Original drawing dealing with her engine built at Vlissingen, Netherlands in 1895. Archive Machinefabriek en Ketelmakerij Koninklijke Maatschappij, Vlissingen (Municipality Archive Vlisingen) T506.192
An item reported that on the Wednesday before at the Willemskade, Rotterdam, Netherlands the newly built seagoing tug Oceaan could be sighted by interested people. A day later she executed her trial. Dimensions 45 x 8,60 x 4,60 (hold) metres was built at the shipyard of Fop Smit, Kinderdijk, Netherlands for account of Sleepdienst L. Smit&Co. (board members Murk Lels&Zn., Alblasserdam, Netherlands) was fitted out by the Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands with 1 triple expansion engine. The trial was very successful. With 128 revolutions was more as 1.100 ihp delivered allowing a speed of 12 6/10 British nautical miles. The coal consumption was quite favourable allowing her together with the bunker capacity of 300 ton in steaming 16 days maximum speed without needed bunkering. In this manner she was able to make voyages towards all Atlantic and European sea harbours. She was to be stationed at Maassluis captain J.L. Homan being at that moment the largest and most powerful tug of the continent.
Sold in December 1915 by shipbrokers Jacq. Pierot Jr. to William Watkings Ltd., London, England and managed by J.S. Watkins renamed Racia. Since 1920 owned and managed by Crighton, Thompson&Co. Ltd., London. Since 1924 owned and managed by the Firma W.H. Ackermans&H. van Haaren, Gorinchem, Netherlands, since 1925 of the Société de Dragage, Dérochage et Transports S.A., Port de Bouc, France, since 1925 of E. Bénézeth, Port de Bouc, France, since 1930 owned and managed by Quintino Viglienzoni, Genoa, Italy, taken out of service as seagoing ship in 1932, lengthened , converted into a tanker since 1940, owned and managed by unknown but renamed Portoevecchio, seized by Germand and Germany-flagged since September 1943, sunk during an allied air attack at Genoa on 4 September 1944, salvaged and repaired and now owned and managed by Carlo Cameli, Genoa since 1946. Owned and managed by Ottavio Novella, Genoa renamed Montegualdone, since 1962 owned and managed by ‘Clane’, Compagnie di Navigazione S.p.a., Genoa renamed Conus Bunker and since 1972 owned and managed by Clane-Anapo, Compagni di Navagazione e Bunkeraggi S.p.a., Genoa. Sold in beginning 1983 to be broken up to the Cantieri Navali Del Golfo at La Spezia, Italy and transferred on 22 March to the scrape yard.
The engine and boilers were ordered on 2 March 1894. The Oceaan arrived at Vlissingen on 12 December 1894, departing on 1 February 1895 and executing her trial on 28 March 1895. She was built at the shipyard of L. Smit&Zoon, Kinderdijk, Netherlands with yard number 578. Delivered were the 896 ihp triple expansion engine number 145 and the steam boilers numbers 212/213. The contracted costs were ƒ 76.750,00 increased with ƒ 554,40 for extra work, making totally ƒ 77.304,40. Totally building costs were ƒ 71.121,80 (engine ƒ b45.473,98 and boilers ƒ 25.647,82) making a profit of ƒ 6.182,60. Gross tonnage 388 ton and net tonnage 47 ton.
Note
1. Source order administration and inventory number 1216 Archive Kon. Mij. De Schelde 1875-1970 at Vlissingen, Netherlands. Municipality Archive Vlissingen T214).
