The Sumatra Post dated 29 January 1936 published an item dated Rotterdam 28 January reporting that the Dutch shipping company Rotterdamsche Lloyd ordered the building of a freighter at the shipyard Schelde at Flushing to be named Brastagi. (1)
The Vlissingse Courant dated 1 November reported that her steel hull was nearly completed and the engines were now placed. The edition dated 12 November reported that her maiden voyage was to start on 4 June 1937.
The Middelburgse Courant dated 2 February 1937 announced that she was to be launched on Saturday 6 February at 12.15 o’clock and that the porter at the Aagje Dekenstraat was selling tickets for ƒ 0,25. The edition dated 6 February reported that the passenger accommodation consisted of 2 duo cabins and 4 single cabins with salons. Above were the cabins for the captain, the bridge and the chart room. She was fitted out with 17 electric loading winches with lifting capacities of 3,6 and ten tons and near the foremast was a derrick with a lifting capacity of 50 tons which also could be transferred to the aft mast. Mr. W. Vreede interior architect at The Hague was responsible for the interiors of the stairwell, dinner- and smoking room and the lounge of the captain. The walls of the vestibule were just finished using light colours, while the stairs with railings made of walnut wood via the passengers deck lead to the smoking room. The dinner room with accommodation for twenty people was wainscoted with lemon wood, a blue grey rubber floor, blue leather upholstered chairs, and a ceiling with white ivory painting. The smoking room was wainscoted with walnut wood and for the furniture was Coromandel wood used. For the lounge room of the captain was mahogany used. The Vlissingse Courant described her on 6 April as an open shelter deck ship.
Note
1. Archief Schelde Block 214 (Gemeentearchief Vlissingen) inv.no. 556. Ordered 14 December 1935, contract signed 8/12 February 1936, keel laid 19 February 1936 and launched on 6 February 1937 by Miss M.J. Ruijs. Trials on 6-7April and handed over to the shipping company on 1 May that same year. Yard no. 203. Dimensions 146,48 (between perpendiculars)-156,435 (over all) x 19,05 (outside trusses) x 9,66 (hold below maindeck) - 12,395 (hold below shelter deck) x 9,35 (loaded) metres or 480’11-513’3”x 52’6”x 32’8”-40’8” x 30’8”. Cargo capacity 607.404 cubic feet for grain and 524.918 cubic feet (including 4.023 cubic feet cool space) for bales. Capacity so-called deep tanks 156/545 cub feet. Oil bunker capacity 1.695 ton. Displacement 16.500 tons, deadweight 11.000 ton, gross tonnage 9.246 tons and net tonnage 5.640 tons. Two 2-tact 8 cylinder Sulzer diesel engines and two vertical donkey boilers driving two screws and with 2x4.000 ahp allowing a speed of 16 knots. Eight watertight bulkheads. Accommodation for 12 passengers. Struck a reef on 27 November 1947 120 miles south of Mocambique (Cape Caldeira). Caught fire during the salvage efforts and was totally lost.
