MS Prinsendam a Holland-America liner built at Shipyard de Merwede in the Netherlands in 1973 was 427 feet long and typically carried about 350 passengers and 200 crew members. The liner was sailing through the Gulf of Alaska approximately 120 miles south of Yakutat Alaska at midnight on October 4 1980 when a fire broke out in the engine room. The vessel’s master declared the fire out of control one hour later and the Prinsendam sent a radio call requesting immediate assistance.
Builders of the MS Prinsendam (1973) are Hardinxveld-Giessendam and Netherlands.