boissevain
Boissevain
1938 - 1968

The Africa line of the KPM was originally called JAMAL (Java Mauritius Africa Line), later changed to OJAL (Orient Java Africa Line) with Hong Kong & Shanghai added to the schedule. In 1938 the Ruys, Tegelberg & Boissevain were commissioned in the OJAL.

Unlike sisters Ruys & Tegelberg, the Boissevain was built in Germany, at the Hamburg yard of Blohm & Voss. Payment for the ship was effected through tobacco shipments from Sumatra to Germany due to economic circumstances and foreign exchange control regulations at the time. Tobacco was then considered a luxury goods which could not be purchased by Germany at the time.

The ship was named after Jan Boissevain (1836 - 1904), one of the founders of KPM, the others being W Ruys and P E Tegelberg.

1938 January: Amsterdam to Batavia??

1938 August 10th: The K.P.M. Line to Africa and other adjacent ports in the Indian Ocean was known as the Orient-Java-Africa Service, and operated by three very fine passenger motor liners— the Boissevain (14,134 tons), Ruys (14,155 tons), and the Tegelberg (14,150 tons). These vessels traded between Singapore, Java ports, Rodriquez, Mauritius, Reunion, Lourenco Marques, Durban and the Cape, then return to Java via Durban, Mauritius, Reunion, Tamatave, East Coast ports of Africa, and the Seychelles. This service, which was a monthly one, made wonderful progress during the last few years, and was becoming more popular with travellers and business people each year. In the first place, it provided a splendid trip for anyone who wished to travel from Australia or New Zealand to the East and then on to the various ports mentioned. And it is surprising the amount of cargo that this line carried for transhipment.

1939 - 1945 World War II

1939

At the outbreak of World War Two the Boissevain was at Mombasa on September 3rd. For the next fifteen months it would continue to visit ports ranging from Capetown to Singapore, Saigon, Hongkong, Shanghai, Kohsiang, Manila, & Batavia (Jakarta).

Other locations visited included Mombasa, Zanzibar, Tamatave, Mahe (Seychelles), Sabah, Belaw, Port Louis, Lourenco Marques, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mackay, Mossel Bay, Mauritius, Dar-es-salaam, Miri.

The Boissevain departed Mombasa on September 3rd, making five ports of call before reaching Shanghai on September 23rd. From here a circle of the South China Sea was completed, with three stops prior to reaching Kohsiang on October 14th. From here the Boissevain commenced an almost month long voyage to Capetown, arriving November 13th. The return voyage commenced on November 16th, reaching Shanghai on December 24th. Christmas was spent at Shanghai whilst the New Year was received in Hong Kong.

1940

1940 January 9th: Press Release
Dutch Shipping Company, Extension of Service:
The Koninklijke Paketvaart Nij (Royal Dutch Packet Co.) extended their Orient-Java-Africa service to South America. For the Orient-Java-Africa service the company have constructed in recent years the three triple screw mail passenger and cargo motor ships Ruys, Tegelberg and Boissevain, each of which has a gross tonnage of about 14,150. Extension of the service was inaugurated when the new twin screw cargo motor ship Japara, of 12,000 tons deadweight, which was chartered from the Rotterdam Lloyd, sailed from Durban last month. Although plans for the extension of the service had been under consideration for some time, the withdrawal of the Norddeutscher Lloyd's ships on the South Africa - South America route made an early decision necessary.

The Boissevain departed Hong Kong on January 4th for Manila & Kohsiang arriving January 13th. Then followed another trip to Cape Town arriving February 12th. The ship was back at Shanghai by March 23rd. From Shanghai the Boissevain headed to Hong Kong, spending a week here, its longest stay anywhere for quite some time. Departing Hong Kong on April 4th it passed through Manila and six other ports before reaching Cape Town on May 12th. A week earlier the Netherlands had been overrun by invading German forces. For the time being this did not impact the Boissevain's sailing routes.

Cape Town was departed on May 14th making eleven stops before reaching Shanghai on June 25th. The Boissavain's next sailing was somewhat shorter, departing Shanghai on June 28th for Batavia with stops at Hong Kong, Manila & Miri before reaching Batavia on July 12th. Departing on July 14th Singapore was reached on July 16th, where the ship remained for three weeks.

1940 July 11th: Press Release
New Dutch Ships. Australia-Indies Service:
Three new liners which will enter the regular Australia-Dutch East Indies service-the Boissevain, Ruys, and Tegelberg-will bring evacuees to Australia from the Far East. Women and children then being evacuated from Hongkong were taken to Manila, Philippine Islands, before being forwarded to Australia. The Boissevain and Ruys will replace the Nieuw Holland and Nieuw Zeeland on the Java-Australian service, and the Tegelberg will replace the Tasman on the South Pacific run. The ships, which carry only first saloon passengers were placed in commission less than a year ago and were originally intended for the Far East-Java-Africa service They contain luxurious suites which include a lounge, double bedroom, baggage-room and private bathroom.

1940 July 16th: Press Release
Modern Ships for East. Fine Accommodation:
The Boissevain and Ruys, 15,000-ton motor vessels of KPM (Royal Dutch Packet), which are replacing the Nieuw Holland and Nieuw Zeeland on the Melbourne-Sydney-Batavia service, are two of the most luxurious liners afloat. With the Tegelberg (15,000 tons), which is replacing the Tasman on the South Pacific run the ships were placed in the Australian trade to bring wealthy evacuees from the Near and Far East to Australia. All have been decorated by famous Dutch artists. Carrying only 80 first saloon passengers, they set new standards of comfort and accommodation. There are deluxe suites, with lounge, double bedroom, private sports deck, and baggage-room, and every cabin has a private bathroom.

1940 July 17th: Press Release
Tourist Boom Expected. Overseas Arrivals:
A boom in tourist traffic to Australia was expected to start very soon. Thousands of people in lndia, China, tho East Indies and America have booked to Australia for weeks ahead. This is stated by Sydney air travel and shipping officials. The first conducted tour of Americans begins this week with 10 round trippers. Thousands of evacuees-many of them wealthy-from Hongkong, Saigon and Dutch East Indies ports, will arrive in Sydney in the next three months. Most of these people will stay in Australia for the duration of the war, state officials of Eastern shipping lines. Hundreds of British civil servants from India, Burma, and the Malay States are now on their way here to spend their six months furlough. Three new Dutch luxury liners, the Boissevain, Ruys, and Tegelberg, each of 15,000 tons, the largest vessels to enter the Near East-Australia trade, will bring hundreds of good spending visitors. In recent weeks Australia-bound liners from Hongkong have been booked out on leaving that port, and unable to book passengers at intermediate ports en route here.

The routine of the Boissevain now changed, becoming a virtual shuttle between Singapore, Batavia, Sourabaya and Australian ports from Brisbane to Adelaide. The first of these shuttles departed Singapore on August 7th, Batavia (8/9th), Adelaide (17/18th), Melbourne (19th/22nd), Sydney (24/27th), Brisbane (Aug 29/30th), Sourabaya (Sep 9/10th), Batavia (12/13th) and Singapore (15th). This first Australian voyage differed from the later ones which would have Brisbane as the first and last port of call, with the vessel turning round at Adelaide. The turn around time at Singapore was on average five days. Five roundtrips followed this routine, seven weeks being common for their completion but extended port time could push this time beyond eight weeks. On the December 1940 trip the Boissevain was held at Sydney from December 5th to 21st. Christmas 1940 and the New Year were spent at Melbourne.

1940 September 23rd:Press Release
The Royal Packet Navigation Co., Ltd., announced monthly sailings by the K.P.M. Line to Pt. Moresby, Java, Singapore and Saigon by the motor vessels Tegelberg and Maetsuycker. Java ports and Singapore are served from Australia by the regular lines. The vessels Marella and Merkur are running in the former service, and the new motor vessels Ruys and Boissevain in the latter.

1941

The regular Singapore - Australia sailings continued with great routine, until the sailing from Singapore on May 23rd, which reached Sydney on June 8th and remained here until July 5th before then sailing for Singapore, which was reached on July 22nd. Departing here on July 27th the Boissevain reached Adelaide via Sydney on August 21st. Then followed some local Australian east coast sailings, including possibly a month stopped at Sydney, before departing Adelaide on October 25th, via Sydney for Singapore arriving November 21st. The Boissevain departed Singapore on November 26th (it would not return here for a while), Batavia (Nov 28th/30th), Sourabaya (Dec 3rd), whilst enroute to Brisbane the Japanese declared war on the Allies. Brisbane was reached on December 11th and Sydney on December 14th. After two weeks at Sydney, including Christms the ship sailed for Melbourne on December 29th.

1942

Two weeks were spent at Melbourne before sailing on January 15th for Adelaide, here an escort was provided to Sourabaya (Jan 27th/Feb 5th), Oosthaven (Feb 7th/12th) and Batavia arriving February 14th. An escort was provided for the return trip, departing Batavia on February 17th, reaching Fremantle on February 23rd and Sydney on March 6th. The Boissevain departed Sydney on April 25th (after conversion to carry troops?) for Lyttelton, (Apr 28th/May 10th), Balboa (Panama) (May 27th), New Orleans (June 3rd/23rd), arriving the Clyde on July 9th, the entire voyage from Sydney being sailed as an independent. On this voyage across the Atlantic from Cristobal it is reported that on July 1st whilst zig-zagging the foremast lookout reported a submarine ahead, which was also confirmed by the Chief Officer on visiting the foremast. It was soon noted the submarine had changed course to intercept the Boissevain. Under the command of Captain Jansen, the ship turned 180 degrees and the Chief Engineer was ordered to push the engines to the limit. The needle recording the speed showed the maximum of 20 knots, which was maintained for four hours until nightfall. Each cylinder lubricator was manned by a greaser to maintain a steady supply of lube-oil for the cylinders. After nightfall the ship resumed its original course. An inspection of the engines at Glasgow revealed several of the twenty four pistons had suffered cracks.

On August 28th convoy WS.22 including the Boissevain departed Clyde for Freetown (Sep 9th/13th), Durban (Sep 29th/Oct 3rd), now convoy WS.22B to Bombay (Oct 17th). The ship departs Bombay on October 26th for Cape Town, arriving November 10th, departed November 16th to Sourabaya without escort and arrives December 2nd. The Boissevain then sailed for the Clyde arriving in December and then sailing in convoy KMF.6 on December 26th to Algiers arriving on January 3rd 1943.

CHECK MKF.10A (Algiers - Clyde) Clyde, Mar 14, 1942

1943

The Boissevain returns to the Clyde by January 14th then makes three roundtrips between mid-January & early June from the Clyde, two to Algiers and one to Oran. Between June 5th and August 16th the ship remains on the Clyde. On August 16th it joins convoy WS.33 from the Clyde via Gibraltar (Aug 23rd/Sept 3rd), Freetown (Sep 10th/14th), Takoradi (Sep 17th/22nd), Lagos (Sep 23rd/30th), Capetown (Oct 10th), Durban (Oct 13th/20th), Kilindini (Oct 26th), Bombay (Nov 4th/Nov 13th), Aden (Nov 18th), Suez (Nov 22nd). The ship remains in the Mediterranean visiting Port Said, Taranto, Philippeville, Algiers, Naples, and Oran, where Christmas Day is celebrated. On December 27th the ship sails in convoy MKF.27, arriving on the Clyde on January 4th 1944.

1944

The Boissevain spends six weeks on the Clyde, then makes a Clyde - Naples roundtrip (Feb 21st - Mar 16th). On March 29th the Boissevain departs the Clyde for Gibraltar (Apr 6th), Freetown (Apr 11th), Lagos (Apr 15th/17th), Takoradi (Apr 18th/20th), Lagos (Apr 21st/27th), Freetown (May 1st/4th) and Gibraltar (May 11th).

At Gibraltar the Boissevain changes direction, departing on May 13th for Port Said (May 19th/21st), Aden (May 25th/27th), Bombay (Jun 1st/13th), Kilindini Jun 20th/23rd), Diego Suarez (Jun 26th/27th), then returning to Kilindini arriving July 1st. After two weeks at Kilindini the Boissevain departed on July 14th for Aden (Jul 19th), Suez (Jul 22nd), Port Said (Jul 28th) arriving on the Clyde on August 11th. The Boissevain then spent six weeks on the Clyde.

On October 1st the Boissevain departed the Clyde for Gibraltar (Oct 5th/7th), Freetown (Oct 13th/14th), Takoradi (Oct 17th/18th), Lagos (Oct 19th/25th), Takoradi (Oct 26th/29th), Freetown (Nov 2nd/3rd), and arrived Gibraltar on November 9th. The next five weeks were spent in the Mediterranean visiting Port Said (Nov 20th/24th), Taranto (Nov 28th/29th), Port Said (Dec 2nd/8th), Algiers (Dec 13th) and Gibraltar arrived December 19th. From here the ship reached Freetown (Dec 25th/26th) and arrived Lagos on January 6th 1945

1945

Lagos was departed on January 7th, then Takoradi (Jan 8th/9th), Freetown (Jan 12th/14th), Gibraltar (Jan 19th/21st) and arrived on the Clyde on January 27th, where it remained for six weeks (or may have been in use between Gibraltar and Freetown).

The Boissevain departed the Clyde on March 10th, then Gibraltar (Mar 17th), Freetown (Mar 23rd/25th), Lagos (Mar 30th/Apr 1st), Freetown (Apr 5th/7th) and arrived Gibraltar on April 12th. Departing Gibraltar on April 13th, then Port Said (Apr 19th/20th) and arrived Bombay on April 28th. The Bossevain then reversed its route, departed Bombay on May 1st for Suez (May 8th), Port Said (May 10th), Gibraltar (May 15th/17th) and arrived Liverpool on May 22nd, then moving to the Clyde.

After six weeks on the Clyde the ship departed on July 4th for Port Said (Jul 13th/14th) and arrived Bombay on July 21st. The Bossevain would then spend six weeks in the Indian Ocean departing Bombay on August 6th for Karachi (Aug 8th/9th), Basra (Aug 12th/15th), Karachi (Aug 19th/21st), Bombay (Aug 22nd/Sep 2nd), Port Dickson (Sep 12th/14th) and arrived Rangoon on September 17th.

The Boissevain departed Rangoon on September 19th for Colombo (Sep 22nd/23rd) and arrived Liverpool on October 12th, returning liberated Allied prisoners of war.

The ship remained at Liverpool until November 23rd when it sailed for Marseilles (Nov 30th/Dec 2nd), Trincomalee (Dec 17th/18th), Singapore (Dec 22nd/23rd), Saigon (Dec 25th/29th) and then back to Singapore arriving December 31st 1945.

1946 - 1968

1946 January: January 19th former internees of the Japanese and released Allied prisoners of war boarded at Tandjung Priok, arrived Amsterdam on February 16th.

1946 July 30th: Resuming service to Hong Kong. The regular Eastern and Australian Line service between Sydney and Hong Kong will be resumed in a few days with the departure from Sydney of the Nellore. The shipping service to the Dutch East Indies cannot be resumed until the waterfront unions in Australia decide to handle shipping on this route. The Holland-Australia Line ships, Ruys, Tegelberg, Boissevain and Nieuw Holland will probably be employed on this service when the unions reach a decision.

1947 February 1st: Mutiny is reported to have broken out among 200 Dutch marines on their way to the Netherlands East Indies aboard the 14,000 ton Dutch ship Boissevain. The Netherlands naval information service said that Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Debruyn and six officers have flown to Cairo to take command of the detachment.

1947 December 25th - January 4th 1948: the Boissevain was at Durban, westbound, on her first peacetime voyage after the ending of troop service.

1948 January 30th: Australia - Singapore ship run. Dutch cargo vessels will resume the run between Singapore and Australia in March and "white" passenger ships like the Nieuw Holland may be seen again in Australian waters later in the year. The K.P.M. office in Singapore announced today that the 9,000ton cargo ships Tjikampek and Tjipondok, belonging to the subsidiary Royal Java-China Packet Line, will begin a monthly service in March to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, and direct back to Singapore, taking 60 days for the round trip. More tonnage was becoming available and other cargo vessels would be brought in to maintain a monthly schedule.

It was hoped to resume a passenger service early and the Nieuw Holland was expected to be released soon by the Dutch Government. Other "white" ships which might be used were the Ruys, the Tegelbcrg and the Boissevain-14,000-ton vessels. The passenger run would be Singapore to Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Singapore.

1952 April 5th (approx): the Boissevain from Singapore to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including Penang, Mauritius, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Beira and Lorenco Marques and four South African ports then Cape Town. Then Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santos and Rio.

1953 June 15th: Hongkong. Revenue officers yesterday seized 2000 taels of gold valued at 600,000 Hongkong dollars on board the Dutch ship Boissevain, which is due to sail for Japan today. No arrests were made.

1955 November 2nd: the Boissevain called in at Tristan de Cunha to collect lobsters from the local fishermen.

1956 March 1st: whilst en-route from Cape Town to South America, the ship's doctor (Dr J J Koppes) performed a successful operation for acute appendicitis of the 5th engineer of the ship (H A Slettenar).

1960 September: Five passenger vessels were selected for the installation of air-conditioning throughout the 1st Class accommodation (Boissevain, Ruys, Tegelberg, Tjitjalengka & Tjinegara). The first three would also undergo modernisation of some interior spaces, including the plumbing services. It was expected each vessel would be out of service for three months. The Boissevain would be the first to be dealt with, commencing February 1961 in Hong Kong.

1961 January 24th: during the morning of January 24th the Boissevain moored alongside the Taikoo dockyard in Hong Kong for the commencement of various improvements. Air-conditioning was to be added to the first class passenger accommodation, officers cabins, dining room, lounge and smoking room, Pursers' office, library, nursery, ironing rooms, hospital, hair dressing salon & shop. The Intermediate cabins were to be demolished, to be replaced by twelve first class double berth cabins. Approximately 900 workers from multiple trades were involved in the changes.

1961 May 5th: late in the evening of May 5th the Boissevain departed Hong Kong on her first voyage following the improvements made. On May 24th whilst on a westbound sailing the Boissevain passed the Ruys undergoing the upgrading at Kowloon.

1962 July 17th: Captain H Prins, lately in charge of the Boissevain retired after 36 years with KPM. His last voyage ended at Yokohama Japan on August 4th. During World War II Captain Prins was imprisoned for three and a half years.

1962 August 17th: Boissevain departed Kobe for South America.

1962 October 3rd: the Boissevain detours to Tristan da Cunha to embark two Danish journalists who had spent two weeks on the island gathering stories. They had arrived during September on the mv Straat Bali.

1963 March/April: the Tristan da Cunha islanders displaced when the volcanic eruption forced the islanders from their homes during October 1961, began their journey back to the island on March 17th 1963, departing Tilbury on the RMS Amazon to Rio de Janeiro. Here the 51 passengers transferred to the Boissevain, arriving Tristan da Cunha on April 9th 1963.

1963 June 30th: Boissevain at Singapore.

1963 September 27th: at Port Louis, Mauritius

1964 June 8th: the Boissevain arrived at Santos to disembark 102 Okinawans who were emigrating to Bolivia. From Santos the emigrees faced a six day train journey to the Santa Cruz area of Bolivia. To assist with the Japanese passengers the Boissevain, Ruys, Tegelberg & Tjitjalengka are equipped with Japanese style bathrooms, have a Japanese interpreter on board, a Japanese cook, carry Japanese language newspapers and magazines and show European, American & Japanese movies.

1965 February 17th: a set of postage stamps issued by the island of Tristan da Cunha featured two of the RIL ships, the Tjisadane (1/-, one shilling) and the Boissevain (2/6d, two shillings and sixpence) - both vessels would occasionally call at the island and both were involved in the history affecting the islanders and the volcanic eruption during October 1961.

1965 June: the ship would undergo an extensive DMO in Japan, which will cause her to miss the July ASAS sailing.

1965 August 12th: the Boissevain departed Yokohama with passengers including their Imperial Highnesses Prine & Princess Mikasa, daughter Princess Yasuko and son Prince Tomohito, travelling to Kobe(?) Also onboard were twenty Japanese emigrants from Japan to Brazil, travelling in third class. August 23rd docked at Hong Kong.

1965 December 25th: the Boissevain was at Yokohama for Christmas Day.

1967 April: Royal Interocean Lines announced plans to retire the Ruys, Tegelberg, Boissevain & Tjitjalengka during 1968.

1968 June 21st: departed Hong Kong for the final time.

1968 scrapped Kaohsiung.

Captains:
1938 - 1941: D L E Blankstein
1941 - 1948?: Captain Jannsen
1948 - Dec. 1951: A van Luin
Dec 1951 - July 1956: C A Zewald
July 1956 - May 1959: R Starkenburg
May 1959 - October 1960 H Prins
October 1960 - February 1961 L Rademaker
February 1961 - May 1961 A J Van Ankeren
May 1961 - March 1962 H Prins
March 1962 - April 1962 Th Terhorst
April 1962 - July 1962 H Prins
July 1962 - ?? G W de Bruyn
March 1964 - October 1964 (leave) H A Scheybeler
October 1964 - August 1965 Th.G. Weemaes
September 1965 - June 1967 R Jungeling
June 1967 - October 1967 H Muys
October 1967 - June 1968 Th Rose

Details

Built: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Laid down: 1937?
Launched: ??
Completed: December 1937
Tons: 14,271 gross, 12,271 dwt
Length: 561ft
Breadth: 72ft 3in
Draught: 36ft 4in
Propulsion: 3 x Sulzer diesel engines totalling 10,800bhp.
Screws: 3
Speed: ?? knots
Passengers: 433 total
Crew: ??

Resources:
National Library of Australia : Trove website of archived Australian Newspapers (trove.nla.gov.au) (next 20)
google "mv boissevain" next page 7
Royal Interocean Lines (RIL) house magazine next 1964 July
Convoyweb website

Page added February 15th 2016
Last updated March 20th 2016

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