ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
Memories
of the JVO
MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Chapter
Nine
The End is Near

Lakonia on fire
After several explosions, Lakonia
was burning furiously, lighting the clear night sky. The Argentinean Passenger
ship, "Salta"
was the first to arrive at the scene. This ship rescued the majority of the
survivors. The British ship Montclalm
was the next ship to arrive , with the next ship being
the Belgian "Charlesville", P&O's "Stratheden", HMS
"Centaur", "Rio Grande",
and the "Mehdi."
Many of Lakonia’s lifeboats
that were safely launched reached the Salta,
which had also launched her lifeboats picking up those the remaining
passengers. Whilst the crew of the Charlesville went onboard the burning ship
searching for survivors who were still aboard who had been abandoned by the
crew, and then searched the waters near and around the ship. Lakonia’s
captain held fast to tradition and was the last person to leave the dying ship.
He was collected by a lifeboat from the Charelsville.
Those survivors not rescued by the courageous crew of the Salta, were taken aboard various ships now at
the scene. Soon the Lakonia was ablaze with the fire now raging from the bridge
to the stern, with smoke gushing from the forward holds. Early in the morning,
launches were sent for a final search. This was accomplished with the help of
American and British aircraft. They searched the stern of Lakonia and the
surrounding waters for survivors, but sadly, their final report concluded,
"There are still a number of bodies in the water, but no sign of life.
" Tragically, one hundred and twenty eight, out of one thousand and twenty
two, souls were lost. Then there were those that were badly injured and in
shock. Most of the survivors commended the crew for their bravery and a job
well done. But some spoke of cowardice, communications and language
difficulties, and looting of passenger belongings from cabins. It must be
recognised that most of the crew worked very hard, both fighting the fire and
saving as many passengers as possible. The number of lives saved is testament
to this fact.

A sad
sight of what was once a fine ship!
On Tuesday 24 December, Christmas
Day, Lakonia was listing some 10 degrees whilst continuing to burn deep within.
The elegant spotless white liner that departed Southampton
just five days ago was now a sad sight. Topside her bridge and several of her
aft decks had caved in. Her white hull plates were severely scared and were now
black because of the fire. On this day, Dutch and Norwegian tugs, with naval
assistance, managed to attach towropes and commenced to tow Lakonia to Gibraltar through choppy seas. Suddenly, five days later,
the dying cruise liner finally gave up, due the worsening weather. First, her
list began to increase, then around noon
on Sunday 29 December 1963; the Lakonia began to sink. The end was very fast;
within three minutes, she heeled over on her starboard side and with a huge
splash went under the waves. A tragic end to a fine ship.

Newspaper
clipping of the keeling over and sinking of the Lakonia
Chapter 10 - Conclusion
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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