Built at Rotterdam, the turbine steamer of the same name launched on 13^th September 1958 was the fifth liner to bear this name in the Holland-America fleet. Registered at 38,645 tons gross, she measured 748 feet in length with a 94 foot beam and was the first sizeable passenger vessel in the world to be designed with large upright exhaust vents instead of conventional funnels. Fitted with twin-screws powered from Parsons' geared turbines by De Schelde, she could cruise at 20½ knots but had a maximum speed of 22 knots. With accomodation for 655 First and 801 Tourist class passengers cared for by a crew of 776, she began her career with regular sailings between Rotterdam and New York in September 1959 but, after only ten years, was relegated to cruising in 1969 which proved very unsuccessful.