The account over 1 May 1883-30 April 1884 reported that except for the harbour works of Batavia the floating material also was used for other purposes like aid after the volcano eruption of the Krakatau.
In June 1883 were temporarily one steam dredger 1st class, one steam tug, one steam hopper barge end three klepschouwen (schouw=ferry) lent to the naval base at Surabaya which later were permanently handed over by the department of navy and one klepschouw was handed for dredging activities off Pekalingan. When ten hoppers were needed after the volcano eruption of the Volcana were all dredging activities at Priok for a month stopped. Several of these hoppers needed afterwards heavy repairs while being damaged by floating tree trunks in pumice banks. Waiting for the final decision what to do with the dredgers which were not longer for the harbour works were in April temporarily vessels handed over to the ministry of finance for patrolling against opium smugglers along the North coast of Java. In the last months of 1883 was a hopper or such purpose used. A 4th hopper was handed over to the resident of the Lampong districts for communication purposes. For the harbour works were destined the large dredger Merak, one dredger 2nd class and two hoppers while the not needed part of the dredging fleet was decommissioned and laid up. In September 1883 was during a voyage to the Lampong Bay one wood build launch steam launch sunk. The in May 182 off Merak sunk hopper barge Banjoemas was taken away with the tidal waves [after the volcano eruption of the Krakatau?] so there was no hope left to salvage her.
At the repair yard was a iron coal dug-out canoe assembled and started with the building of a wood klepschouw.
Source
Kamerstukken Tweede Kamer 1884-1885 nr. 5.2. Koloniaal verslag van 1884 (Nederl. (Oost-) Indië).
