HAL earns more top USPH scores

Holland America Line’s (HAL) Noordam and Zuiderdam achieved full marks during recent routine United States Public Health (USPH) inspections conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Noordam’s unannounced inspection took place during a call at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 5 January. Zuiderdam was inspected on 19 December during a call at Fort Lauderdale at the start of a seven-night Caribbean cruise.

“Our shipboard and shoreside teams work hard to achieve a perfect score on CDC inspections, and to have two more ships get 100 is a testament to their hard work and dedication,” said Orlando Ashford, president of HAL. “Congratulations to both ships for this well-deserved achievement.”

CDC inspections are part of the Vessel Sanitation Program, which was introduced in the early 1970s and is required for all passenger ships that call at a US port. Conducted twice a year, the unannounced public health inspections and evaluate ships according to a number of categories including adherence to hygienic food handling, preparation and storage procedures; overall galley cleanliness; and the quality of the ship’s potable water supplies, shipboard personnel and the ship as a whole. Scores can range from 0 to 100.

Last October, Eurodam also earned a score of 100 in her USPH inspection, marking the seventh consecutive time the ship gained full marks. In June and July 2014, Westerdam and Statendam also earned scores of 100, while Eurodam and Zaandam achieved full marks during 2013 inspections.