SS Volendam
| History | |
|---|---|
 Netherlands
|
|
| Name: | Volendam |
| Namesake: | Volendam, the Netherlands |
| Owner: | Holland America Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Rotterdam
|
| Route: | North Atlantic service |
| Builder: | Harland and Wolff, Glasgow |
| Yard number: | 649 |
| Launched: | 6 July 1922 |
| Completed: | 12 October 1922 |
| Maiden voyage: | 4 November 1922 |
| Out of service: | 1951 |
| Fate: | Scrapped in 1952 at Hendrik Ido Ambacht |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | ocean liner |
| Tonnage: | |
| Length: | 575 ft (175 m) |
| Beam: | 67.3 ft (20.5 m) |
| Draught: | 45 ft 1 in (13.7 m) |
| Depth: | 32.6 ft (9.9 m) |
| Installed power: | 1,918 NHP |
| Propulsion: | 4 steam turbines driving 2 screws |
| Speed: | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1,899 passengers |
SS Volendam was a 15,434 GRT ton ocean liner operated by Holland America Line (Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij). She was built in 1922 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, in Govan, Glasgow. Her 15,450 GRT sister ship TSS Veendam was built by Harland & Wolff the following year. She operated on transatlantic routes between Europe and the USA, sailing the Rotterdam – New York and Rotterdam – Halifax (Nova Scotia) service.
Her overall length was 575 feet (175 m) and her beam was 67.3 feet (20.5 m). She had two funnels and two masts. Four steam turbines drove twin screws, giving her a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). Passenger accommodation was divided into three classes and initially configured as: 263 in First class, 436 in Second class and 1,200 in Third class. She was purchased by Holland America Line while under construction, and launched on 6 July 1922. Her maiden voyage started on 4 November 1922 sailing from Rotterdam to New York.
In May 1926 she was refitted to carry First, Second, Tourist and Third class passengers, and by April 1930 changed yet again to carry First, Tourist and Third class. Her last Rotterdam – New York voyage commenced 5 April 1940 therefore she managed to escape before the Netherlands was overrun and surrendered to the Germans May 1940.
She was among many Allied merchant ships who escaped to Britain rather than be interned in occupied countries in World War II. Together with Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam she served in the Allied cause. She was then chartered to the British Ministry of War Transport and put into service. Under the terms of the charter the flag and crew would remain Dutch.
Volendam was assigned to the Children's Overseas Reception Board, a British Government scheme introduced in 1940 to evacuate UK school children overseas.
She sailed from Liverpool on Thursday 29 August 1940 as one of 33 ships in Convoy OB 205. Her Master was Captain W.P. Wepster and she had a crew of 273. She carried 879 passengers: 320 children with their escorts and 286 other passengers. She was also the convoy Commodore ship with Admiral G.H. Knowles aboard.
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