SS Zuiderkruis, Groote Beer, Waterman

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 United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

These three ships were built toward the end of World War II, and were part of the new larger improved version of the famed “Liberty” ships. Each ship had strengthened hulls for them to go into the war zone, but by the time they were completed the war was coming to an end.

There were ninety seven Victory troop transport ships built, each able to transport up to 1600 troops. Unlike the Liberty ships, all accommodation was fully ventilated and heated. There was the usual meagre style troop bunks, a hospital, galleys, washrooms and even a several public rooms.

1944 US Victory class-freighter

Photographer unknown

The first of the trio, SS Cranston Victory (Zuiderkruis) was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Yard in Portland; Oregon was launched on May 5, 1944. The second of the series, SS Costa Rica Victory (Groote Beer) was built by Permanente Metals Co, Richmond California and launched on June 17, 1944. The last of the three was the SS La Grande Victory (Waterman), which like her sister SS Cranston Victory, was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Yard in Portland, Oregon and launched on January 16, 1945.

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 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 (New York). SS La Grande Victory was managed by Shepard Steamship Co. However, their operations was short lived, all were laid up and placed on the market in 1946.

All three ships were purchased in 1947 by the Dutch Government as troopers to the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), and later to Dutch New Guinea. On their return voyages to the Netherlands Zuiderkruis transported those who wished to leave the former Dutch East Indies as repatriates.

SS Waterman the troop ship seen in Rotterdam. One of her sisters is seen astern

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 Amsterdam to be rebuilt for general passenger use. An extra deck was added and the bridge was moved on top and placed forward. Their original accommodations were gutted and cabins were fitted to accommodate up to 830 passengers. The Cranston Victory, renamed Zuiderkruis at her new tonnage of 9,178-tons, entered her new service in June 1951, sailing from Rotterdam to New York, with her next voyage being to Canada. Then in August she departed with around 800 migrants for New Zealand.

SS Zuiderkruis seen after her rebuilding in 1951

Author’s Private collection

SS Waterman arrives in Sydney Australia - December 1951

The Costa Rica Victory renamed Groote Beer made three voyages to Australia before her reconstruction. Her reconstruction commenced in November of 1951. Now at her new tonnage of 9,190-tons she commenced services in May 1952. In November 1951, the third of the trio, La Grande Victory, renamed Waterman, was completed and at 9,176-tons, commenced her first voyage to Australia.

Their schedules varied from Trans Atlantic voyages and sailings to Australia and New Zealand. Zuiderkruis was managed by the Netherland line, the Groote Beer by Holland America Line, and Waterman by Royal Rotterdam Lloyd, but on the North American services also by Holland America Line according passenger Bert Huizen who sailed on her from Rotterdam to Halifax in 1952. Apparently on her way to New York, as a passenger informed me, in 1957 the Waterman was hit by an Italian ship and the Waterman had to return to its nearest port (France) for some repairs before continuing. If there is any further information available, I would like to hear about it!

Passenger Lists with – Hugo Schouten.

Eleven year old Hugo Schouten, his parents, brother and sister sailed from Rotterdam to Melbourne Australia on the SS Groote Beer on October 25, 1958. Hugo who now lives in Adelaide South Australia has a webpage online covering his voyage on the Groote Beer and other passenger stories, as well as various passenger lists that he has online. To visit Hugo's Groote Beer page and passengers lists see the INDEX at the bottom of the page!

In 1961, the Dutch Government formed their own company “Trans Ocean” all three ships were transferred to this new company, although each ship continued to be managed by the same shipping companies as before.

Groote Beer in Fremantle Australia

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)

Photographer unknown

They continued sailing the Atlantic and down to Australia and New Zealand. In 1962, both the Groote Beer and Waterman were chartered as accommodation ships for the Commonwealth Games in Fremantle (Perth) Australia.

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 Australia and New Zealand. In 1963, all three ships were sold by the Dutch Government.

In the same year Zuiderkruis was laid up in the Dutch city of Den Helder to become an accommodation ship, registration No A853. She was taken out of commission and was sold in 1969 to Spanish breakers at Bilbao to become the first of the trio to broken up.

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 Japan in 1970

Marianna IV (Groote Beer) was chartered in 1966 to the Atlantic Educational Program for four round voyages between Rotterdam and New York. For this purpose she was renamed Groote Beer once again. Holland America Line acted as agents. In 1969, she was renamed Marianna IV again, but was laid up at Piraeus. In 1971 she became the last of the three Dutch Victory ships to be scrapped. She was broken up in Eleusis, Greece.

INDEX

Page One The history of these three ships

Page Two Photo Album

Page Three Theo Kroon Story - They sailed from Amsterdam to Wellington - September 1956 - Lots of great photos!

Page Four Passenger List for the SS Groote Beer, Rotterdam, Halifax, New York on January 16, 1957. Provided by passenger Simon de Vente – Two other (SS Waterman) passenger lists are also available on THIS page via links provided.

Page Five Here is another passenger list, but this time for the SS Zuiderkruis sailing from Holland to new Zealand and Australia. She departed on December 9, 1960. It was kindly provided by Mr. Gabriel-Bosch.

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

Passenger List dated 25 April, 1955

View it online

http://www.frontiernet.net/~hdebruyn/waterman/passengerlist1.HTM

Also SS Waterman departed from Rotterdam on Friday April 1, 1955

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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If you have enjoyed this article, and you feel you might have something of interest to add, be it a story photographs, I would appreciate hearing from you – Please email me.

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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?

Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

info@ssmaritime.com

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!

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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! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, 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!

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