Retro 73 Non-Sixth Boro B

Consider Anita  . . . 1971,

Camaro  . . . 1985, and 

Willem Alexander with a forward telescoping wheelhouse, and conclude that short sea shipping of containers has been alive and well for some time now on the Dutch and European waterways, aka the binnenvaart.

Deliver appears to be a semi-submersible barge, here

being pushed by Devotion and overtaken by de Prutser, which might translate as “the brat.”  Correct me here if you can.

Hudson, 1939, is the last pre-war ocean-going tugboat in the Netherlands.  Here’s a quote from the link in the vessel name:  “In May 1940 captain Ben Weltevreden, during the fourth journey of the Hudson, received the news that German troops invaded the Netherlands. Hudson did not return home, because of the German occupation. Throughout the Second World War, the Hudson directed by the Dutch government in exile, served the Allied cause. The tug and her crew have many feats to her name including towing a burning ammunition ship in the port of Algiers. In 1944, as part of the Normandy landings, the Hudson assisted creating an artificial harbor on the coast of Normandy, from where the Allied forces were supplied. In the same year she assisted in Operation Pluto; the construction of a pipeline under the channel for supply of fuel for the allied troops.”

If you can jet across the Atlantic today, you can still catch this event in Dordrecht NL for an event translated as “steam in Dordt,” a festival of mostly immaculately-restored steam vessels.  It happens there every second year, so if you don’t make it this year, make your plans for 2026.  All these photos were taken either there or on my way to the festival via river taxi.

Roma, 1982 and currently laid-up, is 200′ x 49′.

Sapura Topazio is a pipe/wire layer, appearing to be still under construction along the river.  She’s currently working in Brasil.

I like this low-profile steamer with a boiler exposed to the elements.  The sign at the base of the stack says Gebr. Beyer, translated as Beyer Brothers.    I’m not sure what the name of the vessel is.  Maybe someone can help.

With a similar design, Y8122 dates from 1937.

A few sixth boro tugboats resemble this pusher tug in 2014 known as Joop 1.  Can you name them?  Currently this 1981 boat goes by the name of Ultimo.  A major difference, though, is that at crew change time the car gets lifted off the boat onto the dock, and a vehicle of the new crew lifted aboard.

All photos, any errors, WVD, shot in Netherlands in May 2014.

Sixth boro tugs similar to Joop 1 would be J. Arnold Witte,  CMT Otter, Edna A, and Lucy H. none ever with a vehicular piggyback.

Dutch Tugs 1

I certainly saw great assist tugs like Triton, here steering a bulk carrier into the locks at Ijmuiden.  Click here for more Iskes tugs.

Louise van der Wees is less new.

Devotion is an Urk-based vessel working a mini-heavy lift unit.

But it was the sheer number of restored-to-operational-condition vintage tugs that impressed me, like the 1946 SS. Gebr. Bever.   If that link is in Dutch, you can switch languages at the bottom.

Ditto Roek, 1930.

Spes . . . 1946

Wouw

Citius

Wisent and many more.

Here’s another shot of Elbe (former Maryland Pilots vessel) being passed by Hercules 1915 . . .  and we end this installment with

a 1977 Hercules.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

Personal note:  Today I begin an extended gallivant in northern and western New York, the state.  I have many more Dutch photos, but my ability to post may be limited.