Ship Handstamps

updated: 27 Oct 2014

• built in 1900 by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Amsterdam
• for KPM [thanks MF Hartkamp]
• 1,158 tons
• 1934 laid up
• 1936 scrapped at Singapore 

updated: 6 July 2015

• It seems that the name was spelt wrong on the ship and that it should have been F. Manuputty. [MF Hartkamp]
• seen in violet as a double oval handstamp applied to a pair of 10 cent KGVI stamps on a cover with no date stamps. The cover went from SINGAPORE to PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan which is the Indonesian part of Borneo. Strangely, the sender has inscribed it per 'SS Lamongan' so, it seems that the little ship was known by two names.

• 556 tons was built in Portland in 1946 by the Albina Engine & Machine Works as a standard US Army Freight & Supply ship. Acquired by KPM in 1948. In 1951 she was renamed the Lamongan. In 1958 she was sold to a Singapore company who renamed her and from then onwards she was sold and renamed numerous times.
• 181.1 (overall). 171. 2 (between perpendiculars) x 29.1 x 10.7 ft. (draught).
• 1946 Purchased and completed as F. Amnuputty for the Dutch Government
• 1948 Purchased by KPM, same name.
• 1951 Renamed Lamongan. [See the listing below for this ship.]
• 1958 Purchased by Heap Eng Moh SS Co., Ltd., Singapore; renamed Giang Bee. [Heap Eng Moh was associated with Soon Bee SS Co. Ltd. Both operated as the Red Funnel Line.]
• 1959 Renamed Kota Mas.
• 1964 Sold, renamed Hugo.
• 1965 Renamed Salto.
• 1966 Renamed Hugo.
• 1975 Sold, renamed King Petrel.
• 1979 Sold, renamed Iman.

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for additional information. [16 Oct. 2006]

updated: 3 Nov 2014

Click the image to see the full cover.
Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 1,329 tons built in 1950 by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam
• in 1959 she was sold to Cia. Naviera Extremo Oriente, Panama renamed Ancon

updated: 6 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• built in 1932 by Droogdok Mij. Soerabaja, Soerabaja
• for KPM [thanks MF Hartkamp]
• 409 tons
• 1943 March 1, capsized at Soerabaja during Japanese air raid
• 1943 raised by Japanese renamed Batak Go
• 1944 lost under Japanese flag

updated: 5 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship of 4,668 tons built in 1923 built by J. & K. Smit, Kinderdijk in the Netherlands. 
• Scrapped at Hong Kong in 1959.

updated: 6 July 2015

Image & information by compliments of MF Hartkamp

[The name is sometimes spelt SS BUIJSKES]

• built in October 1910 by Maatschappij Fijenoord N.V. - Rotterdam
• for KPM
• 1800 tons
• sunk 27 January1942 during an air raid by Japanese bombers at Padang

updated: 3 Nov 2014

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM passenger/cargo ship
• 2,776 tons built in 1904 by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Amsterdam
• from 1914 to 1918 she was in use by Dutch Navy, in 1937 she was laid up
• on 9 January 1942 she was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Java Sea

updated: 6 Nov 2014

• KPM ship
• 1,783 tons built by in 1912 by Maatschappij Fijenoord, Rotterdam
• in July 1942 she was sunk by Japanese submarine in the Mozambique Channel with 69 fatalities

updated: 6 July 2015

Image from Gaden Robinson

• Taken from an image of a cover franked with Dutch East Indies stamps mailed on board the ELOUT at Bandjermasin destined for Soerabaja. Thanks to H. A. Cartwright.
• A cargo liner built 1910, gross tonnage of 1797 tons, by Fijenoord, Rotterdam
• Built for KPM
• Could accommodate 14 first, 12 second class and 700 deck passengers.
• 28-01-1942 Bombed and sunk by Japanese plain at Emmahaven (Padang,Sumatra).
• The line is KPM
• The stamp is cancelled SABANG.
• seen in violet one line chop on a 1928 cover from Singapore to Samarinda, Indonesian Borneo bearing a 12 cent blue KGV.
• seen on eBay in black as a triple oval handstamp on the 1935 12 cent Silver Jubilee issue

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for identifying this chop, the photo & for the additional information. [17 Sept 2006]

updated: 3 Nov 2014

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 1,213 ton passenger/cargo ship built in 1929 by Haarlemsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Haarlem
• destroyed on 14 April 1944 at Bombay when the SS Fort Stikine exploded with the loss of 15 crew

updated: 6 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• built for KPM in October 1928 by NV Haarlemsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Haarlem
• in August 1956 she was sold for scarp to Hong Kong

updated: 6 July 2015

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Straight line markings

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Triple oval markings

• The Straits Steamship also had a Kampar but she was a steamship.
• Different cancellations (straight-line and oval, upper and lower case). This was not unusual, in a hurry the person applying the cancel used the first stamp that came to hand.

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for the images and the details above.

• KPM ship 
• 570 tons
• 1930 built by Int. Scheepsbouw Mij. De Maas, Slikkerveer, Rotterdam
• 1958 sold to Pacific Shipping Co., Singapore renamed Hai Soon
• 1965 sold to Indonesia not renamed, trace lost

updated: 7 July 2015

Left image from MF Hartkamp, right from H A Cartwright

• See a history on this website.
• Associated with the "Blue Funnel Line" (Ocean SS Co. Ltd.) [Cartwright, 3 May 2006]
• When bought by Zim Line, she was renamed Kedmah, which means "Eastbound" in Hebrew. [thanks MF Hartkamp]

updated: 3 May 2006

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for the images and the details below. [2 May 2006]

• Built: 1911 by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Greenock, Scotland
• Gross/net/reg.: 857/---/461.
• Built for Straits Steamship.
• 1953 Broken up

updated: 7 July 2015

Left image from Jan de Kort, right image from MF Hartkamp

• MAETSUIJCKER (1) was a 1,390 ton passenger ship built in 1890 by Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen for KPM. She went out of service in 1920 and then scrapped at Singapore in 1931.
• Named for Joan Maetsuijcker, Governor-General of Ceylon 1646-1650 and then of the Dutch-East Indies 1653-1678.

updated: 3 Nov 2014

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 537 tons built in 1929 by Internationale Scheepsbouw Mij. De Maas, Slikkerveer, Rotterdam
• in 1942 her crew scuttled her while at Tjilatjap
• she was re-floated by the by Japanese and renamed Kamikaze Maru
• in 1945 she was returned to KPM
• in 1955 was sold

updated: 7 July 2015

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Left image from John Wilson 21 May 2006, right image from author's collection

• The stamp is the KEVII 5 cent orange water marked multiple crown CA issued in 1909.
• Straits Steamship Company Limited had 2 ships named Malacca. This is the marking used on the MALACCA (1)
• Built: 1885. Gross/net/reg.: 653/---/405.
• Type: General cargo coaster with deck passengers.
• Shipbuilder: Ramage & Ferguson, Leith, Scotland. Yard Number: 59.
• Propulsion: Same. Single-screw steamer. COMP. 2-cyl. 28, 54 x 36 in. stroke. 125 NHP.
• Hull/Deck Design: Iron. 2-decker. 2 masts. F: 27 ft. (8.23 m). B: 64ft. (19.5 m). P: 41 ft. (12.5 m).
• Dimensions: 189.5 x 26.5 x 16.25 ft. (57.77 x 8.1 x 4.95 m).
• 1885 Built for Tan Beng Wan, Singapore.
• 29-05-1885 Registered at Singapore.
• 27-11-1885 Owned by Tan Beng Wan, Tan Keong Saik of Singapore and Tan Im Neo of Malacca.
• 03-02-1890 Sold to Straits Steamship.
• 18-08-1921 Sold to ship breakers at Singapore. Certificate returned and cancelled, registry closed.

Thanks to Harold Cartwright for correcting the listing and for supplying the information above. [2 May 2007]

updated: 7 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 536 tons built in 1929 by Internationale Scheepsbouw Mij. De Maas, Slikkerveer, Rotterdam
• on 6 March 1942 she was scuttled at Tjilatjap by her crew and then re-floated by the Japanese and renamed Hiyoshi Maru
• on 10 June 1944 she was sunk by a torpedo from a British submarine in Strait of Malacca

• Twin-screw passenger/cargo steamer.
• 3,458 tons built in 1913 for KPM by Maatschappij Fijenoord, Rotterdam.
• Named after the scholar and botanist Melchior Treub, a director of Java's famous botanical gardens at Buitenzorg (now Bogor) from 1880-1909.
• She became a hospital ship from 1943 to 1945 and was sent to scrap in 1948in Hong Kong.
• Seen on eBay in March 2006 "SS MELC..." in violet one line chop on a 6 cent Straits KGV ]

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for additional information. [19 Nov. 2006]

Can someone supply information confirming that this was actually used on the stamps of the Straits Settlements?

• 5,853 tons, built in 1928 by Cammell Laird & Co., Birkenhead
• she could carry 265 passengers and 3000 tons of cargo
• torpedoed by a German submarine on 30 March 1942 near Monrovia with the loss of20 crew and passengers however, 246 passengers and 82 crew survived.
• See the War Memorial Trust for an image and history

• a KPM ship
• 10,906 tons built in 1928 by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam
• Speed 15.5 knots, Length 160m and Width 19m, Crew of 200
• 123 first class and 50 third class passengers
• she was put on the regular service between Singapore, the Dutch East Indies and Australia. 
• Converted to a troop ship in 1940 able to accommodate 1,000 troops and she along with her Dutch crew were delivered to the Royal Navy. 
• She joined convoys sailing to the Middle East and Europe.
• She was involved in the invasion of North Africa, and on 11 November 1942 she was sunk by a German submarine off of Africa after delivering her troops.  (see here for a photo).

updated: 7 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• Built 02-1922 for KPM by: NV WERF “Conrad”, Haarlem
• Sold for demolishing to Hongkong: 03-1952
• Cancellation UNKNOWN, who can tell anything about the cancellation (country, name town, type of cancel)

updated: 7 July 2015

Two types
Images thanks to MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• SS Plancius (5,955 tons) was built in 1924 by the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Amsterdam KPM. She was was one of five passenger ships that were built for the line, the others were the SS Tasman, SS Bontekoe, SS Swartenhondt and SS Van der Wijck. 
• In WWII she served as a troop transport from 13-01-1942 until 02-03-1946 and participated in the evacuation of civilians from Singapore. She was eventually used as a submarine tender. 
• The SS Plancius was named for Petrus Plancius (1552–1622) who was a Dutch astronomer, cartographer and clergyman. 
• She was scrapped at Hong Kong in 1958.

updated: 8 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp
   

• KPM passenger ship
• 2,558 tons built in 1931 by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Amsterdam
• in 1942 she was  beached at Muntok after Japanese air raid
• in 1943 recovered by Japanese and renamed Myosho Maru
• in 1947 she was returned to KPM and become again the name SS REAEL
• scrapped at Hong Kong in 1959

updated: 8 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM cargo/passenger ship
• 1,693 tons built in 1908 by Maatschappij Fijenoord, Rotterdam
• in 1939 she was sold to Heap Eng Moh SS Co., Singapore and renamed HMS Giang Bee
• on 13 February 1942 she was sunk by Japanese aircraft in Strait of Banka

updated: 3 Nov 2014

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM cargo/passenger ship
• 2,298 tons built in 1929 by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij., Amsterdam
• she was scrapped at Hong Kong in 1956
  

updated: 5 July 2015

Image compliments of Bas van der Hoek

• The KPM ship Van Riebeeck (2,322 tons) built in 1902 in Amsterdam. Sunk by a Japanese submarine in Indian Ocean in 1942.

updated: 6 Nov 2014

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 345 tons built in 1911by Wilton's Scheepsw. and Machine Fabr., Rotterdam
• in 1932 she went to scrapped at Singapore

updated: 13 May 2008

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Image from the author's collection

• The letter after the "T" could be an "A", "E'" or maybe an "H"?
• Possibly TERESA, Steamship.
• Built: 1886. Gross/net/reg.: 1177/753/--- tons
• Shipbuilder: Grangemouth Dockyard Co., Grangemouth, Scotland. Yard
• 1886 Built for J. W. Adamson, London, England.
• 1888 Sold to Guthrie & Co., Singapore.
• 1888 Sold to Wee Bin & Co. (later became Ho Hong SS Co. Ltd.).
• 1888, Wee Bin ships were operating between Singapore and Bali, the Celebes, Moluccas, North Borneo and the Malay ports of Klang, Telok Anson and Port Dickson. To bring in hundreds of Chinese migrants, Wee Bin Line ran a ship three or four times a week from Swatow and Amoy, via Hong Kong, to Singapore.
• 1936 Broken up.

Thanks to H. A. Cartwright for the additional information. [1 May 2006]

updated: 3 August 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship 
• 2,071 tons, built in 1828 by Int. Scheepsbouw Mij. De Maas, Slikkerveer, Rotterdam
• in 1956 scrapped at Hong Kong

updated: 8 July 2015

Image compliments of MF Hartkamp

• KPM ship
• 872 tons built in 1930 by Burgerhout’s Machine Fabriek & Scheepswerf, Rotterdam
• in 1942 she was attacked by Japanese planes and beached and later purposely destroyed by a Dutch warship