Transport: New Dutchman

Briskly into New York harbor from Rotterdam one shiny morning last week rode the new, 10,704-ton Holland-America Line motorship Noordam, with a holdful of reasons why her maiden voyage should be considered an important item of marine intelligence. Second unit of a new Holland-America fleet,* she enjoyed the distinction of being the only transatlantic ship ever built with a private bath in every passenger cabin. A neat combination of freighter and passenger ship, her high-set midship superstructure is calculated to provide first-class passenger comfort at tourist rates ($253 round trip), while her low-slung fore & aft cargo decks make money on freight. The Noordam cost $2,300,000, can carry 9,000 tons of cargo, 120 passengers.

* The 36,287-ton Nieuw Amsterdam, placed in service last May, was first. On the way are Noordam’s sister ship, the Zaandam; the freighters Sloterdyk and Sommelidyk.