SEATTLE, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ -- On Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at 5:21 p.m. local time while en route to
Lahaina, Hawaii, Holland America
Line's ms Veendam answered a request for assistance from the
United States Coast Guard to rescue a pilot who had ditched his
single-engine Cirrus SR-22 after he experienced a mechanical issue
with the fuel system. The pilot was located approximately 225
nautical miles off the coast of Maui,
Hawaii.
In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, Veendam was
able to successfully rescue the pilot, who deployed the aircraft's
airframe parachute system and safely exited the plane into a life
raft. Holland America Line
crewmembers brought him aboard Veendam and provided him food
and accommodations. The pilot, who was in good condition,
disembarked today, Jan. 26, at
Lahaina.
"Congratulations to the team on ms Veendam for coming to
the aid of the pilot and for working together with the Coast Guard
to conduct this successful rescue operation," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America
Line. "January has been an eventful month for our ships with
several rescues around the world, and we are honored to be able to
assist in any distress situation when
needed."
Veendam currently is in the middle of an 18-day
Circle Hawaii cruise roundtrip from San
Diego, Calif., which departed Jan.
20.
This is the third rescue at sea by a Holland America Line ship
in 2015. On Jan. 3, ms
Zuiderdam rescued eight crewmembers from a sinking vessel in
the Caribbean, and Jan. 4 ms Zaandam came to the aid of seven
stranded crewmembers at the Arctowski Polish research station at
King George Island in Antarctica.
For more information about Holland America Line, contact a
travel professional or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or
visit www.hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Additional photos are available at
http://www2.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WAnD-25N-Qm6.
Link to official United States Coast Guard video:
http://www.dvidshub.net/video/388574/pilot-safe-after-ditching-253-miles-maui#.VMZA7ye2jLU.
Find Holland America Line
on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America
Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online
Communities quick link on the home page
at www.hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line's fleet of 15 ships
offers more than 500 cruises to 415 ports in 98 countries,
territories or dependencies. One- to 110-day itineraries
visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South
America, Australia/New
Zealand and Asia voyages;
four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to ports in the
Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. The line currently
has a new 2,650-guest ship, ms Koningsdam, on order for
delivery in February 2016 from
Fincantieri shipyard, as well as a second Pinnacle Class ship due
for delivery in November 2018.
Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence
enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $500 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts
Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art
onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and
culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes —
Explorations Cafe powered by The New York
Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only
activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by
flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's
Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival
Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Costa
Cruises, AIDA, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia.
Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality
and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover
their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of
exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most
desirable destinations. Visit us at
www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
CONTACT:
|
Sally
Andrews
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130930/SF88951LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/holland-america-lines-ms-veendam-rescues-pilot-who-ditched-his-aircraft-in-the-pacific-ocean-off-the-coast-of-maui-hawaii-300025755.html
SOURCE Holland America Line