Her building was ordered by the Dutch shipping company Rotterdamsche Lloyd to be used on the traject Rotterdam-Batavia, Dutch East Indies. She was comparable with the Bromo earlier built by the same shipyard. Ordered on 30 October 1899 was the keel laid down on16 January 1889, in the thrushes on 1 April, plating fitted on 13 July, launched on 10 September by princess Marine von Wied (1) in the presence of the ministers of colonies and war, trials while anchored on 31 October, docked 31 October-3 November in Middelburg (2), on 7 November technical trial, on [Sunday] 10 November official trial and handed over and on 16 November begun her maiden voyage captain G.J. Boon (earlier captain of the Bromo). Built within one year by engineer J. Janszen jr.. Contracted price included extra’s was 610.000 Dutch guilders but exact costs for the shipping company while completely fitted out was ƒ 666.571. Between 21 July-15 September 1895 was she repaired at Flushing and a new deck cabin placed.(3) In 1906 sold to the Semarang Stoomvaart Maatschappij te Semarang with her name retained.(4) In 1909 sold to F. Suda, Dairen and renamed Neissei maru, in 1920 again sold towards Nagasaki retaining her name and in May 1924 wrecked.
With a displacement of 1.615 (at launching)-5.560 (with a draught of 22’0”) were her dimensions 322’0” (between perpendiculars)-332’0” (over all) x 37’0”x x 8’0” (fore launching)-10’0” (aft launching)-22’0” (maximum). Deadweight 3.200 tons. Cargo capacity 138.435 cubic feet. Quadruple compound 2x2 cylinder engine and two boilers supplying 1.560 (projected)-1.600 hp at 74 rpm allowing with one screw a speed of 12 knots. Coal bunker capacity 497 tons. Accommodation for 31 1st and 24 2nd class passengers. Two masts (fore mast with 3 yards and gaff). Six large lifeboats and two smaller.(5)
Source
Order administration of the Dutch shipyard Kon.Mij. De Schelde, Flushing (Municipality Archive Flushing).
Notes
1. The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 30 December 1886 reported that she was built under daily supervision of O. Meijer engineer export at Rotterdam and that she was launched at 15.00 o’clock in British cradle manner not leaning on the keel both on both sides. The princess was at that moment staying in Domburg and was during her visit the Saturday before invited by the board to baptize her. The minister of colonies was mr. L.W.C. Keuchenius and minister of war J.W. Bergansius. Immediately after launching was at the same spot the keel laid down of yard number 69 for another Dutch shipping company the Koninklijke PaketvaartMaatschapopij in Amsterdam. According to the Vlissingse Courant dated 9 August visited the 8th at 15.00 o’clock the minister of justice jhr. mr. G.L.M.H. Ruijs van Beerenbroek with some of his civil servants the shipyard and this ship.
2. According to the newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 30 October to clean her outside hull and for the final paint film.
3. The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 23 October 1893 reported that the shipyard was ordered to modify the decks of the Bromo and Merapi in the same manner as the Ardjoeno.
4. The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 28 September 1905 reported that she was to depart within short notice for her last voyage in service of the Rotterdamsche Lloyd towards Europe. After her coming back she was to be handed over to the firm Kiang Guan which bought her. The edition dated 26 May however published an item dated Rotterdam 24 May that she was sold abroad. The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag dated voor Nederlandsch-Indië 30 December reported that she was sold for ƒ 95.000 to the firm Kiang Goan and after her arrival at Semarang coming back from Europe was she to be handed over. These firm already sent 44 European and Chinese sailors from Singgapoer to man her.
5. Lijst van de Nederlandsche oorlogs- en koopvaardijschepen met hunne onderscheidingsseinen uit het Internationaal Seinboek ten dienste van alle Natiën. Rotterdam, 1895 with new details added until 1 April. Call sign PLWF and a net capacity of 5.392.33 cubic metres or 1.903,40 tons of 2,83 cubic metres.
