| History | |
|---|---|
 Netherlands | |
| Name | Binnendijk |
| Owner | NASM |
| Operator | Holland America Line |
| Port of registry | Rotterdam |
| Builder | I.M. 'De Noord',Alblasserdam |
| Yard number | 131 |
| Launched | 30 June 1921 |
| Completed | 18 December 1921 |
| Maiden voyage | 24 December 1921 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | mined, 7 October 1939 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | NASM "B" class |
| Type | cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 6,873 GRT, 4,240 NRT, 9,939 DWT |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 54.3 ft (16.6 m) |
| Draught | 30 ft 2 in (9.19 m) |
| Depth | 36.6 ft (11.2 m) |
| Decks | 2 + shelter deck |
| Installed power | 648NHP, 3,000SHP |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 42 |
| Sensors & processing systems | wirelessdirection finding (by 1937) |
| Notes | one of a class of eightsister ships |
SSBinnendijk was aHolland America Line (NASM)cargosteamship. She was one of NASM's "B" class ships: the company's first cargo ships to be powered bysteam turbines.Binnendijk was built inSouth Holland in 1921, and sunk by amine in theEnglish Channel in 1939. She was the first ship that NASM lost in theSecond World War. Her wreck off the coast ofDorset,England is now awreck diving site, nicknamed "The Benny".
Some sources anglicise the ship's name toBinnendyk. However,Lloyd's Register always recorded her asBinnendijk.
Until 1920, every NASM cargo ship was propelled by a reciprocating steam engine; in most casestriple-expansion. However, in April of that yearC. van der Giessen & Zonen's shipyard inKrimpen aan den IJssellaid down the first of a class of new ships of about 6,850 GRT for NASM. Each member of the class was to be driven by twoBrown-Curtissteam turbines, driving a singlescrew viadouble-reduction gearing.
Van der Giessen launched the first ship in October 1920 asBurgerdijk, completed her in June 1921,[1] and went on to build three more members of the class.[2][3][4] Industrieële Maatschappij 'De Noord', on theNoord river inAlblasserdam built two,[5] including the final member of the class,Boschdijk, which was completed in October 1922.[6]Boele's Scheepswerven & Machinefabriek inBolnes in South Holland built one,[7] andMaatschappij voor Scheeps- en Werktuigbouw Fijenoord inRotterdam built one.[8]
'De Noord' builtBinnendijk, which was the third member of the class to be completed. She was yard number 131, and was launched on 30 June 1921.Harland & Wolff built her turbines, so she was towed from the Noord toBelfast,Ireland, where she arrived on 1 October for them to be installed. She was completed on 18 December.[5]
Her lengths were 416.3 ft (126.9 m)overall and 400.4 ft (122.0 m) registered. Her beam was 54.3 ft (16.6 m) and her depth was 36.6 ft (11.2 m). Hertonnages were 6,873 GRT, 4,240 NRT and 9,939 DWT. Her holds had capacity for 527,000 cu ft (14,900 m3) of grain, or 478,000 cu ft (13,500 m3) of baled cargo. She also had three berths forfirst class passengers.[5]
The combined power output ofBinnendijk's turbines was rated at 648NHP[9] or 3,000SHP. They gave her a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).[5]
NASMregisteredBinnendijk atRotterdam. Hercode letters were NHBK.[9] She began her maiden voyage on 24 December 1921.[5]
In December 1929Binnendijk was inPhiladelphia when she was seriously damaged by fire. She returned to Rotterdam for repairs.[5]
By 1934 thecall sign PDDB had supresededBinnendijk's code letters.[10] Also in 1934, her accommodation was increased to carry seven passengers.[5] By 1937 she was equipped with wirelessdirection finding.[11]
In September 1939Binnendijk leftNew York carrying general cargo, bound for Rotterdam.[12] On 7 October she was in the English Channel when the Royal Navy ordered her to put intoPortland Harbour to allow her cargo to be inspected for contraband. It was sunset, soBinnendijk'sMaster,Captain WPJ Morée, requested permission to anchor for the night near the Shambles Sandbank, offPortland Bill.[13]
A month earlier, on 8 September,U-26 had mined the area.[14] By 22:00 hrsBinnendijk had detonated a magnetic mine about2+1⁄2 nautical miles (4.6 km) southeast of the Shambles lightship. Captain Morée was on the bridge at the time. The explosion put her engines andwireless telegraph out of action, and she caught fire. Her crew fired rocketflares, which were answered. A British examination vessel came alongside and rescued all 42 members of her crew.[13]
The ship was burning from stem to stern when she sank the next day, at position50°32′N2°20′W / 50.533°N 2.333°W /50.533; -2.333, about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) north of the lightship.[13] Sources disagree as to whether she sank at 02:00[14] or 14:00 hrs.[12] On 10 October the Royal Navy used explosives to disperse her wreck.[12]
In 1930Blijdendijk's cargo caught fire in theGulf of Suez. She was declared aconstructive total loss, and towed toItaly to be scrapped.[2]
In 1940U-48 sankBurgerdijk[1] andU-47 sankBilderdijk.[4] In 1941Beemsterdijk was sunk by a mine, killing 39 of her crew.[8]Boschdijk was burnt out in theGerman invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, and towed to theBaltic in 1942, where theLuftwaffe sank her astarget practice.[6] Also in 1942,U-68 sankBreedijk, killing herMaster and a member of her crew.[7]
Blommersdijk was the only "B" class ship to survive the Second World War. In 1957 an Italian shipping company bought her and renamed herVivara. She was scrapped in 1959.[3]
Binnendijk's wreck is on Lulworth Banks at a depth of 75 to 89 feet (23 to 27 m). The wreck is now much broken up, but parts stand 23 to 26 feet (7 to 8 m) above the seabed. As of 2012, many of her frames and hull plates were still intact. The most intact part was the stern. Enough of herengine room was extant forpenetration diving. Parts of her cargo were still visible, including tyres, and copper wire. The wreck provides habitat forlobster,spider crabs,conger eel,pouting,pollock, andtompot blenny. The site is relatively sheltered by Portland Bill, but is near Portland Race, so can be subject to strong currents.[13]
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in October 1939 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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