The inspection of the Dutch East Indiaman Herstelling at Batavia in 1734

According to orders from the Netherlands dated 24 February 1730 were the East Indiamen at Batavia thoroughly inspected concerning their condition. Each ship was inspected by a team consisting of the master carpenter and the first and second fore men of the ship carpenters accompanied by the master, the first and the second mate and the ship carpenter of the ship. They reported what the exact condition was and what necessary would be repaired.

The inspection found place while she was lying unloaded off Batavia and dated 20 March 1734. Presence were master carpenter Pieter Andriesz Blom, the second foreman Cornelis van der Wint and provisional foreman Jacobus van Overbeek of the ship carpenters accompanied by the master Willem Smeer, the first mate Pieter Geel, the second mate Jan Mulder and the ship carpenter of the ship Lourens van Gasten.

After a accurate inspection of the ship they all wondered why a ship of just 13 years old could be in such a worn out condition and only made one voyage of 9 months towards Bengal. This condition was caused by lacking necessary repairs and although some knew that she to be repaired she was send to Bengal due to the lacking of enough available ships. There was a long list of repairs including replacement of beams, placing 18 stays in the cargo hold and further more to be keeled, caulked in- and outwards and ‘branden en smeren’ (to be burnt off and smeared).

Source

Archive V.O.C. 1602-1811 at the National Archive at The Hague inventory no. 11210.