The ss  Maasdam (II)

the ss Maasdam (II) swinging around in port with the add of a tender/tugboat at the bow. This photo if from later then 1893 as the Royal Netherlands Navy reserve flag is flown from the stern mast and that program was only established in 1894.

Pertinent details               .

PREV.NAME(S): Republic

TONN. BRT: 3,983.84            NRT: 2,729.06            DWT: 3,962

BUILT AT:  Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Ireland

BUILT IN: 1871                                                YARD NO:   76

ENGINES: One four cylinder  (35,62 // 78/60) triple expansion steam engine by G. Forrester & Company,  Liverpool, England

ENGINE OUTPUT: 3,197 Ihp.                     PROPS: One (fixed)

SERVICE SPD: 13 Knots                                  MAX.SPD:

LENGTH.O.A: 131.22 Meters                       LENGTH.PP:  128.00 Meters

BEAM OA: 12.27Meters                                 DEPTH: 10.29 Meters

DRAFT: 7.82 meters.

PAX.CAP:  150 First, 60 Second, 800 Third Class. (for Holland America)

CREW:  85                                                       CALL sign: PJSV

SISTERSHIPS: Baltic (later Veendam (I)), Oceanic, Atlantic,

REMARKS: Bunker capacity 956 tons of coal.

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HISTORY:

Constructed of iron with two full decks. Could be rigged as a four mast barque. The ship was launched on 4 July 1871 and delivered on 21 January 1872 as the ss Republic (3,.707 brt) to the English Oceanic Steam Navigation Company. (White Star Line) at a cost of £ 120,000.

The ship had then a one 4 cylinder compound steam engine also made by G. Forrester with a capacity of 166 First and 1000 Third class passengers.

Her maiden voyage commenced on 1 February 1875 sailing from Liverpool to New York. Sailed in 1885 in charter for the Inman Line. In 1888 the Second class accommodation was added and in  spring1889 she made her last voyage from Liverpool to New York and was laid up at Birkenhead upon return.  The ship was sold for £ 35,000 to the NASM  (supposedly on 01 March 1889) and renamed in Maasdam (II).

The ship was taken over on 15 June 1889 when her captain and crew arrived to take her from Birkenhead to the shipyard for refurbishment.

Refitted at her builder where also new engines were installed , one cylinder compound engine of 2500 ihp. 13 knots.  Alos an extra deck was added. the ship happened to be the last iron hull ship of the company.

This drawing shows the ss Maasdam (II) docked at the company pier at the Wilhelminakade in Rotterdam sometime before 1901.

Departed for her first trip on 15 March 1890 from Rotterdam via Boulogne sur Mer to New York.

On  the return part of voyage 31 from New York,  the ship cracks its crankshaft on 11 September 1893 and is towed by the ss P. Caland to Plymouth where it arrived on 21 September.  Repairs are made and the ship returns on 04 November to Rotterdam. The passengers continued the voyage to Rotterdam with the ss P.Caland. Most of the crew transferred directly on arrival to the ss Veendam (I) so they would not suffera loss of income. For the next voyage starting on 15 November a new crew as engaged.  The cargo was landed and later picked up by the ss Zaandam (I)

In 1894 electric light was installed and in April 1898 the black funnel was painted yellow in the new company colors. The next year the passenger capacity was downgraded to 84 Second class and 562 Third Class.

The ss Maasdam (II) on a rare postcard. It shows the ship outbound on 3 May 1900, passing the twon of Schiedam and heading for open sea. The large number of escort boats where chartered by well wishers as the ship carried a large contingent of dutch farmers who were emigrating to the USA.

In March 1902 the ship is sold to the Compagnie Di Navigazione Genoa (Fratelli Bruzo) and renamed in Vittoria. Sailing For La Veloce Nav. Italiana a Vapore Genoa and renamed in Citta di Napoli. In service on the route Genoa-Naples-Palermo-Gibraltar- New York with an accommodation of 1424 emigrants in Third class accommodation. Left on 30 September 1908 for her first crossing.

The ss Citta di Napoli (ex Maasdam II) the ship now has a white hull as the “La Veloce” line sailed mainly on the warm weather route to New York.

When on 28 December 1908 Messina is destroyed by an Earthquake the ship is sent there as an accommodation and relieve ship for the survivors. At the end of this tour in 1909 the ship is sold for scrap. The dismantling starts in August 1910 in Genoa.

Captains:

Frederik Bonjer:       15 Jun. 1889 –  25 Jan. 1890 (still at yard)

Aldert Potjer:               25 Jan. 1890 –  15 Dec. 1891

Andries Potjer:            23 Dec. 1891 – 28 Jan. 1892  (one relief voyage)

Aldert Potjer:               04 Feb. 1892 –  22 Jan. 1896

Willem Ponsen:           29 Jan. 1896 – 26 Feb. 1896 (one relief voyage)

Aldert Potjer:                01 Mar. 1896 –  05 Mar. 1899

Adriaan Roggeveen    04 Apr. 1899 – 07 Jun. 1899 (two  voyages)

Aldert Potjer:                  25 Jun. 1899 – 26 Sep. 1899

Willem Bakker:               02 Oct. 1899 – 25 Jun. 1901

Pieter v/d Heuvel:         20 Jun. 1901 – 06 Aug. 1901 (one relief voyage)

Willem Bakker:                06 Aug. 1901 – 02 Apr. 1892.

Sources:

(a) Captain Alberts Database & Photo collection

(b) Stambooek & Mouvementboeken HAL as held by the Municipal Archives of the City of Rotterdam

(c) Contemporary newspapers. (www.delpher.nl)