Oceaan history

Building number; 495 Oceaan (1916). 

Basic data: Built at Gusto Shipyard in Schiedam, The Netherlands. In the early 1930s, it was converted into a measuring vessel, carried out at the Welgelegen Shipyard in Harlingen.

Dimensions: Length 38.3 m; width 7.4 m; draft 3.3-3.9 (based on Van Veen, 1938a); 329 GRT of 2.83 m3.

Propulsion: Steam engine 750 hp; 10.5 knots.

In operation: Launched as Pilot Boat No. 14 in 1916. In 1928 by Rederij Doeksen used as steam tug/salvage ship Oceaan. In the period 1933–1935, the Oceaan was regularly chartered by Rijkswaterstaat as a recording vessel.

During the mobilization in connection with the approaching World War, the Royal Navy commissioned the Oceaan and in May 1940 it was sunk by the crew in the Bosgat near Ameland.

Name: Pilot boat no. 14, later (1928) renamed to steam tug Oceaan.

Background: The ship was originally set up for the English as a repair payment for a steam tugboat that was lost in the First World War. In 1919 the ship was sold to the Pilotage via Bureau Wijsmuller and purchased in 1928 by Rederij Doeksen to strengthen the fleet of salvage ships in the North Sea. At the time, a machine power of 750 hp was actually too little for salvage and rescue work in the North Sea. But "first come, first served"

During the years 1933, 1934 and 1935 the steam tug Oceaan was chartered by Rijkswaterstaat from Rederij Doeksen on Terschelling for several months. It was used for research in the North Sea, especially under the leadership of Engineer J. van Veen for sand movements, of course very important for the dynamics of the coast. In order to be able to drop the number of different devices and to be able to set up the measuring equipment, the ship was equipped with many davits and with a deckhouse on the stern.

Main expeditions: Van Veen's investigations with the Oceaan were groundbreaking at that time. His dissertation was given the predicate cum laude; according to his biography, his name was therefore definitively established. Van Veen also published in international literature. The work cited here is one of the few publications by Dutch authors that are quoted in the standard work The Oceans from 1942. With today's knowledge and insights, the conclusion that no sand transport takes place through the Calais Strait is not generally valid. In the event of a severe storm, more sand is moved than during long periods of calm weather. And with the Oceaan, during stormy weather, sand movements couldn't be measured.