Avondale Repairs Holland America's Noordam

Avondale Industries Inc.'s Shipyards Division recently completed emergency repairs to Holland America Lines' cruise ship M/S Noordam.

In mid-November the 654-footlong luxury liner pulled into Avondale's Algiers facility with a gaping 85-foot by 60-foot hole in her aft starboard side—covering nearly four decks, including parts of the galley, crew quarters and promenade deck — which was the result of an accident with a Greek cargo ship in the Gulf of Mexico.

Avondale steel workers and welders replaced the steel plate outer skin and then turned their attention to repairing the interior damage. During the turnaround, the Noordam was moved to the Shipyards Division's main yard, where she was lifted in Avondale's 81,000- ton drydock for inspection. After 10 days ofaround-the-clock repair work performed by several production crafts — including welding, shipfitting, electrical, piping and sheet metal — the Noordam departed and was immediately put back in service. She is now on her regular schedule cruising the high seas.

Avondale Industries, Inc., headquartered in metro New Orleans, is one of the nation's leading steel fabricators. In addition to building and repairing ships and boats to Navy and commercial standards, the company is also involved in modular construction of plants and components for a variety of land-based industries.

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