Ordered by the Dutch shipping company Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij in Amsterdam as a freighter with passenger accommodation. The contract for her building at the Dutch shipyard Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Flushing yardnummer 98 was signed on 1 September 1901, the keel was laid down at the Noordhelling (north slip) on 12 October, in the thrushes on 21 November, plating fitted on 28 January 1902, launched on 6 March, docked on 2-4 April, anchored trials 7-14 April, left the shipyard on 22 April, official trial and transferred on 24 April and started her maiden voyage to the Dutch East Indies captain J. Heinis. Built within 8 months in before 30 November 1902 weeks of 55 hours and after 30 November weeks of 63 days and after 17 March again weeks of 66 hours.
Contracted building costs ship ƒ 140.000,-, engines+boilers ƒ 90.000,- totally ƒ 230.000,-.If delivered on 1 April 1902 was a bounty of ƒ 10.000.- available. Actually costs for the yard with expenses ship ƒ 168.273, machines ƒ 52.854,- and boiler ƒ 18.836,- totally ƒ 239.964,-. Wages for the ship were ƒ 47.000,-. She was stricken on 6 January 1930 and sold in February to be broken up.
Built by engineer J. Janssen jr. Totally built of steel with decks of teak wood and in fact ‘not massive’ built. The compound steam engines and one boiler provided 500 ihp (projected)-530hp (during the trial) allowing with a displacement of 815 tons and a draught of ½’-8’a speed of 10,25 knots. Coal bunker capacity 87 tons. Two screws. Deadweight 5430 tons, gross register tonnage 634,37 tons and net register tonnage 378,91 tons and cargo capacity of 19.025 cubic feet. Dimensions 51,82 (between perpendiculars)-54,08 (over all) x 8,38 x 2,93 and a depth of 5,56 (below the so-called sun deck) metres or 170’0”-177’5”x 27’6”x 7 3/8’-9”and 11’3/4”. Two masts each with one derrick. There was passenger accommodation for 12-1st class and 7-2nd class passengers.
The Dutch newspaper Middelburgse Courant dated 7 October 1901 wrote that she was named after lieutenant governor general Hendrik Merkus de Kock who had been temporarily governor-general between 1 January and 4 February 1826. The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 4 March reported that she was to be launched on Thursday 6 March at 14.00 o’clock. The edition dated the 7th confirmed that she was launched that day. However the two 200 ihp engines and one boiler were although completed still in the workshops waiting to be installed on board. On Saturday was reported that this twin screw steamship without problems during the trial on the Wednesday before achieved a speed of 10,25 miles. However the Middelburgse Courant referred on 6 August to another newspaper the Java Bode reporting that on 27 June she almost was burned out as result of a petrol residue explosion at 10.00 o’clock in the engine room two days after she left Batavia. She was at that moment south of the Drie Gebroeders in Strait Doerian and three native sailors were missing. On board were at that moment 300 contract coolies. The fire broke so suddenly out and so fats spread that it was impossible to stop the engine causing the engineers and stokers to leave with all hurry the engine room. 140 Coolies of Java underway towards Deli supported the successful fight against the fire. Another steamship the Van der Parra was underway to support the De Kock. At 16.00 o’clock went the first mate with the only boat left to Singapore for more aid. She was at that moment just 8 days in regular service with as captain J.C. Gregor.
Source
Order administration shipyard Kon.Mij. De Schelde, Flushing, Netherlands (municipality Archive Flushing) unnumbered.
