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Tuesday 19 September 2017

Dutch coal lighter XR-551 at Sabang, Dutch East Indies on 1 August 1946

In 1946 ordered the Dutch supreme commanding officer in the Far East by order no. 62 to investigate the harbours including shipyards in the Dutch East Indies and Netherlands New Guinea. In those so-called Sitraps (Situation reports) was information collected dealing with the available facilities, personnel and vessels/boats. The Dutch East Indies fell in Japanese hands in the Second World War when the Dutch forces surrendered on 8 March 1942 until Japan surrendered on her turn on 15 August 1945. On 17 August 1945 declared nationalistic leaders like Soekarno and Hadda the independence of what was called the Republik Indonesia. The result was a struggle for years before the Netherlands forced by international pressure accepted the Indonesian independence on 29 December 1949.

Fitted out with a 30 tons sheerleg. Hull in extra ordinary worse condition, underwater ship could not be controlled. Used by the harbourmaster for lifting heavy parts.

Source
Archive Dutch Marinestaf (1942) 1945-1948 inventory number 194, National Archive, The Hague.