- Captain Albert's Website and Blog -

Ocean Liner History and Stories from the Sea, Past and Present. With an In Depth focus on Holland America Line

1920 ss Burgerdyk

PREV.NAME(S): None

TONN. BRT: 6,853          NRT: 4,230                    DWT: 10,010

BUILT AT: C. Van der Giessen & Zonen Scheepswerven N.V., Krimpen aan de IJsel,                   the Netherlands

BUILT IN: 1920                                                       YARDNO: 483

ENGINES: One set of double reduction geared Brown – Curtiss steam turbines,installed by

Harland & Wolff Limited, Belfast, Ireland

ENGINE OUTPUT: 3000 Shp.                               PROPS: One (fixed)

SERVICE SPD: 12 Knots.                                       MAX. SPEED: 12.3 Knots

LENGTH.O.A: 126.8 Meters                                   LENGTH B.P.: 121.93 Meters

BEAM OA: 16.46 Meters                                         DEPTH: 11.16 Meters

PAX.CAP: 3

CREW: 51

SISTERSHIPS: Binnendijk, Blijdendijk, Breedijk, Bilderdijk, Beemsterdijk, Boschdijk,

Blommersdijk

REMARKS: Bunker capacity 1276 Tons of oil at 28 tons a day. Was the first company ship with   a  steam turbine plant.

——————————————————————

HISTORY:

Constructed of steel with two full decks as a cargoship. The keel was laid on 1 May 1919 and the hull launched on 8 October 1920.

The ship being baptised. By Who ????

The ship being baptised. By Who ????

 

There she goes. (a)

The ss Burgerdijk about to be launched.

The ss Burgerdijk launched.

Towed on 28 February 1921 to Belfast for the installation of the engine plant which formed part of the British compensation payment for the loss of the Justicia. Delivered to Holland America on 19 June 1921. (b)

ss Burgerdijk. One of the 10 B class ships built between 1920 and 1923.

ss Burgerdijk. One of the 10 B class ships built between 1920 and 1923.

 

Commenced her maiden voyage on 25 June 1921 sailing from Rotterdam to New York. In service on the routes to the American North East Coast and Gulf ports.

In Feb. 1928 the ship had to be assisted by two tugboats when she lost her rudder during a voyage from New York and got caught in very bad weather.

Arriving home rudderless after a very stormy crossing.

Arriving home rudderless after a very stormy crossing. (scan from NRC newspaper feb 1928)

In 1934 the passenger capacity is increased to seven by the conversion of crew accommodation.

The U48 as seen from the Burgerdijk

The U48 as seen from the Burgerdijk

On  10 February 1940 the ship is stopped in the English Channel by the German submarine U 48 while enroute from Boston to Rotterdam with a cargo of wheat. Papers were inspected and although in order the crew was given 30 minutes to evacuate the ship which was then torpedoed. The seven passengers and 44 crew were all safely picked up by the Edam (4). The ship is sunk by the submarine in position 49.45 N. 006.30 W. 15 miles South of bishop Rock in the English channel.

Sources:

Photos: a,b from the internet via D.P.G. van der Horst. Other photos archive of author.

Information:  Archive of author & Mr. B Reedijk  son of Capt. Reedijk.

 

1 Comment

  1. Kapitein Albert, een gedetailleerd ooggetuigenverslag met foto’s van Cees de Neef, assistent WTK, over de aanhouding en torpedering van het ss Burgerdijk treft u aan op:
    http://www.scheepspraat.nl/edamverhaal.htm

    Voor belangstellenden een hyperlink waard!

    Groet,
    John van Kuijk, lid archiefcommissie Vereniging de Lijn.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.