Revised 26 July 2003
(new pages added)
TEESSHIPS
A
FAVOURITE SHIP
ANTJE - Page 1
The square box Brownie format was just right for this shot of the veteran ANTJE in Middlesbrough Dock on 15 June 1965 in the early days of oil exploration work in the North Sea.
CAREER DETAILS
ANTJE: 199gt; Dutch flag; built
Leiderdorp 1903; ex Zeeland-54; wrecked December 1966.
Lengthened in 1927 so must have been
fairly diminutive before that date.
13.4.00: Tonight,
browsing through my full set of Tees Packets (local WSS Teesside
Branch journal) looking for something completely different I came
across the report I had submitted for the July 1967 issue. This
read as follows:
"ANTJE: I
wonder how many, like me, have a soft spot for old-timers. I was,
therefore, very sorry to hear of the end of the 63 year old Dutch
coaster ANTJE, 199gt, which was built by Maats "De
Zijl" of Leiderdorp in 1903. She wrecked near Stockholm on
Christmas Day 1966 after developing leaks, with the loss of two
lives, one being the master/owner F. Fokkema. She will be
remembered as a visitor to this river during the early stages of
the North Sea explorations. She was known as the ZEELAND until
1954, at which stage she was owned by W. Meulman, also of the
Netherlands. She was lengthened in 1927. Her age pays tribute to
the sturdiness of this class of vessel, but one wonders how much longer she would have traded, but for her tragic end."
3.2.03: I am extremely grateful to Jan Harteveld (via George Robinson of Riversea International - see my LINKS page) for providing these photos from earlier in her life, together with fuller details of her career.
Actually built and served from 1903 to 1911 as the trawler (fishing lugger) BASTIAAN - Fishing no. SCH 373. Owner-B, van der Zwan-Scheveningen.
(Did she also do trips round the bay, one wonders, seeing a lot of people on deck in the above view - or is this her about to go out on trials/ Anyone any idea?)
1911 - 1917 ZEELAND - Fishing no. VL-173. Owner-Zeevisscherij Nederland dir,de Zeeuw & van
Raalt,Vlaardingen. 1911 fitted with 90 hp Kromhout engine.
1917 - 1918 ZEELAND, cargoship. Owner Reederij van Sprang-Dordrecht.
1918 - 1927 ZEELAND, cargoship. Owner-Mij Zeevaart-Dordrecht.
These two photos of the ZEELAND in a spot of bother are when she grounded off
Egmond, Netherlands on 28/8/1918.
Jan finishes his presentation with these two views of the
ANTJE as she was after 1954.
Really excellent, Jan, thanks very much!
(3.2.03) To also show how things come around of their own accord I heard recently from Amanda Vos, as follows:
My parents met somebody in a shop where he works. His name is Theo Fokkema and they got talking about ships because my father had been a sailor too. When they got talking he said his father had a ship called ANTJE and I gave your website address and said to them there is a surprise for you on this website. But he is new on the internet and didn't find it. Then I sent him over the page with the ANTJE and he was very pleased with the story and pictures of the ANTJE you had written on your website. Greetings from Holland.
As detailed further up this page, the owner/master of the ANTJE, F. Fokkema, went down with his ship in 1966.
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These items on display previously:
This shot by Dave Hoquard shows the ANTJE at Greenwich in April 1963.
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1.3.01: Jaap de Roode has sent in this picturesque view of the ANTJE:
He comments: I am a frequent visitor of your site and I enjoy all those oldies.
In addition to your story on the coaster Antje the following may interest you. The "Zeeland (Antje)" was built as a fishing-lugger and converted into a coaster and lengthened in 1927. In 1940 confiscated by the Germans. In 1945 she was found back, completely burned out. In 1946 she was repaired and returned to the owner, Mr. Meulmans from Groningen. This picture of her is in a port I don't know.
20.5.02: The original photographer
gives us the answer:
I see that there is a photograph of the ANTJE supplied by Jaap de Roode on the
Teesships website which was taken by myself back in May 1964. The same photo appears in the first of the two books with the title "Coasters" written by
A. Boerma published in 1985 by De Alk. The ANTJE had brought a part cargo of oystershell to Truro from Frederikssund having previously discharged part in Plymouth. The photo shows her alongside Summers' Wharf in the good old days when ships discharged at the quays near the towncentre where now only small pleasure craft and yachts are to be seen! Best wishes, William Holmes
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These photos by Ben Gernaat first appeared on George Robinson's RIVERSEA INTERNATIONAL and are reproduced here with my thanks and acknowledgement.
Three more splendid views of an old-timer!
ANTJE lying (lower photos) at the Niestern Sander shipyard, Groningen
built 1903
Built as a fishing ship VI.137 by De Zijl, Leiderdorp (but see also details entered 3.2.03)
Rebuilt as a coaster in 1927 and renamed ZEELAND, then ANTJE from 1954
Sank in the Baltic on Christmas Day, 1966
(at that time, she was the oldest sea-going Dutch ship)