Memories of the JVO Ch 3

ssMaritime.com

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, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt re entered the Amsterdam to Indonesia service, 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By 1950, the political climate in Indonesia had changed so much that the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was withdrawn from the East Indies service. The Netherland Line decided to place her on the 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 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

Return to JVO Index

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