SEATTLE, Sept. 8 -- Holland America Line's ms Maasdam is the
first cruise ship ever to receive the "Environmental Life-Buoy" award from the
Port of Stockholm, in recognition of the ship's Sanitation Department's
recycling program. The award singled out the Maasdam as the first of only two
ships receiving the honor out of a total of 56 ships calling at Stockholm this
season.

The award was presented to the Maasdam's senior management staff and
Sanitation Department by the chief executive of the Port of Stockholm, Carl-
Erik Aroseus, and the local recycling manager, Alexander Jonsson, during the
ship's last call in Stockholm on Aug. 13.

Aroseus and Jonsson lauded the Maasdam for its excellent results and
dedication to the environment.

According to Maasdam Food and Beverage Manager Cor Berndsen, the program for
which the Maasdam was recognized had its genesis in 1999, when Simon de Boer,
the ship's assistant food and beverage manager and a six-year veteran of
Holland America Line, noticed that most port authorities collect ship's waste
in general waste containers. This practice seemed to counter the efforts of
the Maasdam's Sanitation Department, which has strived for a complete
separation of waste to be discharged ashore.

"It was a shame, really, to see that our efforts in separation, ended up all
in one container to be trucked to incinerator installations ashore. This in a
time when we need to be very careful with the Earth's resources and should
focus on recycling whenever possible," said de Boer.

He addressed his concerns to the port authority of Stockholm. And, discussed
possible solutions with the port master and port agent.

"We informed the local officials of the waste separation program on Holland
America Line vessels in general and the Maasdam in particular. The local
authorities were most impressed with this program and were very eager to
cooperate," said de Boer.

The Port Authority lost no time implementing the plan. By the start of the
2000 cruise season, four recycling managers were hired and special,
one-cubic-meter stainless steel waste containers were built for colored glass,
white glass, metals, cardboard and burnable waste. With each call of a cruise
ship, the local recycling manager supervises the offloading and separation of
the various waste streams.

"The program has proven very successful for all parties involved," said
Berndsen.

"It is very nice to see this kind of cooperation between local authorities
and our vessel," added de Boer. "Once again, Holland America Line has raised
the benchmark in environmental concern. We will continue to strive to raise
the environmental awareness of all those who live off the sea."

Holland America Line has a history of embracing new environmental
technologies.

The company has expanded its commitment to responsible environmental
practices through a comprehensive fleetwide program which emphasizes waste
reduction and recycling, compliance with all international environmental
guidelines and the use of cleaner-burning propulsion technology into its new
ships.

A pioneer in on-board recycling, Holland America implemented a comprehensive
recycling program in 1993. Currently glass, aluminum, white paper, wooden
pallets, plastic buckets, cardboard, cooking oil and photographic silver are
recycled. The line works with suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging
materials coming onto the ships and specifies that in-cabin amenities be
packaged in recyclable plastic.

Each Holland America ship has a staff of five crew who are responsible for
processing, storing, recycling and disposing of the approximately eight tons
of garbage generated on board each ship every seven days. As an incentive,
proceeds from recycled materials are added to the shipboard crew benefit fund.

The cruise line also invites passengers to participate in its on-board
environmental programs. Holland America is the only line to place receptacles
in staterooms for passengers to sort recyclable materials from trash. In
addition, guests are encouraged to reuse bath towels, thus reducing the amount
of water consumed by the laundry.

The line currently meets or exceeds all provisions of the international
regulations governing the environmental management of marine operations.