they base their reviews on cruise line-arranged "preview" or "press" cruises for travel writers or any other sailing where their presence on a ship is known Health - With the arrival of SHINE Medical Technologies' particle accelerator nuclear reactors will soon no longer be needed to make medical isotopes The American company SHINE Medical Technologies is building a factory for medical isotopes near Veendam in the Netherlands The world is currently dependent on severely outdated nuclear reactors for making nuclear medicines,” says vice president of SHINE Medical Harrie Buurlage radioactive substances needed for cancer detection and treatment It is a first of its kind, the particle accelerator that SHINE Medical uses to make medical isotopes for cancer drugs, among other things. SHINE’s first factory is being built in America, and a second is set to follow in Veendam Construction of the factory in Veendam will start then we want to be able to send the first medical isotopes into the world from Veendam,” says Buurlage The company is investing around 200 million euros in the new factory in Veendam and is expected to employ around 200 people And a new reactor is not just up and running in no time either: “You need 20 to 30 years before a new one can be used,” Buurlage explains In addition to the fact that the new method with the particle accelerator can be deployed quickly “We are working with a technique that is much cleaner and safer but we reuse the uranium so that the amount of waste is a lot less.” The production of isotopes by means of the particle accelerator requires a factor of one hundred fewer uranium fissions compared to production in a nuclear reactor the Veendam plant will focus on making isotopes but SHINE Medical has even more ambitions on a global scale we also want to use our particle accelerator to reduce the problem with radioactive waste our particle accelerator is also capable of doing that We can eventually make long-life nuclear waste short-lived this is how we want to expand our program.” In order for all of these plans to become reality Buurlage still sees obstacles along the way that will have to be overcome “We currently have to compete with reactors that are heavily subsidized by the government and we are fighting hard for a level playing field,” says Buurlage “I am having talks with ministers and holding negotiations at a European level I very much hope that this innovative significance of this will be rewarded soon.” Read other IO articles about Groningen here There was drama on the high seas on Sunday as a Holland America ship rescued a pilot after a plane crash the pilot of the single-engine Cirrus SR-22 deployed an emergency parachute system as the malfunctioning aircraft descended toward the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii Surviving the plane's impact with the water he then deployed an emergency life raft that kept him afloat as crew from Holland America's 1,350-passenger Veendam approached in a life boat to scoop him up The Veendam was about 225 miles off the coast of Maui when it answered a request from the Coast Guard to help in the rescue The pilot's plane was experiencing a problem with its fuel system Holland America said the Veendam took the pilot on board and provided him with food and accommodations He was in good condition and disembarked in Hawaii on Monday Veendam is the midst of an 18-day Hawaii cruise from San Diego that began on Jan “Holland America Line is excited about returning to Tampa with 18 Caribbean and two trans-Atlantic cruises from November 2020 to April 2021,” Holland America director of public relations Erik Elvejord said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times Holland America acknowledged in January that it was suspending cruise operations out of Tampa after April but made a point of saying that Tampa had been “a great gateway for us to the Caribbean and we will look forward to a continued partnership in the future.” the 1,350-passenger Veendam will make five- to 14-day sailings to western and southern Caribbean ports of call But Holland America, which says it reviews its ship deployment plans several times a year, is not saying that the return to Tampa is permanent. “We have not published itineraries beyond spring 2021,” Elvejord said. Richard DanielsonFormer Times Reporter Veendam and her 1,400 passengers leave Bermuda today for the last time in 2015 much to the disappointment of retailers and businesses in the capital The Holland America liner has completed six trips between Boston and the Island this year and a further four are scheduled for the 2016 cruise season However stores and restaurants hope that Veendam will return more frequently in 2017 and Government can secure other cruise ships to stop in Hamilton in the long term chair of the retail branch of the Chamber of Commerce said: “It is disappointing that the Veendam will not be back again in 2015 and that her schedule for this year has finished “Apart from the obvious positive impact a cruise ship on Front Street has on retail sales their presence on Front Street add vitality and vibrancy to the City of Hamilton “They are in themselves a tourist attraction hotel guests are enthralled by the closeness and largeness of the ships docked in Hamilton Harbour.” The ship had been a regular caller between 2010 and 2012 and was the only regular caller to dock in Hamilton She was initially supposed to call in St George but the liner was deemed too big to transit Town Cut and therefore berthed in the city Holland America pulled Veendam out of Bermuda at the end of 2012 and she returned to the Island this year for the first time in three years a good cruise season would see cruise ships in Hamilton Harbour every week of the season “We understand that the six trips this year and the three trips next year were all that could be scheduled for the Veendam and there are size issues that prevent many cruise ships coming into Hamilton “However we are hopeful that in 2017 the Veendam will visit Hamilton more frequently and other ships will stop in the city as well during the cruise season Bermuda’s doors are open and we would very much welcome more ships in Hamilton.” Which of the Throne Speech promises is the Government best equipped to deliver on View Results Ten ships with an 11th on the way in 2021 to comprise the premium line’s fleet 2020 — Holland America Line announced that Amsterdam Rotterdam and Veendam will be leaving the fleet and transferring to undisclosed buyers with the S-Class Maasdam and Veendam transferring to one company in August 2020 while the R-Class Amsterdam and Rotterdam will move to another company in fall 2020 Holland America Line will cancel cruises for the four ships’ deployments with some select itineraries being assumed by other ships in the fleet The 2021 Grand World Voyage aboard Amsterdam will be postponed until 2022 and will now sail aboard Zaandam aboard Rotterdam will also sail aboard Zaandam on the same dates “It’s always difficult to see any ship leave the fleet especially those that have a long and storied history with our company,” said Stein Kruse chief executive officer of Holland America Group and Carnival UK with a third sister ship next year that will continue to maintain our overall capacity in the marketplace.” “I recognize and appreciate the deep affection our guests have toward our company and the ships in our fleet,” said Gus Antorcha our diverse fleet continues to offer exceptional options for cruisers looking for a mid-sized ship experience to destinations all around the world I look forward to carrying on those beloved shipboard offerings while cultivating new ideas to bring to our guests.” Maasdam joined the fleet in 1993 as the second of four S-Class ships it is the fourth Holland America Line ship to bear the Maasdam name the 55,575-ton ship sailed longer South Pacific and Alaska voyages The fourth Holland America Line ship to bear the name Veendam the 57,092-ton vessel carries 1,350 guests 61,849-ton Rotterdam was introduced in 1997 it is the sixth Holland America Line ship to be named Rotterdam Amsterdam joined the fleet in 2000 as the final of four R-Class ships it is the third Holland America Line ship to be named Amsterdam the 62,735-ton ship operated the line’s Grand World Voyage Guests with bookings on future sailings of these ships will be notified that these cruises will be cancelled or changed guests will receive information if the cruise will operate with a different ship or information and special offers on how to book another Holland America Line cruise when operations resume Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated Cancelled cruises will include scheduled Canada/New England and Grand Voyages on Amsterdam; Mexico Australia and Asia itineraries on Maasdam; Caribbean South America and Hawaii sailings on Rotterdam; and Caribbean and Europe itineraries on Veendam Top News,Greece Greece has approved an international tender for hydrocarbon exploration in four blocks in the Mediterranean Sea Top News,World Top News,Energy World,Word newsletter The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) participated in the 2025 edition of Sea Asia one of the premier maritime industry events in the Asia-Pacific… Leading mental health support provider MHSS is proud to confirm its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the appointment of two psychologists… Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER so we may still have the same numbers,” he said.He said cruise arrivals had climbed from 100,000 to 350,000 a year in recent times but Government had announced in this month’s Throne Speech it is planning to try and convert cruise visitors to air visitors.“I believe Transport Minister Derrick Burgess will do all he can to find a solution so the economic impact for the Veendam moving out of Bermuda will not be long-term,” he added.Earlier Mr Burgess had confirmed in a statement that Holland America Line’s Veendam will not be returning to Bermuda in 2013.The vessel has been serving Bermuda since 2010 tendering from Murray’s Anchorage in St George’s on Tuesdays and docking in Hamilton on Wednesdays to Fridays.She is one of the few remaining small cruise ships capable of docking in Hamilton.“It is unfortunate that Holland America Line is withdrawing the Veendam from Bermuda in 2013,” stated the Minister.“Apparently the New York to Bermuda schedule was not meeting their revenue projections and they have decided to deploy the ship to another location The Veendam is scheduled to make 19 calls to Bermuda in 2012.”Last month Carnival Cruises revealed it is axing 11 of its 12 visits to Bermuda in 2012 after a last-minute change of heart.And a recent series of town hall meetings on the Channel Study heard less than 30 cruise ships are capable of docking St George’s and Hamilton with one third of them set for retirement in the next few years.Government’s statement yesterday added that older and smaller ships will no longer be able to compete head-to-head with the newer and larger cruise ships being built today Those new ships will not be capable of docking in St George’s and Hamilton.“We continue to pursue the availability of small cruise ships for St George’s and Hamilton but the reality is those ships that are available are mostly luxury and premium cruise brands doing worldwide itineraries or are no longer competitive in the North American market,” stated Mr Burgess As reported by blurredsilence when posting this YouTube video on Dec 25 while cruising through Patagonia on Holland America’s Veendam we found ourselves right smack in the middle of one of those notorious Cape Horn storms revealed to us this had been the worst storm he had ever sailed through in his 27 year career He also told us that while we were in the storm none of the forecasters and meteorologist they use to track weather systems and plot routes placed us in the storm the forecasters and meteorologists were wrong the cruise ship lost an anchor and part of the aft deck several panels fell inside and outside the ship Tags: , Launched in 1997, Scuttlebutt provides sailing news with a North American focus. Look for the latest information to be posted on the website, with the highlights distributed in the e-Newsletter What is the e-Newsletter Subscribe Today © 2024 Scuttlebutt Sailing News. Inbox Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.made by VSSL Agency Minister of Transport Derrick Burgess confirmed today [Nov.16] that Holland America Line’s ‘Veendam’ will not be returning to Bermuda in 2013 The ‘Veendam’ started service to Bermuda in 2010 George’s on Tuesdays and docking in Hamilton Wednesdays – Fridays The ‘Veendam’ is scheduled to make 19 calls to Bermuda in 2012 “It is unfortunate that Holland America Line is withdrawing the ‘Veendam’ from Bermuda in 2013 and they have decided to deploy the ship to another location” “We continue to pursue the availability of small cruise ships for St but the reality is those ships that are available are mostly Luxury and Premium cruise brands doing world-wide itineraries or are no longer competitive in the North American market” The Veendam is shown below docked in Hamilton in May 2010: “The ‘Veendam’ entered service in 1996 and is one of the few remaining small cruise ships capable of docking in Hamilton.” “At recent Town Hall meetings on the Channel Study is was emphasized that there are less than 30 cruise ships currently capable of docking in St with 1/3 of them set for retirement in the next few years.” “The Study also concluded that there will come a time when the older and smaller ships will no longer be able to compete head-to-head with the newer and larger cruise ships being built today.” “Also emphasized was that none of the new cruise ships being built will be capable of docking in St and that infrastructure improvements would be required if the decision is made to dock the larger ships at both ports.” This is the second cancellation of Bermuda cruises in recent weeks, following the news last month that Carnival Cruise Lines cancelled 11 of the 12 previously approved cruise calls for 2012 Last month Government announced there will be a new cruise ship visiting Bermuda in 2013; the Norwegian Breakaway will be making 22 calls from New York to Bermuda in 2013 Category: All, News Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed You don’t just wake up one morning and decide to pull out of Bermuda This happened as a result of terrible management of the business relationship between PLP and the cruise line thank you Chris Furbert for hammering that last nail in the coffin during the summer Who do you ‘blame’ for the new Norwegian Breakaway making 22 calls in 2013 It seems the PLP/BIU are always to blame when something negative happens Lets hope that a valid contract is in place for the new Norwegian Breakaway and not just email confirmations Not giving credit until i see the ship in port Not blaming anyone but when infratsucture and logistics are an issue for any tourist destination not only did Chris Furbert prevent the tourists from enjoying their vacations here by them not having transportation he also put the majority of the island to a hault because people depend on the public transport system the needs of the many always outweigh the needs of the few the innocents have to suffer because of his tantrums “we’ll strike till we get what we want” put 2+2 together and come out with 4 flikel who wants to go on a vacation where there is no public transportation to get around Are the company’s management misguided Surely the new ship is only good news when it’s in ADDITION to the existing cruises – thereby more tourists and more $ spent PLP/BIU are PAID very well to make positive things happen They are getting their CREDIT every day fool!! And when negative things happen they will get the blame because they are the ones in CONTROL PLP/BIU want their credit…and they get lots of it fool!!! As we actively develop our tourism product I am sure that we can attract one or two of the 30 smaller cruise ships to put Bermuda on their schedule It will take some effort though… not just wishful thinking I would like to add that I went to the Art Walk About in St George’s last Saturday and was very impressed I think they are working hard to nurturing a niche for themselves (as an artsy-type) town and I really think they are on to something It was really disappointing reading this article but i have to say tourists will nolonger be interested in coming you will see Airline Carriers cutting flights Not a big fan but until someone comes up with an alternate idea The Indian reservations in the US and a few Carribean countries do a pretty good job of monitoring gambling so why can’t we You can still Bingo and play o crown and anchor on some days Why can’t clubs remain open after 3am Why can’t you buy liquor after 9pm on Saturday night and Sunday when you can go to a bar These small laws restrict the local businesses from progressing The Fact is the only one that has it right why don’t we try some of the things he said It could make a big difference it’s boring in Bremuda you can’t do anything people will call the police if your music is a little loud You can go anywere in this world and have fun and beaches we over price everything and act like they are lucky that we want them to buy something in our shops and come here to Bermuda NO good mornings or afternoon buy God what is a smile i have’nt seen one from people for a long time Wake UP Bermuda and stop living in the old days people what to party thats why they go to JA and no police will go on the ship and take them for some weed and make them spend 1000 and a trip back home In tomorrows news… Derrick Burgess hires his buddy to blow up the channels “It is unfortunate that Holland America Line is withdrawing the ‘Veendam’ from Bermuda in 2013 For the benefit of the new Tourism Minister that equates to “our passenger feedback has indicated Bermuda is no longer a preferred destination” This means that it does not draw the number of Holland America passengers wanting to cruise to Bermuda so revenue falls Cruise ships operate to make money by having passengers want to visit a destination The new Bermuda is not providing the attraction any more Noooo … its because our ports are too small They keep talking about making ports bigger and there are only a few small ships these days they still wouldn’t come because as Enquiring mentioned And you all thought there would be no reaction to wildcat bus strikes ferry strikes & a lack of taxis did you Bermuda is not so special anymore afterall Our competitors to the south will be happy to pick up the business lost here You voted for the weak & inept PLP multiple times Please let’s not vote these clowns in again What plans do the PLP have to make up the cancellations when Cuba is opened as a destination for US residents apart from the odd one on a transatlantice trip Police went into the Favelas and took over from the drug cartels they took back what was held for over 10-15 years Cant anyone see that I dont care what any Govt does if the price is not right you cant come here hell whats so wrong with that Those ships can go a lot of places much cheaper for the passenger What do we really have to offer tourist other than beatiful beaches and pink sand??? that is the buring question…we cant blame it all on the bus strike or ferries..that’s just an easy way out just a scapegoat…let’s look at some of the real reasons….Bermuda is exspensive and we have out priced ourselves long before the bus strike this summer…hotels are expensive..lack of local staff in hotels and restaurants limited/lack of local entertainment…I work on the front desk (part-time) and guest complain ALL THE TIME that there is not much to do here and they are ALWAYS ALWAYS complaining about how expensive everything is here….If I didn’t live here I certainly wouldn’t vacation here I would go somewhere where I am able to get more bang for my buck..and that’s what they Then your hotel can begin to lower their room rates Everyone ‘complains’ that Bermuda is ‘too expensive’ I do not see many people offering to take a pay cut which is seemingly in the ‘best national interest’ take a pay cut so that your company’s cost of doing business in Bermuda is reduced Everyone is complaining because nothing is happening “Keep you I on the prize” … What prize how can we see the benefits of what they are doing Then please tell us so we can be on the same page I am very supportive of PLP and have voted for them for years Sorry “Keep your eyes on the prize” … lol trying to type too fast I work as a front desk agent at one of Bermuda’s top hotels and I have to live with my parents at the age of 37 as I do not get paid enough to live on my own We need to be paid a lot more to survive in Bermuda Maybe you should come and work at a hotel for a week and see if you would be willing to take a pay cut when you see your pay check i am sick and tired of reading about how this government has ideas after ideas Recommendation: the people of Bermuda have there own town forum Invite the private sector and government and have them listen to the people we really need to take control and say “enough is enough” Stimulate the economy by temporarily removing employment tax for the tourist industry (including hotels) and restaurants reduce occupancy costs and attract tourists Government will then still make good as more tourists spend more money meaning retailers will need more Tariffs from the increased supplies and occupancy taxes will increase income for gov We are nolonger a place making money from QUALITY of services and products so might as well move to QUANTITY What is the one thing Government have not marketed but how would marketing “bermuda’s people” draw tourist inconsiderate and selfish are some sort of magical draw for tourist Except maybe in the controlled confines of a cruise ship or worlds like Disney you obviously have not done much real traveling i’m talking about the type of traveling where you don’t really know where you are going to be from night to night There are many places where the people are far friendlier & the attitude towards service far better than found in Bermuda we have a new tourism minister !!!!Wayne Furbert ( what is it with these Furberts ?) if you thought the former tourism Minister was a complete idiot….wayne is in his own little world…and has a score to settle with his former party All you touriss who is complainin about Bermuda shud go somwhere else! We got tha bastest beaches an we say good morning sadly your response to my comment is just what i was saying about the attitude of the Bermudians i encountered Open your eyes and you will see that the lack of tourism might mean that vacationers are doing just that- going elsewhere- instead of spending their money in your economy on your “bastest” beaches and maybe its just me but i kinda thought tourists were usually foreigners so your post makes me think you are someone trying to be funny about a situation that quite frankly is not funny Name and Shame the facility so that they can be held accountable I hope you complained to upper management before you left as they do not represent Bermuda Bermuda is truly a magical place to visit and there are other properties in Bermuda where you would not have experienced this Newstead and Cambridge to name only a few You will also find other places in Bermuda that can meet ones budget I have traveled extensively and have visited many exotic places Bermuda beats them every time in one way or another but my Island and the majority who are trying to move us forward are being hindered by those who are bent on destroying what we have I am afraid that it boils down to lack of education..simple Do you all know that Holland America is owned by Carnival Cruise Lines When these companies merge together along came the power to actually control the destinations Carnival is notorious in the Caribbean for bullying countries to do what they want done Carnival threatened to pull out of Jamaica if they rose their head tax and Jamaica gave in What needs to happen is these Countries need to band together and speak to Carnival with one voice and not be bullied by them its all about control & the divide these destinations and you will conquer them mentality that Carnival has You fellas laughed when that old man predicted the end of the world… This was what he was talking about.,,,,,,Bermuda’s Finished!!! I have a massive respect and admiration for the PLP They have been hugely successful in running the economy into the graveyard capitulating to the crooked unions who hold the nation to ransom Here is what I would do deregulate the bus sector and let the private sector get involved vote out these sycophantic muppets and Get Sir John Swan back in It is one mess up after another from the PLP Must be about twice a week we hear of disasters and inequities at the hands of the PLP Premier remains silent again and again and again and again Cannot fault Holland America’s decision whatsoever – all we have done is S*&T all over their passengers for these past two years so that a few cranks in Dame Jennifer’s marginal constituency of St Tendering in passengers from Five Fathom Hole/Murray’s anchorage benefits nobody – those two wasted days each week would have brought a lot more money into Bermuda alongside Front St – taxi tours rather than subjugating our guests to the Third World ghost town that is St we reap what we sow and I say it’s time for the PLP to go to Hell before we all do I think the new NCL Breakaway scared them off The Breakaway is amazing and is setting a new standard of cruising to Bermuda Looks like the wheel chair clan are off to new pastures According to the Holland America Cruise Line website, the Veendam cruise ship will return to Bermuda in 2015 set to make six calls which all stop in Hamilton The ‘Veendam’ started service to Bermuda in 2010, making weekly sailings from New York, tendering from Murray’s Anchorage to St. George’s on Tuesdays and docking in Hamilton Wednesdays – Fridays. In 2011, the Government announced that the cruise ship would not return in 2013 It is scheduled to make six visits to the island from May through July The dates of the cruise departures are May 02 The listed prices for the 7-day cruise start at $799 Due to the increase in the size of cruise ships Hamilton has not had frequent cruise callers in recent years with the larger cruise ships docking in Dockyard due to logistical problems arising from trying to navigate into Hamilton Category: All, Business, News Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed turning space in Hamilton Harbour or dock length to accomodate them Or has it been the crappy chaotic transport infrastructure Her schedule has not been published after the July 4 so there is not real way to be sure that there will only be 6 sailings That very well might be all that has been published The pier in Hamilton cannot take ships longer than 740′-0″ or so and there is not a lot of space between the pier and White Island to turn the ship around I think the ships’ wide beam is also a problem with 2 Rock passage through 180m wide passage between White’s Island and Hamilton Island is the Port of Hamilton The Port of Hamilton contains berths for cruise and container ships Due to limitations in available water area in the main port area larger cruise ships utilize the turning basin then “back” into and berth at the cruise terminal From Dundonald Channel to Two Rock Passage proper the water depths in the channel average 10m CD Water depths in the passage average 8.8m CD with some deeper pockets of 10m or greater where the channel meets the turning basin How much wider does Two Rock & the channels need to be The dock can effectively extended with dolphins with their azipods & bow thrusters can spin on their own axis I am not a fan of the Panamax or post Panamax ships & the hoards of people that they carry but if this is the way of the future we had better accomodate them It would be nice to cater to the smaller boutique which offer 5 star service but as long as Bermuda is only 2 or 3 star ashore My guess is that holland has changed their mind cause of the casinos being allowed to open Good work OBA,we know you have our best interest I thought ncl has the exclusive rights to do the Boston to Bermuda run till 2017 hmmm The cruise ship Veendam provided Hamilton retailers with a welcome boost yesterday as the liner returned to Bermuda for the first time in three years The ship and her 1,400 passengers arrived in Hamilton at just after midday on the first of six trips between Boston and the Island scheduled for this year Chamber of Commerce president Kristi Grayston told The Royal Gazette she was thrilled to see the ship back in the city “She is a great ship and brings in a high-end clientele to the Island “Her presence on Front Street again is a huge boost to Hamilton and we have certainly missed her over the last few years “The critical mass and simple numbers she brings in have a big effect on retailers restaurants and most businesses in Hamilton “I could not be more thrilled to see her back in Hamilton and I hope that we will be able to attract her back again next year.” Cruise line Holland America pulled the Veendam out of Bermuda at the end of 2012 The ship had been a regular caller between 2010 and 2012 and was the only regular caller to dock in Hamilton She was initially supposed to call in St George’s but the liner was deemed too big to transit Town Cut In 2012 the Veendam made a total of 19 trips to the Island from New York This year the Veendam will visit Bermuda a total of six times staying in Hamilton for three nights on each occasion After leaving the Island on Thursday she will be back in the harbour on May 11 The Veendam will return to Hamilton next year but with a slightly reduced schedule will make six trips to Bermuda from Boston this year the vessel will make four calls in Hamilton; two in May and two in June between Boston and Hamilton The news was welcomed by Transport and Tourism Development Minister Shawn Crockwell Mr Crockwell said: “Needless to say I am very happy that the Veendam will be returning “Their visits this year have been very successful their guests’ experience was good and this has led to their decision to return next year “Bermuda remains a popular cruise destination we appeal to the cruise lines and their guests This is indeed good news and very beneficial to all of Bermuda Holland American has scheduled four seven-day cruises for the Veendam in 2016.” Holland America pulled the Veendam out of Bermuda at the end of 2012 Mobility - Works at the European Hyperloop Center are over To a passenger arriving by train to Veendam—a town in the province of Groningen the Netherlands—spotting a few hundred meters long white pipe that stretches parallel to the railway might not mean much The outskirts of the town feature windmills and processing plants so this might just be another processing pipe the pipe might actually be the way to get to Veendam in twenty years.  With the opening of the European Hyperloop Center the Netherlands puts itself at the forefront of the research on hyperloop The pipe is part of the European Hyperloop Center (EHC) It is a hotspot for testing and validating hyperloop-related technologies Construction started in September last year with the symbolic placement of the first bit of pipe Now that the tube construction is complete “The facility is open to any company to test and validate their innovations,” underlines Sascha Lamme director of the EHC and co-founder of Hardt Hyperloop The Dutch Hardt Hyperloop is one of the European companies at the forefront of hyperloop developments. The company, headquartered in Rotterdam worked on creating the new testing facility the EHC is a public-private initiative by Hardt Hyperloop Hardt is part of the Hyperloop Development Program which comprises European companies and institutions and was funded by the Dutch Government and the European Commission the hyperloop mobility system consists of a train in a vacuum tube that can travel at up to 1000 km/h speeds Traveling from Amsterdam to Budapest would take four hours and twenty minutes— as compared to the over 19 hours needed by train today which levitate on tracks using special magnets the vehicles don’t have to push it away to counteract the drag force less energy is needed to make the pods move the white pipe stretches 420 meters along the railway track where today’s trains start to slow down before arriving at the nearby station co-founder and technology and engineering director of Hardt Hyperloop illuminating the cavity as far as the eye can see.   the levitation tracks are on the pipe’s top sides with the infrastructure and pods that always communicate with the control room.  The EHC pipe is the longest hyperloop testing facility in Europe Hardt expects to run its pod to a top speed of up to 100 km/h much slower than the hyperloop promises and current trains offer there is a couple of kilometers long test pipe where pods got a 700 km/h top speed,” clarifies Tim Houter an essential element that will help companies validate the technology allowing pods to go to the left or to the right Despite the high speeds hyperloop pods plan to reach switching is designed to be as smooth as possible “The lane switch is designed to happen gradually there are no moving components,” explains Van der Meijs while walking inside the pipe.  Hyperloop pods will travel in convoys meaning that every pod can take a different route Van der Meijs compares it to a highway junction with vehicles that can take whatever exit they need to pods run for a short stretch on one side only concentrating levitation on the side where the vehicle is turning.  Complementary to the pipe is the vacuum system In a small container next to the tube is a vacuum pump which literally draws the air out of the pipe to keep the vacuum The pipe design allows the tube to remain sealed so that once air is removed Lamme explains that an established hyperloop system would need one such pump every couple of kilometers— although much depends on the pump’s power and on the air condition the pump can bring air into the system in a few seconds Hyperloop is not the only potential technology to disrupt rail transport. Magnetic levitation, which is used in some rail tracks in Asia, is another example. In Europe, Nevomo is also working on adapting maglev to existing railway tracks “Adapting magnetic levitation on already existing tracks undoubtedly increases trains’ speed all the advantages of running in a vacuum are missed Trains wouldn’t get to hyperloop speeds anyway and there is still the problem of magnetic drag to be managed,” says Lamme Costs are yet another concern for the development of the hyperloop. According to Hardt, hyperloop costs are lower than high-speed rail (HSR). A 2018 report by the European Court of Auditors found that a kilometer of HSR costs €25 million.  Hardt aims to have its first route by 2030 the company will work on passenger experience with the University of Groningen Reducing the discomfort caused by the high speeds is one of the critical points to address the light blue Arriva trains keep passing on the nearby tracks as if scrutinizing that pipe that hopes to replace them in the future.  In the main picture from left to right: Tim Houter Saying that their “Bermuda cruises in 2015 have been a huge success,” Holland America Line has announced that the Veendam cruise ship will return to Bermuda in 2016 “Guests looking to spend a few days immersing themselves in the laid-back lifestyle of Bermuda can embark Holland America Line’s ms Veendam for seven-day cruises to the island in May and June 2016 “Sailing roundtrip from Boston, Mass., the four departures each feature two half-days, two full days and three nights at Hamilton pastel architecture and exceptional golf courses premium cruise experience in Bermuda that enables the vessel to dock at Hamilton Slideshow of the Veendam arriving in Hamilton in May 2015 “The seven-day voyages spend a day at sea after departing Boston and arrive at Hamiltonmid-day with enough time for guests to go ashore and enjoy the town including two full days and another half day serving as a base from which guests can experience local nightlife and dine ashore the ship’s facilities including lounges the casino and gift shops will be open so guests may relax and enjoy the shipboard life as well “Veendam departs Bermuda mid-day on day four at the island with two nights and a full day at sea before arriving back at Boston “Our Bermuda cruises in 2015 have been a huge success and we’re excited to take more guests to the beautiful island in 2016,” said Orlando Ashford It’s rare for cruisers to get to spend three nights in a port and this itinerary is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all that Bermuda has to offer — both during the day and evening.” The seven-day Bermuda itinerary can be combined with a seven-day Canada/New England cruise to create a 14-day Bermuda &Canada/New England Collectors’ Voyage Cruise fares begin at $799 for the seven-day cruises and $1,449 for the 14-day Bermuda & Canada/New England Collectors’ Voyages Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed Hope it is increased to “12″ trips each year ahead I mean for Godsake whats up with StG always getting dissed Unfortunately its draft will not permit it to enter the harbour Maybe something can be done about that George’s may also enjoy her presence Who knows what may occur if Holland America Lines can possibly increase the Veendams visits by being allow to stay in St is it feasible for us to have the former channel leading into St George’s harbour dredged…Just a thought After their initial announcement earlier this year that they would be returning to Hamilton in 2015, Holland America Line confirmed they will offer six seven-day cruises aboard the Veendam to Bermuda next year and feature three days and nights at Hamilton “We know our guests will be excited to see us cruise again to Bermuda in 2015,” said Richard Meadows Holland America Line’s executive vice president of sales guests can have extensive time to experience the island while still enjoying the award-wining service and amenities that Holland America Line is known for.” The seven-day Bermuda itinerary can be combined with a seven-day Canada/New England cruise to create a 14-day Bermuda & Canada/New England Collectors’ Voyage and can also be combined with a 17-day Panama Canal transit to create a 24-day Panama Canal and Bermuda Collectors’ Voyage Cruise fares begin at $799 for the seven-day cruises; $1,499 for the 14-day Bermuda & Canada/New England Collectors’ Voyages; and $2,499 for the 24-day Panama Canal and Bermuda Collectors’ Voyage Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed This is great news and congratulations to the new Tourism Authority on keeping Bermuda moving forward If only everyone could keep an eye on building versus tearing our Island apart— Thankfully these folks won’t be subject to the nonsense of the public transporation system of Bermuda– Keep pushing forward Bermuda–we can move through the current phase that we find ourselves saddeled with— 6 trips in one year and the TA is the second coming If ALL of our politicians would have come together in 2009 when Ewart tried to allow Cruise ships to open their Casinos in port Brown tried to sneak in the legislation under the noses of his own Party who in turn revolted and also voted against the measure Strange how you left out those details and blamed the UBP Typical tactics of the PLP/BIU/Peoples campaign 6000 Travel Agents coming to Bermuda on the Breakaway talk of new hotels and now a cruise ship returning to Bermuda..this is well needed news after all the childishness of the last two weeks in eminating from our dysfunctional political system Keep up the great work putting Bermuda back on the tourism map!! I didn’t say that this wasn’t good news What I was saying was the cruise line was already returning to Bermuda before the bta so it wasnt the bta well done bermuda and well done bta are misinformed Lol how some like to turn overall good news for the country into something negative Tourism appears to be seeing signs of green shoot recovery Bermuda is moving in the right direction regardless of those that wish to high jack good news via their self important personal agendas Venndam would have been here all this time if UBP/PLP would have played nice 5 years ago … Dysfunction is what actually caused this to be a newsworthy story If you read in a previous article there was an announcement in February about the cruise line returning the article was published in February long before the BTA started The incompetence of the PLP and its members led to them “forgetting” to sign and return cruise ship contracts on time This allowed one cruise company to back out and relocate its ship to another destination for the summer The end result was 12 less visits from a ship carrying 4,000 people each week Anything that help turn thing the other way is a good thing Great to see Hamilton with a ship especially knowing that no visitor will have their vacation ruined by selfish BIU management Because you’re the idiot minister who cost the Premier his job Cruise ships generate pollution: up to 25,000 gallons of sewage from toilets and 143,000 gallons of sewage from sinks Tourists are great but are we considering how these ships are impacting our environment U act like they pull up to the dock and pump their waste into the harbor “some people can’t see the trees for the forest” Frequent diversions to Hamilton by the Veendam have disappointed east end businesses who are still looking for more customers.The Holland America Veendam was scheduled to make a total of 24 visits to St George’s but so far this year the ship has been diverted away from the town six times due largely to weather concerns.Corporation of St George’s Alderman and owner of Robertson’s Drugstore Garth Rothwell said: “It’s disappointing that it cannot come into St George’s because it does make a difference when it is in we do a little bit better than we do when it’s across the Island.”Another businessman said this years problems echoed those that took place last year “I think we were disappointed last year,” he said every visitor helps.“If we don’t have people coming to the town we’re put in a position where it’s hard to stay open it’s harder to get people to the town.”While he said that a stronger emphasis on public transportation to and from the town could help another business owner said the only solution is to keep people in the town longer by having a ship in port longer or opening one of the promised east end hotels.“People seem to get off the ferry or the bus and then march right back to the bus,” he said We don’t mind which.”He also expressed concern that while the number of visitors to the Island may be on the rise some visitors don’t spend enough time in Bermuda to make a real financial impact.“It’s also that the ships don’t seem to be staying in Bermuda very long They show up at 9am and everyone has to be back on the boat by 4pm That’s not a lot of time to get up here.“They have one meal or go to the beach and then they’re back on the boat.”The Veendam is the only cruise ship to regularly visit St George’s for the last two years.However it is unable to pass through Town Cut and must anchor at Murray’s Anchorage with passengers being ferried to and from the town.Last year the ship was scheduled to make 24 stops in St George’s but poor weather and medical emergencies caused it to repeatedly bypass the town Visits from the ship stopped early after the Bermudian which had been used to ferry passengers to and from the ship was thrown onto the rocks by Hurricane Igor The Veendam will continue to sail into both St George’s and Hamilton next year with Holland America Line announcing it will offer 24 seven-day cruises to Bermuda aboard MS Veendam in 2011 continuing the schedule established this year with weekly cruises which will spend one day at St Holland America Line returned to regular Bermuda service departing from New York in 2010 after more than 25 years The 2011 voyages begin May 1 and will sail roundtrip from New York through Oct “Bermuda offers our guests an outstanding warm-weather vacation experience cultural charm and world-class shopping and golf,” said Richard D “Our roundtrip departures from New York also provide exciting pre- and post-cruise stay and sightseeing opportunities making this a unique and very attractive itinerary.” Fares aboard the 1,350-guest Veendam begin at $699 per person plus taxes The cruise ship is shown below docked in Hamilton in May of this year Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 350 ports in more than 100 countries Two- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean Holland America Line has announced that Amsterdam Rotterdam and Veendam will be leaving the fleet and transferring to “undisclosed buyers” with the S-Class Maasdam (pictured above) and Veendam transferring to one company in August 2020 while the R-Class Amsterdam and Rotterdam will move to another company in fall 2020 The sale of four Holland America Line ships is part of Carnival’s downsizing plans with the cruise giant hoping to offload 13 ships in total by 8 October 2020 Holland America Line will cancel cruises for the four ships’ deployments The 2021 Grand World Voyage aboard Amsterdam will be postponed until 2022 and will now sail aboard Zaandam The Grand Africa Voyage departing 10 October 2021 aboard Rotterdam will now also sail aboard Zaandam on the same date Holland America Line said guests with bookings on future sailings of these ships will be notified that these cruises will be cancelled or changed guests will receive information if the cruise will operate with a different ship or information and special offers on how to book another Holland America Line cruise when operations resume,” the company said in a statement “Guests who prefer a refund will be accommodated.” Cancelled cruises will include scheduled Canada/New England and Grand Voyages on Amsterdam; Mexico Australia and Asia itineraries on Maasdam; Caribbean South America and Hawaii sailings on Rotterdam; and Caribbean and Europe itineraries on Veendam CEO of Holland America Group and Carnival UK said: “It’s always difficult to see any ship leave the fleet with a third sister ship next year that will continue to maintain our overall capacity in the marketplace.” Gus Antorcha, who was recently appointed as the new president of Holland America Line said: “I recognise and appreciate the deep affection our guests have toward our company and the ships in our fleet “I look forward to carrying on those beloved shipboard offerings while cultivating new ideas to bring to our guests.” Making the first of her six visits for the year, the 719-foot long Veendam cruise ship docked in Hamilton today [May 4] carrying an estimated 1399 passengers and 561 crew The Veendam started service to Bermuda in 2010 In 2011, the Government announced that the cruise ship would not return in 2013 however last year Holland America Line confirmed they will offer six seven-day cruises aboard the Veendam to Bermuda this year “We know our guests will be excited to see us cruise again to Bermuda in 2015,” said Richard Meadows from Holland America Line when they announced the Bermuda cruises last year Category: All, News, Photos Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed Cue Mockingay to find something negative to say – and to somehow blame it on the OBA but why fire the first shot across the bow Why not address the Veendam visit in the first place Hopefully the visitors will have a great experience that will encourage them to make a repeat visit and stay on-shore next time Just came down burnaby hill and it was just like the good old days Well I am no Mockingjay but next to the container docks No terminal at No1 – just a parking lot you’ve been living overseas for far too long bie’ The number one pier has been a car park for years Maybe so Raymond but there is still a damn dock there And you can still dock at the Flag Pole unless they ran out of good Pilots Even if it is docked next to the containers I have seen many docking areas no where near ours Such a pleasure in seeing not only the “Veendam” in Hamilton Harbour but also the other cruise ships we’ve been seeing thus-far this year… It’s nice to see cruise ships in Hamilton again on a somewhat regular basis Well if not for the desire to punish former premier Browne by both sides of the house over this issue of gambling in port; we would have had ships in Hamilton a long time ago This was one of the failures of the former PLP government since they were in control of government at that time and some of them voted along with the than OBA opposition to killed premier Browne’s gambling bill months of lost revenue for the country all because of the lack of pragmatism and foresight on the part of those members of the former PLP government who voted against the bill and their leader and the narrow political interests of the than OBA political opposition Can’t even spell your ex-leaders name Hope all of the passengers stood at the rails & thumbed their noses at those onboard the cattle boats in Dockyard which are too large to get into Hamilton & be at the center of things step it up & make the Veendam people feel very very welcome Triangle Drifter….Brown & Co seems to be the only retailer “catering” to Veendam…open Mon/Tues and Wed this week and next Since there is no Harbor Nights for thier 1st two visits in Hamilton… There’s no official Harbour Nights until June however BTA and some vendors have gotten together for an Arts and Crafts market in #5 Parking lot (across from Flanagan’s) Contact Bermuda Tourism Authority for more information We want our cruise passengers and other May visitors to have a great time in Bermuda I have cruised to Bermuda many times but stopped when ships stopped docking in Hamilton This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page VEENDAM (Netherlands) — Europe's longest tunnel for testing hyperloop technology opened on Wednesday (March 27) in the Netherlands with operators hoping passengers could one day be whisked from Amsterdam to Barcelona in a couple of hours shows a view of the European Hyperloop Center with a 420m long tunnel serving as a testing facility constructed to develop hyperloop technologies as a potential future sustainable transportation system On a disused railway centre near Veendam in the north of the country sits a sleek Y-shaped white tunnel 420m long made up of 34 interconnected pipes around 2.5m wide Nearly all the air is sucked out of the tunnel to reduce air resistance and a vehicle is propelled using magnets at speeds that could eventually reach 1,000kmh The European Hyperloop Centre is the world's only facility to feature a "lane switch" a tunnel branching off from the main track allowing scientists to test what happens when a vehicle changes course at high speed The lane switch is a diverging part of the infrastructure the other one heads off to Berlin," said centre director Sascha Lamme Mr Lamme predicted a network of 10,000km of hyperloop tunnels criss-crossing Europe by 2050 "If you look at how highways were developed over time it goes exponentially when the technology is ready," the 33-year-old told AFP "We have made something that is very scalable So it should really be possible to get into a station in Amsterdam and travel to a city like Barcelona in two hours," he said Dutch-based firm Hardt Hyperloop plans to run initial vehicle tests in the coming weeks and the centre is open to companies developing any aspect of hyperloop technology the scientists admit there is a "long road" before the technology is completely ready and they are still some way off testing with passengers Full-scale passenger operations should be available by 2030 probably on a short route of around 5km — from an airport to a city for example SpaceX and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk brought hyperloop into popular culture with a 2013 paper proposing a "fifth mode of transport" linking San Francisco and Los Angeles Mr Musk said a hyperloop tube could link the two cities in around 30 minutes compared to up to six hours by road or one hour by plane several cities around the world have toyed with the idea research projects have gobbled up millions of dollars but hyperloop has still yet to get off the ground British businessman Richard Branson sent two passengers 500m in the Nevada desert in 2020 which later became Hyperloop One But testing and research remains intense — China has a longer facility allowing them to reach speeds of nearly 700kmh Supporters say the hyperloop produces no pollution and blends into the background both in urban and countryside environments "The energy consumption of the hyperloop as a transportation mode is much lower (than others)," said Mr Marinus Van der Meijs technology and engineering director at Hardt Hyperloop "It also requires less space to operate because we have these tubes that can easily be placed underground or elevated So we have a lower infrastructure footprint" the 33-year-old told AFP Critics say the technology is pie in the sky and questions remain about the passenger experience of being fired through a narrow tunnel at close to the speed of sound Transport blogger Alon Levy famously described Mr Musk's initial proposal as a "barf ride" But Mr Van der Meijs said the acceleration should not feel very different to a high-speed train When it's up in the air and travelling at a constant speed "We will make it a very comfortable ride," said Mr Lamme "You could imagine a capsule with a nice ceiling which might display stars or a nice sunny day you'll get to your destination in a very short time." AFP Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 'Channelnewsasia.com' domain We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with TODAY to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us Cruise ships steering away from visits to Bermuda could cause a huge hit to some already-suffering retailers.Next year Carnival Cruises will only visit the Island once while the Holland America Line’s Veendam is not scheduled to visit the Island at all in the 2013 season.Somers Cooper would be a notable loss to the retail sector.He called the Veendam announcement extremely disappointing saying: “We in Hamilton really saw a significant impact on business when the Veendam came to town We thought Holland America brought a good standard of passenger.”While he said he couldn’t see AS Coopers resorting to laying off employees other businesses might not be as fortunate.“It’s going to be difficult for businesses who cater to those ships,” he said “We are talking about a significant drop in customers.”He estimated that around 25 percent of the company’s current sales come from visitors to the Island but said that rate used to be more than 50 percent.“A lot of businesses have shifted significantly to cater to the locals the tourist season has gotten shorter and shorter,” he said.“I think that most people who cater to tourists have had to adjust the way they do business to supplement what once was a very strong tourist market.”Mr Cooper said he was not optimistic that a new ship could be brought to the Island soon to replace the lost visits saying that Cruise Lines typically organise years in advance.To make matters more difficult only a handful of ships can safely operate in St George’s and Hamilton due to their size Out of 165 cruise ships available for the North American and European markets nine of which are scheduled to be retired in the next few years.“We are really going to have to think about where we are going to try to get back that lost income,” he said.Isabella Ramsey-Brackstone of the Bermuda Perfumery said the loss of the Veendam would have a notable affect on the perfumery’s business saying: “It brought a very affluent group of people she said the loss of the Carnival cruises would have less of an affect on St George’s in part because of the short duration of their visits and in part because of weaknesses in the public transportation system.“In 2010 we had a record year even though St George’s didn’t have a large number of cruise ships “If you have a product people are interested in but if they can’t get to you it’s all for nothing.“We had a ferry coming to St George’s from Hamilton at 5pm and it was empty If Government wants to run more effectively she said she is hopeful that new Transport Minister Derrick Burgess would help turn the ferry system around in time for next summer.Hamilton Mayor Charles Gosling said he will be speaking with the Government about possible alternatives to the lost ships and what if anything the Corporation can do to turn the situation around.Noting that the city has suffered in the past from declines in cruise ship visitors he said: “We want to find out the concerns of the cruise lines and see the issues that the ships are facing that are preventing us from getting those visits.“When we know what those issues are we will see what the Corporation can do to alleviate them.”Last week Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert said that the loss of the ships might not lead to a long term impact with larger cruise ships expecting to visit the Island in 2013.“We may lose some numbers on the Veendam so we may still have the same numbers,” Mr Furbert said Premier and Minister of Tourism Dr Ewart Brown attended a reception aboard the MS Veendam this morning [Apr 28] in recognition of the cruise ship’s inaugural visit to Bermuda The Veendam can accommodate up to 1,350 passengers and contains many features including a $2 million art and antique collection spacious staterooms with private verandahs as well as numerous restaurants and facilities MS Veendam Captain Peter J The Veendam is scheduled to make 24 calls to Bermuda in 2010 tendering at Murray’s Anchorage on Tuesdays before docking in Hamilton from Wednesdays – Fridays Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed Irony………………… The inaugural Holland America Lines “Veendam” is scheduled to make its inaugural call to Bermuda tomorrow [Apr 27] but may have difficulties due to inclement weather It was planned for the ship to be moored at Murray’s Anchorage and the passengers transported to St the ship may not be able tender from Murray’s Anchorage to St the ‘Veendam’ will continue to Hamilton on Tuesday morning and remain there until Friday afternoon when she is scheduled to depart In the event the ‘Veendam’ goes direct to Hamilton on Tuesday morning The Ministry of Tourism and Transport has coordinated a contingency plan with Holland America Line to provide transportation service back to St direct ferry service and use of the bus system Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr Ewart Brown said: We will make every attempt to honour our commitment to the people of St George’s by doing everything possible to ensure that ‘Veendam’ guests have a quality St George’s experience during their stay in Bermuda If weather conditions prevent safe operation of the ferry service on Tuesday special service will be provided on Wednesday for ‘Veendam’ guests to go to St The ‘Veendam’ is scheduled to make 24 calls to Bermuda in 2010 tendering at Murray’s Anchorage on Tuesdays before docking in Hamilton from Wednesdays – Fridays www.visitanicaragua.com | www.riosanjuan.com.ni  | www.mapanicaragua.com Copyright 2016 – 2025 | Todos los derechos reservados | Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo The Opposition has called for a commitment from Government to provide St George’s with a dedicated weekly cruise ship.Shadow Transport Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin said the Old Town’s economy was “hanging by a thread and needs decision-making that supports its revival”.The comments followed news that St George’s is to be left without a regular service during next year’s season with the Veendam to dock solely in Hamilton for 2012.The Holland America cruise liner has a total of 24 weekly visits scheduled for this season.Ordinarily the Veendam arrives on Tuesday mornings at the East End stopping at Murray’s Anchorage instead of coming into St George’s Harbour.Tourists are ferried ashore for the day and the ship then moves on to Hamilton at 5pm It departs the Island on Friday afternoons from Hamilton around 2pm the Veendam has missed St George’s seven times out of its 16 runs.The cruise ship was able to make a brief stop at the East End this week according to Joe Simas of Meyer Shipping.It could bypass St George’s next week if public transport strikes continue he said.Ms Gordon-Pamplin said the goal of Government’s cruise ship policy should be “the commercial injection provided by cruise ships” for the East End.Currently the Veendam cannot fit through the Town Cut channel leading into St George’s Harbour.A US firm has examined widening this and other inshore channels to accommodate the increasing size of cruise vessels.Ms Gordon-Pamplin said she appreciated the industry trends toward bigger ships but did not see it as “a deal-killer”.“A new contract with a ship that can access the Town Cut is possible and its duration could allow the people of St George’s and Bermuda time to decide on expansion plans for the Town Cut.”In the meantime regular tours of St George’s should be available to Veendam passengers she said.Ms Gordon-Pamplin also called for Government to release the findings of the study into widening Town Cut.That report is expected to be made public in two weeks according to St George’s Mayor Kenny Bascome Delft startup says hyperloop trains will run in Europe by 2030BookmarkBookmarkBy Victoria SévenoJun 9 2022Hardt Hyperloop expects members of the public shouldn’t have to wait too long before they’ll be able to board a hyperloop train as they believe a commercial service will operate in Europe by 2030 Hyperloop is a transportation system where capsules travel through a vacuum tunnel reaching speeds of up to 1.000 kilometres per hour The brains behind the tech believe it could become a viable alternative for transporting goods and people between countries hyperloop should also offer a cheaper travel alternative to high-speed trains While it might all sound a little bit Back to the Future, Hardt Hyperloop - a startup based in Delft - believes that this dream isn’t all that far from becoming reality. The company is currently working on Hyperloop test tracks in Groningen and Veendam and hopes to have completed all necessary safety checks by 2027 it should mean that the first commercial hyperloop service would be operational by 2030 While it’s yet to be determined where this track would be constructed the company’s co-founder Mars Geuze told ANP that he hoped the Netherlands could become a pioneer in this industry: “If you want to build a dyke It would be great if that also applies to hyperloop." The dream of hurtling between European cities at speeds of more than 700 kilometres per hour moved a step closer Monday with the first successful vehicle tests at the European Hyperloop Centre Hovering inside a sleek 420-metre (1,377-foot) white tunnel a dark and light grey striped pod levitates at the order from the mission control centre before powering away using magnetic propulsion and with no one aboard the speed is relatively slow at 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) per hour but operators hope to reach 100 kph (62 mph) by the end of the year as they race towards rolling out a system by 2030 “We will be ready to transport passengers in a vehicle like that by 2030,” Roel van de Pas commercial director of Dutch firm Hardt Hyperloop Amsterdam to Berlin in 90 minutes or Milan in two hours — the technology has the potential to revolutionise travel in Europe SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk brought hyperloop into popular culture with a 2013 paper proposing a “fifth mode of transport” linking San Francisco and Los Angeles But several attempts to roll out the technology have failed including by British tycoon Richard Branson and critics say “hype” is the pertinent part of the name “hyperloop” “It’s really going to change the relationship that we have within Europe It’s really going to integrate the continent,” believes the 39-year-old Monday’s test launch took place in front of 300 guests including Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands watching on a big screen with the mission control comms piped in The next stage is to test under full vacuum conditions — nearly all the air is sucked out of the tunnel to reduce air resistance — and gradually increase the speeds The European Hyperloop Centre is the world’s only facility to feature a “lane switch” It allows scientists to test rapid course changes — vital for creating a network Hardt Hyperloop hopes to start testing the lane switch soon with vehicles and eventually build a bigger centre to enable the pod to reach the dizzying speeds possible The eventual aim is to replace short-haul European flights and long drives across the continent with ticket costs probably comparable to a low-cost airline A successful roll-out of a dense hyperloop network would also provide a substantial environmental boost as well A hyperloop system uses around one 10th of the energy of aviation and one third of a railway as well as being completely noise free as it’s enclosed within the tunnel The tunnels could be placed alongside existing motorways and the European Hyperloop Centre has already experimented with blending into the environment painting one part of its tunnel to make it look like a forest One concern often raised is the passenger experience Screaming through a narrow tunnel at the speed of sound may not be everyone’s idea of a comfortable ride Transport blogger Alon Levy famously described Musk’s initial proposal as a “barf ride” which will eventually carry 50 or so passengers will have the same sort of vibration and comfort levels as modern trains China already has a test facility enabling speeds up to 700 kph but Van de Pas welcomes the global competition “We need good competitors and we are all pursuing the same mission We want to make travelling these long distances a zero-emission effort,” he told AFP “We look at what our competitors are doing and they look at us and together we are building an industry.” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives America’s greatest strengths are being decimated systematically Image: ©AFPUS President Donald Trump said Sunday he was ordering new tariffs on all films made outside the United States OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced Monday that the company behind ChatGPT will continue to be run as a nonprofit Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered at least a 20 percent reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals.