KJCPL/ RIL, M.S. Straat Banka & Tjinegara –1952/51 to 1978 – Deck Plans
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Please Note:All ssMaritime and other related maritime & cruise sites are 100%non-commercial and privately owned. Be assured that I am NOT associated withany shipping or cruise companies or travel or cruise agencies, etc! Althoughhaving been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960, I am now retired buthaving completed features on well over 1,350 Classic Liners andCargo-Passengers Ships, I trust these will continue to provide you the classicship enthusiast the information you are seeking, but above all a great deal ofpleasure!
KJCPL/ RIL Passenger-Cargo Liners
Kon. Java-China-PaketvaartLijnen.
& her Sister -
Amagnificent painting of the M.S. Straat Banka by
Thepainting above may not be copied for any media as it is under © 2011 by
PleaseNote: Photographs and other images are from theauthor’s private collection, unless otherwise noted!
In1948, the “Koninklijke Java/China Paketvaart Lijnen” (KJCPL) or te “Royal Interocean Lines” ordered two beautifullydesigned streamlined Passenger-Cargo-Liners to be built.
These Passenger-Cargo liners were ordered forby KJCPL to operate on their extensive worldwide services, and they would becompleted late 1951 and early 1952, the first being the M.S. Straat Makassar,which was later renamed
The second of the pair was the very popular M.S.Straat Banka, and this is the ship being mostly featured on this site, althoughthe Straat Makassar’s basic details will also be covered.
The Dutch 9,138 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)passenger-cargo liner, to be operated under the popular banner of the RoyalInterocean Lines, M.S. Straat Banka was built by the Piet. Smit Jr Shipyards in
Herewe the engine close to completion and ready to the loaded into the ship
TheM.S. Straat Makassar is seen close to completion at her fit-out berth
Finallywhen all the work in the yard had been completed, the Straat Banka was madeready for launching, the day was set. Now on December 22, 1951 with dignitariespresent this fine ship was officially launched and christened ‘StraatBanka’ and she slowly slipped down into the water.
Aboveand below: Here we see the launching of the StraatBanka, as the bottle of
Andbelow we see this fine ship slip down the slipway into the water for thevery first time
Thetwo ships were delivered as follows:
1: M.S. Straat Makassar: Once completed she was delivered to KJCPL on August 18, 1951 andshe was placed on the
For interest having received a refit, in July1956 the Straat Makassar received a name change, and she was renamed
2: M.S. Straat Banka: Having been completed she undertook her extensive deep-sea trails,and from the photograph I have below, and as you will see she did this whilsther holds were completely empty, thus she was riding high in the water.
Thenew M.S. Straat Banka is seen during her Sea Trails
2: M.S. Straat Banka was delivered to her owners on May 16, 1952 and when she when she wasfully stored up, and manned she commenced her scheduled voyages as follows;
Departing, Yokohamasailing via Nagoya, Kobe, Pusan (optional), Naha (optional), Hong Kong,Singapore, Port Swettenham, Penang, Mauritius, Lourenço Marques, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, CapeTown, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande (optional), Montevideo and concluding atBuenos Aires. Her return voyage being: Buenos Aires, Santos, Rio de Janeiro,Salvador/Recife (optional), Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London (optional),Durban, Mauritius, Singapore, Manila (optional), Hong Kong, Kobe and Yokohama.
It would belater that their routes were altered and the StraatBanka would be placed on India to Australia service, whilst the Straat Makassar/ Tjinegara would takeover the Straat Banka’s earlier service, being the Yokohama to BuenosAires service, thus their schedules were completely reversed!
Well Designed Ships:
Straat Banka was a well built ship and she hadan attractive and a perfectly balanced amidships superstructure whichaccommodated just 48 First Class passengers in sheer comfort. She was sopopular that many Australian passengers would book a return voyage on her, asthey would enjoy an extended voyage, looking forward to many exciting ports,filled with great adventure and a voyage filled with the company’s famed greatservice, excellent cuisine and the ships comfort!
Thisis an early release postcard of the M.S. Straat Banka as she commenced her newduties
TheM.S. Straat Banka was without a doubt a beautifully balanced ship, wherever sheand her sister went, all who loved ships would comedockside and photograph them!
She certainly offered the best possible passengerfacilities, with the finest of her accommodations being two spacious DeluxeStaterooms located forward on B Deck, each having three large windows, twolooking forward and one larger one on the side of the ship that could be openedfor fresh air. The Deluxe Staterooms had twin beds, but these could be made upas a double bed, which was very new for those days, the lounge area had fourlarge comfortable fully upholstered chairs and two coffee tables. There werebedside tables and a desk with a mirror. There was a walk in wardrobe with aspacious bathroom with afull bathtub with an overhead shower, and every possiblefacility! Obviou8sly, one of these Staterooms was located on the starboard sideand the other on the portside.
The balance of cabins was equally dividedbetween single and twin-bedded cabins, but each had private facilities with ashower, WC and basin, etc. However, in the hallway there were a number ofbathrooms with bathtubs for those who preferred to take a bath! Every cabin hada large dressing table with drawers and two side cupboards, a large mirror anda seat as well as chairs and spacious wardrobes! In addition all cabins has aconnecting door, thus they could be sold to families meaning a twin cabin couldbe sold with a single if a child was travelling for a family of three.Alternatively two twin bedded cabins could be sold together for four travellingtogether.
Amidships on B Deck was the Hairdresser andthe Baggage Room, whilst the Pursers office was located forward next to theMain stairwell up to A Deck or Promenade Deck, the location of the delightfulLounge overlooking the bow, the Bar on the portside and a library on thestarboard side with tables and chairs where passengers could comfortably read abook! Aft on A Deck was a well designed Dining Room seating all passengers inone sitting. Running along the side the Lounge forward was glass enclosedPromenade Deck and it was the perfect place to sit and relax to have a coffeeand cake well out of the wind on a windy day! Far aft of the spacious PromenadeDeck there was a spacious deck space for sports facilities. Inaddition, stairs up to Boat Deck there was the aft section of that deck, itcommenced from just aft of the forward lifeboats and it gave additional spacefor sun baking that was the thin g to do in those days!
Photo Album
Astarboard impression of the Straat Banka
Theabove image of the Straat Banka was painted by & is © Mr.RobertBersma
1. StraatBanka’s Facilities
Thecover of a 1952 Deck Plan
Thisis the cover of the RIL Passenger List handed to passengers onboard M.S. StraatBanka & Tjinegara
TheLounge forward on A Deck, looking to starboard
TheLounge and the main stairwell, looking to port
Aboveand below: Just aft of the Lounge, portside was thedelightful bar
Againaft of the Lounge, but starboard was the Library
Above& Below: Aft on A Deck was the delightfulDining Room with floor to ceiling windows
Herewe see a beautiful Menu cover from 1961 that opens like a door
Herewe see the forward section of the port side of the B Deck passageway to thecabins - looking aft
Theengine room
2. The Ship
Herewe see her ready to load Circo (Circus) Brasil bound home for
M.S.Straat Banka glides into yet another port
Her Refit and beingoperated by Royal Interocean Lines
In 1961she was refitted and passenger numbers decreased by 7 to 40 and a swimming poolwas added aft on A Deck as can be seen on the Cabin Plan on Page Two.
Upon completion she would be operated by RoyalInterocean Lines, which had their head offices in
Theelegant looking Royal Interocean Lines M.S. Straat Banka
Afton A Deck was the new Swimming Pool that was fitted in 1961
Photographby & © Robert Bersma
StraatBanka seen toward the end of her RIL days
Hereis a rare view; the M.S. Straat Banka is seen forward and the Tjinegara aft in
Photographby & © Robert Bersma
With changesin the wind, the company had decided that they would sell the Straat Banka andthus on August 19, 1971 she was sold to Mercury Shipping Co based in
Herewe see the renamed
Photographby & © Robert Bersma
Soon enough the company had herregistered her in
Seven years later this once fine passengercargo liner, a ship that gave so much joy to countless of thousands of happypassengers, who enjoyed their voyages on this wonderful ship was sadly sold toChinese ship breakers in 1978. Soon after the sale she sailed under her ownpower for
WhatHappened to the Tjinegara?
Herewe see the delightful
Photographerunknown – Please see photo notes at bottom of page
Inbrief, the M.S. Tjinegara was also sold to Mercury Shipping Co, but in 1972 andshe was renamed
And with the United Ensign, ex
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SPECIFICATIONS
Please Note: StraatMakassar was renamed Tjinegara in1956.
Built by: Shipyard
Call Sign: 1. PHTM - 2.PHTL.
Launched: 1.July 17, 1951.
. 2. December 22, 1951.
Delivered: 1.August 18, 1951.
. 2. May 16, 1952.
Tonnage: 1. 8,951 GRT, 6,279 Net tons, 9,535 Dead weight.
. 2. 9.033 GRT, 6.631 Net tons, 9.436Dead weight.
Length: 143.78m– 472ft.
Width: 19.39m– 64ft.
Draught: 11.50m– 28.10ft.
Engines: Single9 Cylinder Burmeister & Wain Diesel Engines by
Screws: One.
Speed: 16knots service speed, 17 knots maximum.
Passengers: 1. 40 – 2.48 (as built).
. 1. 44 (After refit & renaming as Tjinegara1956)
. 2. 40 (after 1961 refurbishment).
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Toview a little life on this delightful ship
Enter this: Videoof life on board the passenger-cargo ship M.S. Straat Banka in 1964.
Concluding Photographs ofthe
Thewonderful
Awonderful photo of a fine classic Passenger-Cargo ship
Farewell Straat Banka, you were indeed a Good& Faithful Ship and Close to My Heart!
KPM & RIL INDEX:
M.S.Straat Banka … A luxury 48 passenger-cargo liner, and hersister.
StraatBanka 2 … Her 1952 & 1961 Deck Plans.
Part One … M.S. Boissevain,
Part Two … Their trooping years and their commercialyears - 1942 to 1968.
Part Three … Deck Plan, Brochures & Schedules, andMemorabilia.
…
... Two Grand Old Dames of the Sea.
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“Blue Water Linerssailing to the distant shores.
I watched them come, I watched them go, and I watched them die.”
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