In 1683
a list was made of the ships, vessels and so on,
belonging to the Dutch East Company. For most of the ships was given an indication
of her condition, sometimes what kind of ship, her measurement and the first
time she was outward bound. I added to each vessels some information using
other sources.
Classification ‘A’ suitable for all fairways.
Classification ‘B’ suitable for calm fairways like in the
Eastern provinces, Malacca, Siam, West Coast of Sumatra, Palembang and Jambij.
Sumatra, classification ‘A’, 350 last, first outward
bound towards the Dutch East Indies 1675. Was to be repaired as soon as she
arrived from Ternate. The yard master (‘equipagemeester’) expected that she was
still in good condition at her arrival, but that couldn’t wait to long with
repairing her. He referred to the lacking of a sufficient number of ship
carpenters. At paper there was a large number available, but just a third part
of them were qualified workers, while there rest were mostly apprentices a low
salary and sometimes 25 or 30 were lying at bed not capable to work. According
to Bruijn a pinnace, Chamber Amsterdam, built at Amsterdam 1673, 738 metric
tons tonnage, departed Texel 16 November 1674 the Wielingen, master Willem
Toledo, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 22 March-9 April 1675, arrived at Batavia
21 July 1675 with 135 sailors, 97 soldiers and 5 passengers. According to Hudde
a spiegelship, built 1673, dimensions 144-145 x 34½-36 x 13-15½, height above 7¼,
Dutch measurement cargo capacity 337 last, measurement at Batavia, Dutch East
Indies cargo capacity 345 last. According to Stapel a spiegelship, built 1673,
dimensions 145 x 34½ x 15½, height above 7¼’.
Brantgans, hooker, classification ‘between A and B’, 70
last. Is competent for some service in these waters on condition she was taken
care of. She had ‘lived her best days’.
Van Stapel, Chamber Delft, built 1673, dimensions 80 x 20
x 11.
Further 2 old chiampans, 1 row boat, 1 orembaai and a war
kora kora.
Sources
Archief V.O.C. no. 11250 (National Archive at The Hague).
Collectie Hudde 1627-1697 no. 21 (National Archive at The
Hague).
J.R. Bruijn e.d. Dutch-Asiatic Shipping in the 17th
and 18th Centuries. Vol II. Outward-bound voyages from the Netherlands to Asia
and the Cape (1595-1794). The Hague, 1979, p. 81-85.
F.W. van Stapel. Beschrijvinge van de O.I. Compagnie.
