Dutch motor tanker Merula launched at Amsterdam, Netherlands according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 7 November 1931

An item reported the same day the launching at the shipyard of the N.V. Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij at Amsterdam of the twin screw motor tanker Merula for the Shell. Her main dimensions were 467’0” (over all) x 61’9”x 26’4 3/8” (loaded) and  34’0” (hold) and a displacement of 16.600 tons. The cargo hold were divided from the fore and aft ship by cofferdams and was further divided with two longitudinal bulkheads and seven transverse bulkheads into 21 oil tanks. After this hold was the transverse bunker, the engine room and the aft ship and before the cargo hold was another a cargo hold for general cargo and beneath it a deep tank and the fore ship. The two Werkspoor engines supplied 2x2000 hp allowing a speed of 12,5 miles. She was christened by Mrs. M.J. Lugt-Van Tyen, spouse of ir. G.J. Lugt, chief engineer of Werkspoor.(1)

Note

1. Roger Jordan. The world’s merchant fleets 1939. Mentioned a Merula damaged by a Japanese air attack on 13 February 1942 in the Banka Strait and although being towed finally sunk. Of her crew of fifty men just eight men survived. Her hull was black painted red boot topped hull with a yellow (narrow) black topped funnel.