In fact built this yard not at Haarlem but on a new location at Zaandam. The day before [Wednesday] was at Zaandam in the presence of the board of Haarlem, representatives of the municipality of Zaandam and a lot of interested people of Zaandam and elsewhere the floating crane Grua Flotante No. 1 launched built for the government of Uruguay (Department of Public Affairs). Her dimensions were 238’ x 37’3”x 20’. The crane with a lifting capacity of 100.000 kilo was placed on a hull of a steel built double screw steamship and operated electrically through a dynamo directly connected with an independent steam engine. She was the first ship built at the yard at Zaandam where her keel was laid down 24 April 1913.(1)
The conditions and the contract dated from 1911-1912. Her construction no. was 461. This floating 100-tons crane was destined to serve in the harbour of Montevideo. The contracted dimensions were not to exaggerate the 130 x 15 x 4 (depth) metres. On page 24 was contracted that the should be 66 x 14,75 (outside frames) x 3,90 (design, maximum) with complete equipment, 50 ton coal and 25 ton water) x 6,00 (Hold below deck) metres. The lift capacity versus speed was for 100 tons one metre in a minute and for 20 ton 4 metres in a minute. The speed of lowering was 5 metres and 15 metres. When lifting a weight of 100 ton should the crane to be able to do this with a height of 8-10 metres above the surface over a maximum distance of 20 metres. The crane was to turn with a maximum cargo within 3 minutes. Was to be fitted out with two screws. Speed of the crane was to be 12 kilometres. The hull was to be divided in watertight compartments with the bulkheads stretching to the upper deck. Fitted out with 2 boats.
Note
1. The Dutch newspapers Het volk: dagblad voor de arbeidspartij and Het Haarlem’s Dagblad both dated 11 December 1913 supplied similar details.
Source
Archive Conrad-Stork BV at Haarlem 1833-1988 inv.nr. 188. (Noordhollands Archief).
