ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Memories of the
JVO
MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Chapter Six
Goodbye
JVO

The final voyage of the JVO from Wellington New Zealand - 30 January 1963
Sadly,
by mid 1962, due to the fall of passenger numbers and the companies ever
increasing cargo interests, it was decided that her services would be
terminated. She sailed her final round the world voyage departing Amsterdam Saturday 30
June 1962. Then, on Saturday 29 September, she departed her homeport of Amsterdam for the last
time. She arrived in Wellington New Zealand on
Friday November 9,
1962. The next day, JVO's master, Captain
Klingen presented the ships bell to a local school,
the Upper Hutt
College signalling the upcoming end of
the JVO,
before she headed back to Europe to become a Greek Cruise ship. One of the schools
pupils sang a song composed
for this special occasion, entitled "The JVO Bell." A group of pupils
were invited to visit the ship and before leaving, they sang "The JVO
Bell" song once more in honour of this fine vessel.
Sadly, on the author’s last investigation, the ships bell was removed and
has since been lost. Someone in New
Zealand must have it. If you its
whereabouts, please email the author via the email link at the bottom of the
page.
Above: The Bell is Handed over
Many
have asked, “Why was the bell given to Wellington and not any other port?”
Over the years the JVO had become a Wellington
icon and the crew felt very much at home in this beautiful harbour city.
Well-known ships band, the Mimmo Bruno
Orchestra, even recorded their
album here. Wellington
had become the ships 2nd homeport.
Whilst
in Wellington, she was contracted to serve as a as means of transport and
floating hotel for New Zealanders attending the 7th Commonwealth
Games to be held in Perth. She departed Wellington
on the 10th and sailed via Sydney and Melbourne, arriving in Fremanthe Perth on November 21. Astern of the JVO was
another Dutch ship, the "Groote Beer."

JVO arrives in Fremantle

Above: JVO in Fremantle for the 1962
7th Commonwealth Games
She
departed Fremantle and sailed via Melbourne to Sydney, arriving on
December 9. On that day she commenced her final series of four Trans Tasman
cruises.
Then
on Wednesday, 30 January 1962 came the moment when Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
departed Wellington
for the last time. It was bright warm, slightly overcast afternoon as thousands
lined the shore to watch this fine lady depart. Obviously, the author was among
the multitudes taking photographs of this poignant event. A deep sense of
emotion swept over the crowd as a dear friend, our JVO, sailed out of sight.
She crossed the Tasman packed with past passengers, all having booked to have
the privilege of being able to sail on this grand old lady for the very last
time as the JVO.

30
January 1962 - the JVO departs Wellington NZ for the last time

Photographs by the author

The
author's last photograph of the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
On
her final voyage from Wellington direct to Sydney saw passengers
sharing their experiences on JVO with each other. There were many joyful events
on board as she crossed the Tasman, but at the same time, many felt a deep
sadness inside. The crew did all in their power to make the voyage memorable
and according to all accounts, it was! Johan van Oldenbarnevelt arrived in Sydney on Sunday February 3, 1962
ending her thirty three-year career. As she docked many Sydney-siders had come to witness her arrival. Later that day she
was decommissioned by the Netherland Line and departed late in the afternoon
with a crew, but without passengers. Like in Wellington, many stood quietly, watching her
final departure. All sought the best vantage points along the shores of Sydney Harbour,
including Sydney Heads. As she passed Sydney Heads, she headed north to a
secret destination. We
now know that she sailed via Singapore,
Aden, Suez, Port Said, to Genoa,
where she arrived on 7 March 1962.

The
motor ship Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, our JVO, had touched all who sailed on her
as well as those that had come to know her by sight as she visited our shores
for twelve and a half years.
Chapter 7 - Cruise Ship TSMS Lakonia
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
Who is the
Author of ssMaritime?
In the Passenger Shipping Industry since May
1960
If you have enjoyed this article, and you feel
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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given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me
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