SS Prins Hendrik was the third ship of the Willem III class. She was the second ship of the Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland (SMN) and was lost after barely two years of service.
Context
Steamships for the Suez Canal
SS Prins Hendrik was the third ship of the Willem III class, which were the first ships built for the Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland (SMN). The SMN was founded in May 1870 for the express purpose of establishing a steam shipping line to Java via the Suez Canal, which opened in 1869. This would require steamships of a "new" class, the Willem III class.
Characteristics
Dimensions
SS Prins Hendrik was 352 feet long. It was an increase of 30 feet compared to the first two ships of the class, SS Willem III and SS Prins van Oranje. The change increased the (calculated) cargo size from 2.789 tons GT to 3,065 tons GT. Which is almost 10% more.
Machinery
The compound steam engines were of nominal 400 hp, effective 1,600 ihp. The high pressure cylinder had a diameter of 50 thumbs (either Dutch cm or English inches), the low pressure cylinder of 86 thumbs. Steam pressure was 60 pounds, 6 pounds in the low-pressure cylinder. On average the engine made 53 turns per minute with an average effective power of 1,200 ihp and a speed of 10 knots.
Accommodation
There was accommodation for 90 passengers first class, 32 passengers second class, and 400 soldiers As she was the third ship of the class, the media did not show much interest in the interior. Even so, somebody gave an account of a stylish and luxurious saloon 1st class of 10 meters square with broad comfortable canapés, mahogany tables and a buffet. The saloon was painted, and had a piano that passengers could use. The second class saloon was a bit less luxurious. Furthermore, there was a library, a lady's saloon, a smoking lounge, a pharmacy, and an officers mess. The corridor along the cabins was 40 m long.
Complement
The crew of Prins Hendrik consisted of 69 persons, but this was probably not counting civilian staff.
Service
Construction and transfer
Prins Hendrik was built for Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland (SMN) by John Elder & Co. of Govan on the River Clyde. She was launched on 17 August 1871. A strike in Glasgow then delayed delivery, so the first voyage to the East Indies was delayed from 10 to 15 November 1871. On Tuesday 24 October 1871 Prins Hendrik left the shipyard in Glasgow. She would make her trials on Thursday 26 October. After the trials she left Glasgow on Saturday 28 October. At 7:56 in the morning of Thursday 2 November Prins Hendrik of Captain J. Hendriks, arrived before Nieuwediep, and was soon towed into the harbor. This probably happened later than expected, because her departure was simultaneously postponed to 18 November. On the 17th a detachment of troops under Major A.j. Diepenbroek left Harderwijk for Nieuwediep.
First voyage to the East Indies
On 18 November 1871 Prins Hendrik steamed to the Texel roadstead to prepare her departure. On 19 November she finally steamed to sea for her first voyage to Batavia. On Monday 20 November she passed Dungeness at 5 AM. On 3 December she arrived in Port Said, and on 7 December she left Suez. On 29 December Prins Hendrik arrived in Batavia in the early morning. On 13 January she continued to Surabaya.
On 16 January 1872 Prins Hendrik arrived in Surabaya. A visitor noted that the ship was very clean, and did not suffer from the stench of mixed paint, oil and tar, which made the stay on steamships in the East Indies so suffocating, and caused so much sea sickness and nausea. Everywhere on board, in the saloons, the cabins and on deck, the air was fresh. The cabins were found to be small, except towards the stern. The cabins on port and starboard had enough ventilation and light. The cabins in the midships were good as long as the ships was at anchor, and everything was open. The space in the regular cabins was small compared to cabins in regular ships (i.e. sailing ships). This was made good by the other rooms, and especially the much shorter trip. On 29 January 1872 Prins Hendrik left Surabaya.