ssMaritime.com &
ssMaritime.net
With Reuben
Goossens
Maritime
Historian
Three Dutch “Victory” Ships
SS
Zuiderkruis - SS
Groote Beer - SS Waterman

SS Zuiderkruis seen in
1962
Author’s Private collection
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

Photographer unknown
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
With thanks
to www.armed-guard.com/ag16.html
Dimensions:
Tonnage: 9.126
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
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
Author’s Private collection

Above and below: 1950
– Zuiderkruis (Southern
Cross) & Groote Beer (Big Bear) seen prior their rebuilding
Author’s Private collection

In 1951, they were sent in turn to the Netherlands
Dry-Dock Shipyards Company in

SS Zuiderkruis seen after
her rebuilding in 1951
Author’s Private collection

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
Passenger Lists with – Hugo Schouten.
Eleven year old
Hugo Schouten, his parents, brother and sister sailed from
In 1961, the Dutch Government formed their own company “

Groote Beer in
Fremantle
In
1961 accommodations were vastly improved up to a genuine Tourist Class status,
encouraging the passenger trade, as the number of emigrant passengers was
slowly declining.

SS Groote Beer seen in her latter years (around 1962)
They
continued sailing the Atlantic and down to

Groote Beer and 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
Author’s Private collection
Both the Waterman and Groote Beer were sold to John Latsis, a family
owned Shipping Company. Waterman was renamed Margareta and Groote Beer became
Marianna IV.

SS Groote Beer seen
just before being sold to the Latsis Shipping Company
Photographer unknown
Margareta (Waterman) operated sailings throughout the Eastern Mediterranean as well as
seasonal Pilgrim voyages to Jeddah, however, she was the second to be scrapped
in
Marianna IV (Groote Beer) was chartered in 1966 to the Atlantic Educational
Program for four round voyages between
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 Hugo Schouten’s voyage on the Groote Beer
including, Groote Beer passenger lists from various voyages. This link takes
you to Hugo’s own website.
Other
passenger lists currently available online

http://www.frontiernet.net/~hdebruyn/waterman/passengerlist1.HTM
Also SS Waterman departed from
http://www.frontiernet.net/~hdebruyn/waterman/passengerlist.HTM
Please
DO NOT
contact the author regarding any other passenger lists or sailing schedules.
See the notice below my email address.
********************************************
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
PLEASE NOTE: I receive
hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby
wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone
these lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request
for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
Where the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos
Photographs on
ssMaritime and ssmaritime.net are: 1. By the author.
2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping
Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all
contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details
provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of
these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit
may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own
photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even
refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when
it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right
thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!
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