On the morning of 3rd January 2015, whilst en route to Oranjestad, Aruba, Holland America Line’s (HAL) 82,305gt/2002 built Zuiderdam responded to a distress call from the Bahamian inter-island vessel Excalibur that was sinking with eight crewmembers onboard.

The HAL ship was approximately 15 miles away and the closest ship in the area. All crewmembers of the Excalibur were successfully rescued and disembarked in Aruba.

The following day the 61,396gt/2000 built Zaandam went to the aid of seven crewmembers from the yacht Polonus that were staying at the Arctowski Polish research station at King George Island in Antarctica. The crew, all Polish nationals, were stranded after their yacht went aground. The Zaandam took those rescued to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they were disembarked on 11th January.