Rotterdam IV
Ship Number
390
Vessel Type
Passenger Ship
Built
Belfast
Yard
North Yard
Slip Number
3
Launch Date
March 3, 1908
Delivered
June 3, 1908
Owner
Holland-America Line
Weight
23980 grt
BP Length
650 feet
Breadth
77 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
17 knots
Propulsion
Steam Twin quadruple expansion - constructed in Belfast
Official No.
Registered
Fate
Scrapped
Rotterdam IV

[Harland and Wolff Collection]
This was the fourth ship with this name owned by the Holland America Line. She had two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 17 knots. There was accommodation for 530-1st, 555-2nd and 2,124-3rd class passengers.
 
Maintaining Holland America's tradition of innovation in design, she was the first ship on the Atlantic to have a glassed-in promenade deck. The first class vestibule, with a grand, double-banister staircase, might be seen as a precursor of today's atriums.
 
Her last voyage started on 23rd February 1916 and she was then laid up due to the risk of damage from mines and U-boats. She resumed Rotterdam - Brest - New York sailings on 24th January 1919 and in 1920 was converted from coal to oil fuel.
 
In April 1926 her accommodation was altered to 1st, 2nd, tourist and 3rd class; in January 1930 to 1st, tourist and 3rd class; in June 1936 to cabin, tourist and 3rd class; and in May 1937 to cabin and tourist class only.
 
Her last Rotterdam - New York - Rotterdam voyage started on 21st November 1939 and in January 1940 she was scrapped at Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Holland.
 
Rotterdam was the largest Dutch ship for nearly two decades and remained the pride of the fleet until laid up in 1939, after sailing a distance nearly equalling 72 times around the world.
 
[North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3,p.913]