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With Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian,
Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author
“Memories
of the JVO”
MS
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Chapter
Four
A New Lease of
Life
Ready for a Wellington departure
Photo by Reuben Goossens
In 1959, the Nederland Line decided major
reconstruction was required, rebuilding her to operate the world service with
the Oranje. Johan
van Oldenbarnevelt would travel
out eastward and Oranje westwards. The AU$800.000 contract was awarded to the
Amsterdam Dry Dock Company and took three months to complete. Accommodation was
reduced to 1,210 passengers in 247 two berth, 90 three berth, 81 four berth
several six berth. Three deluxe cabins with private facilities were added on B
deck. All other cabins shared facilities. In addition, on B deck a new
contemporary style nightclub was added. Other additions were second swimming
pool together with the colourful Lido Bar. Happily, the original public rooms
were retained and restored to their former splendour. Partial air-conditioning
also was being fitted at the time. The central deck space on promenade deck
became the new cinema and an alternative lounge with cane furnishings. Hinged
windows were fitted to parts of the promenade deck, giving shelter whilst in
cold climates.
A
1961 JVO brochure
A
popular Netherland Line postcard
After reconstruction, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt's appearance had changed dramatically. Gone was the main mast and her fore mast had been cut down to the
crosstree. On top of the bridge was a new main mast, used as signal post. Decks
were extended aft, but the most striking new feature were
her funnels that were heightened and given rounded tops. Her funnels were given
a brighter look with a new yellow colour with shiny black tops. With her hull
now painted light Grey the now 20,314 GRT Johan van Oldenbarnevelt looked very attractive
and had a well-balanced and modern profile.
JVO
had new domed topped funnels fitted
Photo
by Reuben Goossens
The splendid looking Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
departed Amsterdam
on Thursday 2 April 1959, with a new lease of life. Her new
route being, Southampton, Port
Said, Suez, Aden. Arriving in
Fremantle on 30 April, Melbourne
5 May, Sydney
8 May, and Wellington
13 May 1959. Returning to Amsterdam
via, Papeete, Panama
Canal, Port Everglades, Bermuda, and Southampton.
JVO seen
arriving in New York City
From 1959 to 1963, she operated Trans Tasman
cruises between the months of December and February. Due to her many calls into
Australia and New Zealand, and these popular cruises, the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt became much
loved by the cruising public in New Zealand and Australia. She became lovingly
known as, JVO.
JVO on a Trans Tasman
Cruise - Auckland
NZ 22 December 1961
Photograph by Reuben Goosens
Chapter
5 - JVO the Cruise Ship
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 - NEW Pieter
Goldhoorn –1947 – a soldier’s voyage to the East
Indies (Indonesia)
Page Three William Hamlyn
– 1945 Royal Signalman’s voyage home from wartime
duties
Page Four - NEW Laszlo Pal – A Voyage to
Canada
Page Five
– NEW Harold Heasman – His service on the JVO from March 1942 to
August 1943
***********************************
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Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry
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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. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own
photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide
credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal
comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and
do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!
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!
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