Page 3 - Willem Barentsz

2650 hp and had a speed of 16 knots. In addition, the AM-11, the AM-12 and the AM-14, three
Japanese whalers, which came from the Dutch East Indies as spoils of war. The AM-13 didn't exist, no
one wanted to sail on it. The AM-14 was picked up by the tug "Poolzee" from Surabaya. The author of
this chapter also took part in this. We didn't get much pleasure from these Japanese catchers.
The Willem Barendsz II/PIQE

We are now moving forward at high speed. The production capacity of the "Willem Barendsz" was
smaller than that of the foreign factory ships. Soon there were plans for a larger factory ship. In 1951
Wilton Feijenoord in Rotterdam received the order for the construction of the "Willem Barendsz II".
Four years later, on 9 July, the ship was delivered under the name "Willem Barendsz/PIQE". The old
ship was given the name "Bloemendael/PDDT” .

It was a ship to be proud of, with a deadweight capacity of 26,500 tonnes and a displacement of
44,000 tonnes. An accommodation for 506 people and it could make a speed of 14 knots. The costs
amounted to 36 million guilders. Now, old sailors, who are reading this now, will not be impressed by
this. There are certainly some who have sailed on larger and faster ships. That doesn't take away from
the fact that it was a unique ship.

The New Willem Barendsz/PIQE during seatrials. Photo Wim van Rossum (National archive)