Ron van Maanen
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 8 February 1928 reported that the new mail passenger ships to be build at Flushing at the yard of the Kon. Mij. De Schelde on account of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd were to be named Dempo and Baloeran. The Vlissingsche Courant confirmed the same day this item. The latter newspaper dated 11 May repeated that these motor ships were to be renamed Dempo and Baloeran but that their dimensions were to be larger than those of the Sibajak. One casco was to be built at the yard Fijenoord at Rotterdam.
The photo below was published in the Dutch magazine Gelderland in woord en beeld dated 19 September 1930.
The Goessche Courant and the Middelburgsche Courant dated 11 March 1929 wrote that within short time at the yard of De Schelde the steamship Poelau Bras was to be launched. Immediately after this launching was the slip to be used for laying down the keel of the motor freighter and passenger ship Dempo.
The Vlissingsche Courant dated Saturday 13 April reported the launching that afternoon of the Poelau Bras and that within short time the keel was to be laid down for the Dempo with the dimensions 550 x 70 x 44 feet. On the 29th of the same month was an extract of the annual account of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd published in which was feared that as a result of the strike during more of 4 months on the yard the delivery of the Dempo seriously was delayed. The edition of Monday 15 July reported that her keel was laid down with building number 189. Her sister ship the Baloeran was according to the edition dated 29 August 1929 launched the same morning at the yard Fijenoord. In a special publication of the shipping company was this ship extensively described. Regarded the Dempo was reported that the salons were decorated and made by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde using designs of the firm H.P. Mutters&Zoon.(1)
The photo below was published in the newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 July 1930.
The building was not without accidents. The edition dated 10 March 1930 reported that two young labourers were killed when they were hit when pieces an air duct each with a weight of 70-80 kilo fell down out of the hoists of a crane.
The photo below was published in the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 28 July 1930 and shows her sponsor.
Finally was the launching announced like in the Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 July 1930. In the Vlissingsche Courant dated Saturday 26 July 1930 and other regional newspapers was the launching that same afternoon reported. She was baptized by Mrs. Quarles van Ufford, baroness Mulert tot de Leemoule, spouse of the Commissaris der Koningin [provincial governor] in the province Zeeland in the presence of thousands spectators. According to the news item was she fitted out with two screws and with the dimensions 175 x 21,24 metres and a height between the keel and the bridge of 25 metres. In an earlier item was said that she had a measurement of 18,000 tons. She was double bottomed and 7 watertight bulkheads dividing the ship into 8 watertight compartments. Further more were 17 lifeboats including one motorboat on board and all kind of electronic equipment including wireless telegraphy.
The eight decks for the passengers and the crew were with all most care furnished. The drawing of her furniture was published in the newspaper Vlissingsche Courant dated 24 january 1931.
The passenger cabins 1st class were deck cabins to obtain a better cooling especially when the ship was in tropical waters. Almost all cabins were connected to each other except for some cabins where technical demands the fitting out with connecting doors forbade. Each cabin was fitted out with hand basins with water, heating, a dressing table or writing desk and wardrobes. The 1st class could host 238 passengers divided over 82-2 persons cabins (including 2 luxury cabins and 12 cabins with an own bathroom) and 74 single cabins. Large stairs and 2 electric lifts formed the connection between the 1st class dining room and the upper promenade deck. Except for the dining room with a surface of 353m2, was also a smoke- and music room of 380Ms, a writing room of 50M2 and a children room of 85m2 available. The promenade decks had a surface of 1,260M2. The interior was from Mutters using designs of architect Kromhout of Rotterdam. The 2nd class could host more as 280 passengers of which 180 in deck cabins. Most of the 2nd class cabins were for two persons, each cabin with the most modern comfort. For the 2nd class passengers were a dining room with a space of 361M2, a smoke and music room of 324M2 and a children room of 63M2 available and further more promenades with a space of 1,120M2. The saloons were decorated and made by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde using designs of architect Kromhout of Rotterdam. The seventy 3rd class passengers were for the half hosted in 2-persons cabins the other half in cabins for more as 2 persons. For them was a dining room of 96M2, a smoke room of 57Ms and promenades of 455M2 available. Last bust not least was the 4th class hosted in the fore upper steerage and for which was a large deck saloon available.
The crew numbered 330 men.
All care was taken for an good sanitary equipping of the ship regarded her staying in tropical waters. On board were 82 bathrooms, 123 water closets and an open air swimming pool situated for the main hatch with the dimensions 8 x 2 x 2 (maximum) metres. Further more was a very modern hospital even with an operation room and a separate room for patients with infectious diseases. The drinking-water capacity was 1.400.000 litres. On board were good household facilities like a large kitchen, pantries, furnaces, laundry and so on.
The main engines were two 10-cylinder Schelde-Sulzer-diesel engines each of 7000 shaft hp with 760mm cylinders and a stroke of 1,340mm with compressors allowing a speed of 18,5 miles. To drive winches, heating and the 7,000 lamps were 4 6cylinder Schelde-Sulzer-diesel engines each of 780 shaft hp by 180 rpm, a cylinder diameter of 380mm and a stroke of 660mm driving a dc generator of 510kW.
To handle the cargo were 8 electric cranes and 2 derricks available. The cargo capacity was 370,000 cft.
The Breskensche Courant dated 30 July reported that she had a measurement of 17,000 BRT and a speed of 17,5 miles.(2)
Finally wrote the Middelburgsche Courant dated 1 December 1930 that her maiden voyage from Rotterdam towards Batavia, Dutch East Indies was planned on 18 March 1931. In the edition of 19 January 1931 reported this newspaper that she was to leave the new locks on Monday 2 February for her trials and that Saturday 7 February she was destined for Rotterdam. This departure was later delayed and planned on Monday 9 February. Against the payment of 25 cents was it possible to visit the ship before in Tuesday evening between 20.00 and 22.00 o’clock. This was such a success that the next evening the ship also was opened for visitors.
The Vlissingsche Courant dated 7 February 1931 published a poem dealing with the ship and a second one on 12 February. Weather conditions prevented her going to sea until 13 February and the official trial was now planned on Friday 20 February ending on Saturday in Rotterdam. Again misty weather prevented a trial but she was transferred to the new owner without any problems. Departing that Saturday arrived she Sunday around 13.00 o’clock at Rotterdam.
Her final fate was a sadly one. She was laid up in 1939 at Surabaya and a year later used for the Java-New York line. In January 1941 was she chartered by the British Ministry of War Transport en rebuilt as a troop transport between 7 March and 21 March. The German U-boat U 371 torpedoed her on 17 March 1944 and she sunk off Alger at the position 37.08 North and 05.02 East.
Notes
1. This firm was the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Meubelenfabrijk H.P. Mutters&Zoon situated at The Hague and specialized in furniture. Since 1888 started the factory also with interiors for sea ships the most famous perhaps the Titanic. See further more the url http://anemaa.home.xs4all.nl/ges/onderwerpen/mutters.htm 2.
2. htttp://www.bertvangalen.nl/ansichtenpas/koninklijke_rotterdamsche_lloyd/dempo_1930.htm gave her a measurement of 16,979BRT and after she was rebuild in 1937 17,204 BRT. He gave the dimensions 167,60 (between perpendiculars)-174,60 (over all) x 21,40 x 8,65 metres and hold of 13,41 metres and a speed of 18 miles.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 8 February 1928 reported that the new mail passenger ships to be build at Flushing at the yard of the Kon. Mij. De Schelde on account of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd were to be named Dempo and Baloeran. The Vlissingsche Courant confirmed the same day this item. The latter newspaper dated 11 May repeated that these motor ships were to be renamed Dempo and Baloeran but that their dimensions were to be larger than those of the Sibajak. One casco was to be built at the yard Fijenoord at Rotterdam.
The photo below was published in the Dutch magazine Gelderland in woord en beeld dated 19 September 1930.
The Goessche Courant and the Middelburgsche Courant dated 11 March 1929 wrote that within short time at the yard of De Schelde the steamship Poelau Bras was to be launched. Immediately after this launching was the slip to be used for laying down the keel of the motor freighter and passenger ship Dempo.
The Vlissingsche Courant dated Saturday 13 April reported the launching that afternoon of the Poelau Bras and that within short time the keel was to be laid down for the Dempo with the dimensions 550 x 70 x 44 feet. On the 29th of the same month was an extract of the annual account of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd published in which was feared that as a result of the strike during more of 4 months on the yard the delivery of the Dempo seriously was delayed. The edition of Monday 15 July reported that her keel was laid down with building number 189. Her sister ship the Baloeran was according to the edition dated 29 August 1929 launched the same morning at the yard Fijenoord. In a special publication of the shipping company was this ship extensively described. Regarded the Dempo was reported that the salons were decorated and made by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde using designs of the firm H.P. Mutters&Zoon.(1)
The photo below was published in the newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 July 1930.
The building was not without accidents. The edition dated 10 March 1930 reported that two young labourers were killed when they were hit when pieces an air duct each with a weight of 70-80 kilo fell down out of the hoists of a crane.
The photo below was published in the Dutch newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 28 July 1930 and shows her sponsor.
Finally was the launching announced like in the Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 July 1930. In the Vlissingsche Courant dated Saturday 26 July 1930 and other regional newspapers was the launching that same afternoon reported. She was baptized by Mrs. Quarles van Ufford, baroness Mulert tot de Leemoule, spouse of the Commissaris der Koningin [provincial governor] in the province Zeeland in the presence of thousands spectators. According to the news item was she fitted out with two screws and with the dimensions 175 x 21,24 metres and a height between the keel and the bridge of 25 metres. In an earlier item was said that she had a measurement of 18,000 tons. She was double bottomed and 7 watertight bulkheads dividing the ship into 8 watertight compartments. Further more were 17 lifeboats including one motorboat on board and all kind of electronic equipment including wireless telegraphy.
The eight decks for the passengers and the crew were with all most care furnished. The drawing of her furniture was published in the newspaper Vlissingsche Courant dated 24 january 1931.
The passenger cabins 1st class were deck cabins to obtain a better cooling especially when the ship was in tropical waters. Almost all cabins were connected to each other except for some cabins where technical demands the fitting out with connecting doors forbade. Each cabin was fitted out with hand basins with water, heating, a dressing table or writing desk and wardrobes. The 1st class could host 238 passengers divided over 82-2 persons cabins (including 2 luxury cabins and 12 cabins with an own bathroom) and 74 single cabins. Large stairs and 2 electric lifts formed the connection between the 1st class dining room and the upper promenade deck. Except for the dining room with a surface of 353m2, was also a smoke- and music room of 380Ms, a writing room of 50M2 and a children room of 85m2 available. The promenade decks had a surface of 1,260M2. The interior was from Mutters using designs of architect Kromhout of Rotterdam. The 2nd class could host more as 280 passengers of which 180 in deck cabins. Most of the 2nd class cabins were for two persons, each cabin with the most modern comfort. For the 2nd class passengers were a dining room with a space of 361M2, a smoke and music room of 324M2 and a children room of 63M2 available and further more promenades with a space of 1,120M2. The saloons were decorated and made by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde using designs of architect Kromhout of Rotterdam. The seventy 3rd class passengers were for the half hosted in 2-persons cabins the other half in cabins for more as 2 persons. For them was a dining room of 96M2, a smoke room of 57Ms and promenades of 455M2 available. Last bust not least was the 4th class hosted in the fore upper steerage and for which was a large deck saloon available.
The crew numbered 330 men.
All care was taken for an good sanitary equipping of the ship regarded her staying in tropical waters. On board were 82 bathrooms, 123 water closets and an open air swimming pool situated for the main hatch with the dimensions 8 x 2 x 2 (maximum) metres. Further more was a very modern hospital even with an operation room and a separate room for patients with infectious diseases. The drinking-water capacity was 1.400.000 litres. On board were good household facilities like a large kitchen, pantries, furnaces, laundry and so on.
The main engines were two 10-cylinder Schelde-Sulzer-diesel engines each of 7000 shaft hp with 760mm cylinders and a stroke of 1,340mm with compressors allowing a speed of 18,5 miles. To drive winches, heating and the 7,000 lamps were 4 6cylinder Schelde-Sulzer-diesel engines each of 780 shaft hp by 180 rpm, a cylinder diameter of 380mm and a stroke of 660mm driving a dc generator of 510kW.
To handle the cargo were 8 electric cranes and 2 derricks available. The cargo capacity was 370,000 cft.
The Breskensche Courant dated 30 July reported that she had a measurement of 17,000 BRT and a speed of 17,5 miles.(2)
Finally wrote the Middelburgsche Courant dated 1 December 1930 that her maiden voyage from Rotterdam towards Batavia, Dutch East Indies was planned on 18 March 1931. In the edition of 19 January 1931 reported this newspaper that she was to leave the new locks on Monday 2 February for her trials and that Saturday 7 February she was destined for Rotterdam. This departure was later delayed and planned on Monday 9 February. Against the payment of 25 cents was it possible to visit the ship before in Tuesday evening between 20.00 and 22.00 o’clock. This was such a success that the next evening the ship also was opened for visitors.
The Vlissingsche Courant dated 7 February 1931 published a poem dealing with the ship and a second one on 12 February. Weather conditions prevented her going to sea until 13 February and the official trial was now planned on Friday 20 February ending on Saturday in Rotterdam. Again misty weather prevented a trial but she was transferred to the new owner without any problems. Departing that Saturday arrived she Sunday around 13.00 o’clock at Rotterdam.
Her final fate was a sadly one. She was laid up in 1939 at Surabaya and a year later used for the Java-New York line. In January 1941 was she chartered by the British Ministry of War Transport en rebuilt as a troop transport between 7 March and 21 March. The German U-boat U 371 torpedoed her on 17 March 1944 and she sunk off Alger at the position 37.08 North and 05.02 East.
Notes
1. This firm was the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Meubelenfabrijk H.P. Mutters&Zoon situated at The Hague and specialized in furniture. Since 1888 started the factory also with interiors for sea ships the most famous perhaps the Titanic. See further more the url http://anemaa.home.xs4all.nl/ges/onderwerpen/mutters.htm 2.
2. htttp://www.bertvangalen.nl/ansichtenpas/koninklijke_rotterdamsche_lloyd/dempo_1930.htm gave her a measurement of 16,979BRT and after she was rebuild in 1937 17,204 BRT. He gave the dimensions 167,60 (between perpendiculars)-174,60 (over all) x 21,40 x 8,65 metres and hold of 13,41 metres and a speed of 18 miles.
