With Dr. Reuben
Goossens
The Three Dutch “Victory” Ships
SS Zuiderkruis - SS Groote Beer - SS Waterman
SS Zuiderkruis seen at
anchor in 1962
Please Note: Photographs are either
from the author’s private collection, or from those as stated or other
sources.
Three Victory Class ships, SS Cranston Victory, SS Costa
Rica Victory and the SS La Grande Victory, were built for the
“United War Shipping Administration” as
troop and cargo ships. Their war time duties were short lived as they were soon
sold to the Dutch Government for the use as troop transport ships and Migrant
ship to the
These three ships were built toward the end of
World War II, and were part of the new larger improved version of the famed “
There were ninety seven Victory troop
transport ships built, each able to transport up to 1600 troops. Unlike the
The first of the trio, SS Cranston Victory (Zuiderkruis) was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Yard in
A sister of the Dutch Trio, SS Maritime Victory seen
whilst laid-up
Photo with thanks to www.armed-guard.com/ag16.html
Dimensions:
Tonnage: 9.126 GRT (Costa Rica
Victory 9,140 GRT).
Length: 455ft
(136.7m)
Width: 62ft (18.9m)
Draught: 20.6ft (10.5m).
Engines: Cross-compound Steam Turbines with
double reduction gears developing 6,000 BHP
Screw: Single
SS Cranston Victory was operated by the South
Atlantic Steamship Co for the US Maritime Commission. SS Costa Rica Victory was
managed by the American Hawaiian Steamship Co (
All three ships were purchased in 1947 by the
Dutch Government as troopers to the Dutch East Indies (
SS Waterman the troop ship seen in
Above and below: 1950 – Zuiderkruis
(Southern Cross) & Groote Beer (Big Bear) seen prior their rebuilding
In 1951, they were sent in turn to the
Netherlands Dry-Dock Shipyards Company in
SS Zuiderkruis seen after
her rebuilding in 1951
SS Waterman arrives in Sydney Australia
The Costa Rica Victory renamed Groote Beer
made three voyages to
Their schedules varied from Trans Atlantic
voyages and sailings to
SS Waterman’s Collision at
Sea:
“SHIPS COLLIDE IN
The Waterman departed her homeport of
Below is an account by a Hungarian passenger, who gave an excellent description of the situation.
“We departed on the SS Waterman from
It was certainly a foggy morning, and as we
the Hungarian passengers already had our breakfast, with the Dutch passengers,
having the second shift, they were either would have been getting ready
for it or having a walk around. But suddenly around 8.15 to 8.20, I
think, there came a huge bang, for something big had hit us at
the stern of the ship, which was strange. After the impact, the distress call
went out and everyone had to proceed, with our life jackets on to the
deck where lifeboats were already being released. As we were about to
get into them, an order came from the captain on the bridge that we could
return to our quarters and return our lifejackets and go about our regular
business.
It turned out that after an
extensive inspection, it was determined that the damage was high enough
above the waterline that we could either limp back to Brest, France, which at
that time was the nearest port to our then location. When we arrived we were
transferred to the already awaiting SS Zuiderkruis,
where we were placed in equivalent cabins, as the two ships are identical.
We made a successful, although a very choppy crossing to
I must also add that our last six weeks prior to
our voyage, we spent time in
Anna also sent the following photograph which
was taken by a photographer in
The damage done to the SS Waterman by the Italian
freighter SS Merit
Photograph provided by Anna Nadler
I received the following story from Rene Aries:
I was on the Waterman when the collision happened you already have the picture of the accident results, however the other picture I am happy to contribute is the crew getting the lifeboats ready. My brother was standing forward on the bow that morning and he saw the Italian ship heading towards us. He came running into the cabin saying we’re going to hit just then we collided and I was almost thrown out of my top bunk. Thank you Rene!
Photograph was kindly
provided by Rene Aries.
The story continues with another item that was
sent to me, that provides further details of this event!
Passenger Lists with – Hugo
Schouten:
Eleven year old Hugo Schouten, his parents,
brother and sister sailed from
Groote Beer in Fremantle
In 1961 the ships facilities were vastly improved to become more of a genuine Tourist Class status, thus encouraging a better passenger trade for the truth being, the migrant trade was rapidly declining and now these ships needed to be more suitable for the tourist trade, and this is what they now sought out!
SS Waterman seen at anchor
Photographer unknown
SS Groote Beer seen around 1962)
They continued sailing the Atlantic and down
to
SS Groote Beer and MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in
Fremantle serving
as accommodation ships during the 1962 Commonwealth Games
In January 1963 the Waterman made her final
voyage to
SS Zuiderkruis
In 1963 both the Waterman and Groote Beer were
sold to John Latsis of
SS Groote Beer seen having been chartered from the Latsis Shipping Company
SS
Margareta (Waterman) operated sailings throughout the
Eastern Mediterranean as well as seasonal Pilgrim voyages to Jeddah, however,
she was the second to be scrapped by Onomachi ship
breakers in Japan in 1970
Page One … The
history of these three ships
Page Five … Here is
another passenger list, but this time for the SS Zuiderkruis
sailing from
Page Six … SS
Groote Beer Passenger Lists
from 1951 to 1962. Provided by Mr Hugo Schouten!
Page Six-B … Hugo Schouten’s voyage on the
Groote Beer including, Groote Beer passenger lists from various voyages. This
link takes you to Hugo’s own story on his website.
Page Seven … Passenger
Dr. Barbara Wollman sailed
in 1955 on the SS Groote Beer from
Page Eight Bob ter Haar kindly provided the
passenger list of his voyage on the SS Zuiderkruis
from
Page Nine … This
is the story of soldier Frank Lovell who
finally returned home, having fought so many battles during WW2 throughout many
parts of Europe on the SS Costa Rica Victory, (later the Groote Beer) in
September 1945. The three parts are by Franks daughter Mary Lovell, Frank
himself, through his Dairy, and myself using Mary’s notes. This page has
countless actual photographs of the Costa Rica Victory, most of which Frank
took on board!
Passenger lists currently
available online
Also SS Waterman departed from
http://www.frontiernet.net/~hdebruyn/waterman/passengerlist.HTM
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Photographs
on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s
private collection. In
addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies
and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding
the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images
would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found
on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit may be given.
This notice
covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all
photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page,
that is, when a page is updated!