The establishment of the Droogdok Maatschappij Tandjong Priok at the naval base Tandjong Priok, Dutch East Indies on 6 August 1946

In 1946 ordered the Dutch supreme commanding officer in the Far East by order no. 62 to investigate the harbours including shipyards in the Dutch East Indies and Netherlands New Guinea. In those so-called Sitraps (Situation reports) was information collected dealing with the available facilities, personnel and vessels/boats. The Dutch East Indies fell in Japanese hands in the Second World War when the Dutch forces surrendered on 8 March 1942 until Japan surrendered on her turn on 15 August 1945. On 17 August 1945 declared nationalistic leaders like Soekarno and Hadda the independence of what was called the Republic Indonesia. The result was a struggle for years before the Netherlands forced by international pressure accepted the Indonesian independence on 29 December 1949.

An item reported that the Droogdok Maatschappij Tandjong Priok possessed one floating dry dock with as main dimensions 125,30 (over pontoons) x 20,40 (between beams)-21,40 (dock floor) and a lifting capacity of 5.000 tons. After months of repairs and fitting out could the dock be again used for docking of ships. On 6 August 1946 was with success the Dutch landing craft Hr.Ms. LT 101 docked. One 5-tons dock crane was in serve again, the second one was yet not mounted but used on the wharf of the K.P.M. workshops.

There was one side slipway and one slipway on which the ships were pulled up. The side slipway was only used for new building with a maximum length corresponding with 2.000 tons. At the moment however with lacking sleds, gutters and keel blocks would it take a long time even before the dock could be used again.

The slipway on which the ships were pulled had a maximum weight capacity of 2.000 tons. The slip wagon [sled?] had as dimensions 80 x 12 metres/. The steel towing line had to be replaced, a new one was already available. In the meantime was the slipway winch under repair. Afterwards was the slipway again able her maximum capacity.

The buildings of the workshops were in very worse condition and most of the roofs were covered with atap and old iron. A lot of the roof beams and pillars were to be repaired of replaced. Due to the fact that ships lying in the harbour demanded the major part of the repair capacity continued the work at the buildings just slowly. Equipment was after repairs for around 60% again in good condition. The hoist cables of the cranes on the site need to be replaced. Although in acceptable condition was the capacity of the lifting equipment in the workshops limited to 60% partly due to the condition of the buildings. Tools were still after repairs just for about 60% in reasonable condition. There was some improvement in obtaining stores. In the first week of August 1946 were daily around 495 Indonesian and 236 Chinese labourers working, the fact that there were just 90 koolies resulted in quite what stagnation in carrying out the work.

Source

Archive Dutch Marinestaf (1942) 1945-1948 inventory number 197, National Archive, The Hague.