Last voyage for Dutch captain

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33027, 21 September 1972, Page 17

Last voyage for Dutch captain

Captain Cornelis Bruin, of Rotterdam, who commands the Nedlloyd Lines* four-year-old Japanese-built cargo liner, Neder Lek, will retire at the end of this trip. In doing so. Captain Bruin, aged 54, who has been visiting New Zealand for the last 11 years in various ships, will be one of the youngest British or foreign shipmasters to retire in this trade—and he has no option. At Lyttelton yesterday, Captain Bruin said he began his seafaring career as a cadet aboard the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd’s vessel, Kertosono, which took him to the Netherlands East Indies. He was so impressed by his first trip to that

country that he still has a soft spot for Indonesia and its people. Although the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd lost its identity in an amalgamation, men of his period who served in the company were obliged to retire at 55. Captain Bruin will be 55 in November. Most other officers in the Nedlloyd group retire about 58 or 60, he said. Aboard the Neder Lek at present is Mrs Truus Bruin, who is making her second voyage to New Zealand with her husband.

From 1939 to 1945, Captain Bruin was in the Netherlands under German occupation and experienced the heavy bombing of Rotterdam early in the war. He was employed as a clerk in the Rations Bureau, but, like many other Dutchmen, conveniently disappeared from time to time to escape being sent to Germany. He resumed sea service late in 1945, after a long journey to Seattle, where he joined the Kota Agoeng as third officer.

In 1956 he was appointed master of the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd’s Tomini. On the New Zealand run he has commanded the Mataram, Marne Lloyd, Schelde Lloyd, Musi Lloyd, Leuve Lloyd, and Loire Lloyd, besides his present and last command. Captain Bruin has explored much of New Zealand, and, with Mrs Bruin, he has visited such places as Hanmer Springs and Queenstown. Upon retirement to their home in Rotterdam, where they have a 14-year-old son, they will have plenty to do. As vice-president of the Master Mariners’ Association of the Netherlands, Captain Bruin will be active for the good of Dutch merchant service officers. He is also fond of gardening (there were several pot plants in his cabin yesterday), and handiwork about the home. Captain and Mrs Bruin speak German and French, besides English, fairly fluently. Aboard ship, Mrs Bruin sews, reads, plays cards with her husband, and finds plenty to do. Captain Bruin said that redundancy was a problem with Dutch shipping, as elsewhere. Promotion was slow and command was a long way off for many because of changing shipping patterns. His command, the 9627-ton Neder Lek, is one of the most modern ships to visit Lyttelton. ARRIVALS Wanaka (6.28 a.m.), 2769, Capt. M. B. Deane, Dunedin (U.S.S.). Holmlea (8.18 a.m.), 1106, Capt. G. L. Porter. Wellington (U.S.S.). Maori (10.15 p.m.), 7490, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). (Daylight.) DEPARTURES Tarawera (2.8 p.m.), 2013, Capt. H. O. T. Fuller, Melbourne (U.S.S.). Wanaka (3.10 p.m.), 2769, Capt. M. B. Deane, Auckland (U.S.S.). Holmlea (4.1 p.m.), 1106, Capt. G. L. Porter, Wellington (U.S.S.). Port Chalmers (4.18 p.m.), 16,283, Capt. R. A. Wright, Liverpool (Blueport). Hamburg Maru (4.35 p.m.), 8807, Capt. S. Satake, Timaru (Seatrans). Straat Chatham (4.45 p.m.), 7544, Capt. H. Buth, Tauranga (Guthrey). Awanui (4.50 p.m.), 1185, Capt. P. J. Dare, Wanganui (N.S.S.). Neder Lek (6.16 p.m.), 9627, Capt. C. Bruin, Bluff (Guthrey).

EXPECTED ARRIVALS Maori, Wellington, today. Holmlea, Wellington, September 22. Hawea, Dunedin, September 22. Belita, Ocean Island, September 24. Larisa Reysner, Auckland, Sep-

tember 25. Wanaka, Auckland, September 25.