My aunt Cornelia (Corry) van der Voorden  -  second from left, first row   -  was at that time a secretary to the director Anthony Veder who founded and owned the Dutch shipping company  later named Oranje Line just before the war. A merry picture but thick clouds were gathering to the east of Holland and would effect us all in a week's time. In this picture my aunt is the second to the left of the front row next to Anthony Veder (front in the middle). The occasion was the christening by his mother, Mrs. Veder- van Hoboken (with flowers) on May 3, 1940 of the vessel 'Prins Willem IV' built by the yard 'de Merwede' at Neder-Hardinxveld. About a week later the Germans invaded our country and the occupying forces 'borrowed' the ship later that year. See full story below. Cornelis Verolme (see arrow) was also present. He later founded the Verolme  Dock and Shipyard Company, which became one of the biggest yards  in Holland in rather a short time.

Anthony Veder (born in Rotterdam October 7th, 1914 and died also in Rotterdam Augustus 30th, 1967) was the son of Anthony Veder, a prominent business man and radio pioneer and Maria Johanna van Hoboken. The Hoboken's were at that time a very wealthy and leading family in the city of  Rotterdam. Although backed by family capital from his mother's side his ambitions at his young age  were considerable and quite unusual for those days. He died at a relatively young age due to a heart condition. 

Owner: Oranje Lijn 1937-1967.  Gross Tonnage: 1599 Main engine: 1800 APK.   Speed: 12 knots.

The Prins Willem IV had accommodation for 12 passengers. Overall length: 76 meters. Width: 13 meters. Gross tonnage: 1535. Main propulsion engine: Stork 5 cylinder motor, 1400 HP. Service speed: 12,5 knots. Crew: 30  Ship's international call sign: PGWE  This ship is not very big. The length and the width were tuned to the locks which gave access to the Great Lakes in Canada and it would have fitted in the locks with not more then 10 or 20 cm to spare on each side. A coaster or a modern fishing ship has about the same length as the Prins Willem IV. May be you are wondering why the bridge was constructed  -  on this ships and most others in those days  -   out of wood instead of steel as the other decks were. This was done as to influence the magnetic compass as little as possible. Any steel near the magnetic compass would result in serious deviations from the real compass heading. The compass on top of the bridge deck, the so-called top deck, could be read in the wheelhouse via an ingenious periscope system. No gyro compasses were yet available then. 

The ms "Prins Willem IV  

The ms "Prins Willem II

Prins Frederik Willem

Prinses Emelia

Nieuwaal

Prins Maurits

From an original water-color by ©Hans Breeman. Information: h.breeman@worldonline.nl  

See also web site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arion2000   

This picture was taken during the celebration of the first lustrum of the shipping company founded in 1937 by Anthony Veder who was in that year only 23 years. In the picture he is 28 and sitting at the table at the left. My aunt Corrie is sitting next to him and the only woman in the entire office. She worked until 1946, when she was expecting her first baby, in the office.

November 11, 1941      Confiscated by the German occupying forces

December, 1942           Ship was towed to Hamburg and newly outfitted and armed

November 10, 1943      Ship's name was changed to 'Sperrbrecher 179'   (Sperrbrecher= Blockade Buster)

1944                           Ship was sunk by a bomb air attack from allied forces

1945                           Ship was found back in Hamburg

1945                           Renamed to  'Prins Willem IV' again

1946                           Being rebuilt and handed over by the Merwede Shipyard to the rightful owners

1966                           Sold to Societa di Navigazione per Azioni, Genua - Italy. New name: Citta di Beirut

1971                           Sold to Flame Shipping & Trading Co, Famagusta - Cyprus. Name: Tremco Sun

Note : Sale was not effected.

1973                           Sold to Societa Simaii, Genua - Italy.   Still named Citta di Beirut

1973                           Renamed to Gilvani ?

1974                           Ship was demolished in Italy
 

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