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267 days ago
After having listened to the many stories that are being told about M.S. Antilla and her crew I decided to do some research on this vessel, initially through internet sources and later on through The Dutch National Archive. I have tried to separate facts from fiction and found out about the real story. M.S. Antilla (international code signal DKBA) was built in 1939 by Deutsche Werft in the Finkenwarder area of Hamburg. She was launched on 21 March 1939 and her date of completion was 11 July 1939. The ship (121,4 mtrs/ 400ft, 4363 tons) was built for the German firm Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft (HAPAG). (M.S. Antilla) On 10 May 1940 German forces invaded The Netherlands. At that time the M.S. Antilla was anchored in front of Malmok Beach (Aruba). As the German invasion was considered an act of war the Dutch government ordered all German merchant ships in the Dutch Antilles to be confiscated and the German crews ...314 days ago
In the early morning hours of February 16, 1942 war reached the shores of Aruba, delivered by the German U boat U-156. With the detonation of the first torpedo the idea that the war might leave Aruba undisturbed was literally blown to pieces. The first victim was the Lake tanker Pedernales and more tankers would follow that night. In total 52 people (including a German submariner and four Dutch marines) lost their lives and five tankers in the region were sunk or damaged by several U-boats. The Pedernales however, despite the fact she was heavily damaged, was repaired and eventually returned to service, she more or less rose from the ashes. So when you dive the mid-section of the Pedernales you actually dive the remnants of the Phoenix of Aruba. On January 19, 1942 the German type IX-C (long range) U-boat U-156 commanded by the 33-year old Kapitanleutnant (commander) Werner Hartenstein left the concrete bunkers of Lorient (France) for its second war patrol and set course for ...512 days ago
She's in front of the High Rise area, she's not visited often, she's German and she always has to compete with her larger, older and more popular countrywoman Antilla and therefore you could think of her as the Cinderella of the Aruban shipwrecks. Her name: Star Gerren. The Star Gerren was built at J.L. Meyer Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and launched on September 22, 1965. The 499 tons cargoship measures 73.49 mtrs/245 ft in length and was named Santa Maria. The first owners were Hermann & Engelbert Lohmann from Haren in Germany. Between 1965 and 1994 she changed owners four times and from 1985 she was named Anna Maria. In 1991 her name was changed back to Santa Maria again. Between 1965 and 1994 she sailed under German, Singaporean and Honduran flag. In 1994 the Santa Maria was sold to the Valeron Corporation N.V in Curacao. She was renamed Star Gerren and registered at home port Belize City, Belize. (courtesy of F.J. Olinga-Delfzijl) ...554 days ago
Aruba is well known for its wrecks, more in particular the World War II wrecks of the German freighter Antilla and the Lake tanker Pedernales. Another illusive wreck however is the wreck of the coaster Jane Sea. When divers approach the wreck her almost sinister shape is rising above the divers and a comparison with the bow of the Titanic is often made. Her location and date of sinking are well known but her previous history is a mystery to many. Did you know the Jane Sea was built in Holland and wasn't named Jane Sea from the beginning? Time to take a closer look. (Jane Sea ) (courtesy of chemicalmankingsdown) The 749 tons and 57 mtrs/190 ft long cargo ship was launched on December 30, 1959, from Westerbroek SW shipyard in Westerbroek in the North of Holland and was named Blackthorn . Her date of completion was March 1960. The Blackthorn sailed in British waters under the UK flag and was owned by the firm S. William Coe. & Co. Ltd. . ...625 days ago
Stories and wrecks unknown to the general public because they are forgotten by most people are the best. This is such a story about a forgotten wreck near Aruba, the hunt for German freighters, how one of them deceived the hunters and the ultimate act of a captain. On the 31st of August 1939 HAPAG (Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Actien Gesellschaft) vessel TROJA (built in 1922 by Howaldtswerke at Kiel, lenght 309 ft. 2390 brt. Int. code signal DHYB) and the CONSUL HORN, a German cargo and passenger ship owned by the shipping company Horn (built in 1904 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast, lenght 453 ft. 8384 brt, Int. code signal DHIY), arrive in the harbor of San Nicolas, Aruba. One day later the HAPAG freighters HEIDELBERG (built in 1925 by Vulcanwerke at Hamburg, length 450 ft. 6530 brt Int. code signal DCIB) and ANTILLA (built 1939, 4363 brt) also moor in San Nicolas harbor. That same day Germany invades Poland. ( note:I have not been able to establish a connection ...
