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With
Reuben Goossens
Maritime
Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
Page
One – MS Oranje
Link
to the Angelina Lauro page is located at the bottom of this page
MS
Oranje was built for the Nederlandsche Stoomvaart Maatschapij
(Netherlands Line) in 1938/39, by the Nederland Shipbuilding
Company in Amsterdam. Her keel was laid down on July 2, 1937 and
she was launched by Queen Wilhelmina and named Oranje (in honour
of the Royal House of Orange) on September 8, 1938. She undertook
her trials in June 1939 and attained a maximum speed of 26.5
knots, making her the world fastest motor liner. One of her most
striking features was the unusual shape of her hull, for instead
of her sides being vertical, her hull flared out, and this was
called a “tumbledome hull.” At the waterline she was 17
ft (5.17 m) wider than at her superstructure. It was claimed that
her unique hull design with a flared cut away bow would provide
her additional speed, something she certainly had, as well as
providing a reduced tonnage of around 1,800 tons.
Above
& below: The launching of MS Oranje on September 8 1938
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
This
Postcard of the Oranje was released in the fifties
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
Specifications
(as built and in 1959)
Tonnage:
20,017 GRT (gross registered tons) / 1959 - 20,551 GRT
Length:
656ft – 199.9m
Width:
83.7ft - 25.5m
Draft:
29ft – 8.8m
Engines:
3 x 12 cylinder Sulzer diesels 27,500 BHP
Screws:
Triple
Service
speed: 21 knots
– max 26.5 - during sea trails
Passengers
283 First, 283 Second, 92 Third and 52 Fourth Class / 1959 –
323 First, 626 Tourist Class
Passenger
Decks: 8
Livery:
Grey hull, white superstructure, yellow and black funnel, red
boot topping
Built
in 1939, MS Oranje was a modern looking liner for her time
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
After
her launching and having been fitted out she was completed on June
27 1939 and she undertook her sea trails and was delivered to the
Netherland Line. Her first two voyages were two ten day cruises
from Amsterdam to Madeira before she commenced her first
scheduled voyage to the Dutch East Indies, which departed Amsterdam
on September 4, 1939. She sailed via Cape of Good Hope and Batavia.
However soon enough World War II had commenced which saw her laid
up at Sourabaya from December 1939 through to February 1941.
War
Duties
In
February 1941 the Captain was ordered to sail for Sydney and
place his ship at the disposal of the Australian Navy. The Dutch
Government advised the Australian Government that they would bear
the full cost of Oranje's conversion as a hospital ship, and even
though she would be sailing under Australian command the Oranje
remained crewed by a Dutch crew, and continued to sail under the
Dutch flag. On July 30, 1941 she commenced a five year service as
an Australian hospital ship.
Above
& Below: Oranje is seen as an Australian based Hospital Ship
Photographs
provided by Johan Franciscus
Oranje
was the largest hospital ship operated from Australia and she
served for five years throughout the multiple theatres of World
War II, including the Middle East, as well as the Indian and
Pacific Campaigns. During this time, Oranje made 41 voyages,
carrying Australian, New Zealand as well as British and other
soldiers. She became a regular and most welcome sight in both
Australian and New Zealand ports.
Berthed
in Sydney during the war
Photograph
provided by Peter Weatherton
Her
final visit to Australia as a hospital ship was in November 1945,
after which the MS Oranje sailed for homeport where she was
received to a tumultuous welcome. She was completely refitted and
restored once again as a luxurious passenger liner. The Oranje
was officially handed back to the Netherland Line in July 1946,
and the 16th she departed Amsterdam recommencing the Batavia
service, sailing this time via Southampton. However, due to the
strife in the now independent Indonesia, this service had ended
and a new service had to be found for the Oranje and other Dutch
liners. In February 1950, she made her first liner voyage from Amsterdam
via the Panama Canal to New Zealand and Australia, returning via Singapore
and the Suez Canal. She would soon become a regular visitor
Downunder! Her history continues below the photo albums below.
Photo
Album 1947 – 1958
The
now famous Holland to Java poster
All Photographs
below of the interiors are from the Author’s collection
Above
& Below: First Class Social Lounge. The Wintergarden
surrounds this room
Tourist
Class Dinning Room
Twin
bedded cabin
Oranje
seen here as built, however she was about to receive a extensive
refit
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
At
twenty years of age, the Netherland Line decided to give MS
Oranje a comprehensive refit and a minor external facelift, this
took place in Amsterdam in 1958/59. Upon completion her tonnage
was then listed as 20,565 GRT and she was able to accommodate 323
Fist Class and 626 Tourist Class passengers. Externally the major
change that could be seen were the windows amidships on promenade
deck, being the new verandah/cinema, available to both first and
tourist class passengers. Also her aft decks had been extended
further aft.
1959
- 1964
Oranje
is seen here after her refit. Note the amidships enclosure on
Promenade Deck
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
September
7, 1960 she departed on her first round-the-world voyage from Amsterdam
via Southampton, sailing via the Suez, Singapore, Australia, New
Zealand, Panama, Port Everglades, Bermuda, Southampton and Amsterdam.
She and two other Dutch ships serviced Australia and New Zealand,
these being the Netherland Line Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and the
Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Willem Ruys. These three ships sailed under
the banner of “Dutch Mails.”
Oranje
in Wellington New Zealand
Her
running mate, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, is seen in the background
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
Then
on February 26, 1961 she sailed in the opposite direction but
visiting the same ports. However soon enough, with air travel
gaining popularity and passengers desiring to sail by sea
declining rapidly, the Nederland Line decided to end its
passenger services in 1964.
Oranje
seen passing though the Panama Canal Locks toward the
end
of her career with the Netherland Line (Royal Dutch Mail)
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
Souvenir
Delft Blue plate depicting the Oranje
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
MS
Oranje home in Amsterdam
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
The
Netherland Line decided to Oranje their flagship, MS Oranje,
together with her Royal Rotterdam Lloyd, running mate MS Willem
Ruys to Flotta Lauro Line. They were rebuilt and renamed Angelina
Lauro and Achille Lauro
MS
Oranje commenced her last voyage around the world voyage as a
Dutch liner on May 4, 1964.
After
a massive rebuilding programme, MS Oranje came out as an ultra
modern, sleek liner
Photograph
from the Author’s collection
INDEX
Page
One:
The Oranje Story
Page
Two:
The Angelina
Lauro Story
Page
Three:
Angelina Lauro
Photo Page
Page
Four:
Angelina
Lauro’s demise
Page
Five:
Angelina Lauro
Deck Plan
Page
Six:
MS
Orange – Passenger list of her very first voyage/cruise
4 Aug 1939
Provided by passenger Dieuwertje Goedkoop
Visit
our Main Index for features on other Dutch liners, such as the
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Sibajak, Willem Ruys (Achille Lauro),
the TSS Rijndam and Maasdam, SS Rotterdam and SS Nieuw Amsterdam,
the simple migrant ships such as the Waterman, Groote Beer and
Zuiderkruis, as well as the famed “Elegant yachts” of
Royal Inter Ocean Lines ships, and many other Dutch
Passenger/Cargo ships, all of which can be found on my Main
Index.
**************************************************
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Who is the Author of ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
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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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