ssMaritime.com &
ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
“Memories
of the JVO”
MS
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Chapter
Three
A New Service
JVO at the Javakade (the Java
Wharf) Amsterdam - 27 May 1948
After a much-needed overhaul the Johan van
Oldenbarnevelt returned on the Amsterdam to Indonesia
service. However, passenger numbers steadily declined, especially after violent
actions by Indonesian's fighting for independence. Once again, the Johan van
Oldenbarnevelt would be used to carry troops, but this time it would be Dutch
troops returning home to the Netherlands
from Indonesia.
Arriving in Surabaya
15 July 1948
By 1950, the political climate in Indonesia had changed so much that the Johan van
Oldenbarnevelt was withdrawn from the East Indies service,
although she would return on various occasions during the 50’s to carry
thousands of Dutch citizens back to the Netherlands from the east Indies
due to the ongoing troublesome situation. However, the Netherland Line decided
to place her on a more permanent migrant service to South
Africa and Australia. On Saturday 2 September
1950, she departed Amsterdam for her first
voyage to Australia, one
that would make her a popular visitor to Australia
and New Zealand
for the next twelve and a half years.
JVO in Sydney Australia 14 October 1950
The success of this venture would see the
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt placed in the Amsterdam Dry-dock for refitting by her
original builders. Additional eight double-banked lifeboats were added on the
fore part of boat deck. Now at 19,787 GRT
she accommodated 1,414 passengers in a one-class configuration. Her lounges
were restored to their original state with laundries and iron rooms added to
her passenger facilities. All cabins were fitted with a washbasin. As the
standard of cabins on Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was not that of her running
mate, the newer Oranje (famed for serving as a hospital ship for the Australian
Navy during the war), her fares were slightly less, but food and service
remained the high standard that The Netherland Line was known for. Trails were
run on the 8th and 9th of January 1952.
An early colour photograph of the JVO
She departed Amsterdam
for Australia
on Wednesday 23 January 1952. A voyage with a troublesome start, as a series of
fires was discovered on board. The first whilst berthed in Antwerp
with another off the Isle of Wight. She
returned to Amsterdam
were a further two fires were extinguished. With arson being suspected, when
she finally departed again, she carried a number of Dutch Maritime police.
However, no further incidents occurred and no arrests were ever made.
JVO during her fourth Guise
The magnificent Stateman Lounge
Pilsander Lounge
The Johan van Oldenbarnevelt continued on
the Australia run, with
occasional voyages to Canada
and the USA,
until late 1958 before her major overhaul.
Chapter
4 - New Lease of Life
JVO Index
Chapters
with an * were recently updated
Introduction Remembering the JVO
Chapter 1 The New Pride of the Netherlands
Chapter 2 JVO the Trooper
Chapter 3 A
New Service
Chapter 4 New Lease of Life
*
Chapter 5 JVO the Cruise Ship *
Chapter 6 Goodbye JVO *
Chapter 7 Cruise Ship TSMS Lakonia
Chapter 8 Lakonia's Final Voyage *This Chapter has 17 new photographs
and stories – Dec 2009
Chapter 9 The End is Near
Chapter 10 Conclusion
*
Passenger stories
Page One Boelen Family –
The night the JVO almost went down
Page Two Laszlo
Pal – A Voyage to Canada
(online soon)
Page Three William Hamlyn – 1945 Royal
Signalman’s voyage home from wartime duties
Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
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you might have something of interest to add, be it a story or some photographs,
I would appreciate hearing from you.
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