MV Philips Wouwerman

The ship was built in 1942 by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow. Launched on 21 December, she was yard number 689.[1]

The ship was 418 feet 0 inches (127.41 m) long, with a beam of 57 feet 4 inches (17.48 m). She had a depth of 34 feet 2 inches (10.41 m), and a draught of 27 ft 6+1⁄2 in (8.395 m).[2] She was assessed at 7,089 GRT, 4,181 NRT. Her DWT was 10,081.[1]

The ship was powered by two 687 nhp 2-stroke, Single Cycle Single Action diesel engines, which had four cylinders of 23+5⁄8 inches (60 cm) bore by 91+5⁄16 inches (231.9 cm) stroke. The engines were built by Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow.[3]

Empire Courage was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168753 and the Code Letters BFDJ. Her port of registry was Glasgow and she was operated under the management of P Henderson & Co Ltd.[2] She was transferred to the Dutch Government on 23 February 1943 and renamed Philips Wouwerman.[4] Her port of registry was The Hague and the Code Letters PCPG were allocated.[4] She was operated under the management of the Netherland Shipping & Trading Committee Ltd.[3]

Philips Wouwerman departed from the Clyde on 26 March 1943,[5] joining Convoy OS 45, which had departed from Liverpool, Lancashire on 24 March and arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 14 April. She was carrying general cargo.[6] She joined Convoy NC 10, which departed Walvis Bay, South West Africa on 29 April and arrived at Cape Town, South Africa.[7]Philips Wouwerman then joined Convoy CD 17, which departed Cape Town on 7 May and arrived at Durban on 12 May.[8] she then joined Convoy DN 40, which departed Durban on 19 May and dispersed at sea on 21 May.[9]

Philips Wouwerman was a member of Convoy MB 61, which departed Colombo, Ceylon on 10 January 1944 and arrived at Bombay, India on 15 January.[10] She was a member of Convoy SL 154, which departed Freetown on 1 April and merged with Convoy MKS 45 at sea on 11 April.[11] The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 23 April.[12] Philips Wouwerman was carrying a cargo of wheat.[11] She left the convoy at Loch Eweon 23 April, joining Convoy WN 574, which departed that day and arrived at Methil, Fife on 25 April.[13]

Philips Wouwerman was a member of Convoy OS 80 km which departed from Liverpool on 11 June and split at sea on 21 June.[14] She was in the portion of the convoy which became Convoy KMS 54G and arrived at Gibraltar on 23 June.[15] Philips Wouwerman then joined Convoy KMS 54, which departed Gibraltar that day and arrived at Port Said, Egypt on 3 July.[16] She was carrying general cargo.[14]

Philips Wouwerman was a member of Convoy HX 325, which departed New York, United States on 9 December and arrived at Liverpool on 23 December. She was carrying explosives and general cargo.[17]

Philips Wouwerman was a member of Convoy ON 284, which departed from Southend, Essex on 10 February 1945 and arrived at New York on 1 March. She was fitted with anti-torpedo nets.[18] Philips Wouwerman returned to the United Kingdom with Convoy HX 345, which departed New York on 19 March and arrived at Liverpool on 2 April. She was carrying general cargo.[19] She then sailed to Southend to join Convoy TAM 128, which departed on 4 April and arrived at Antwerp, Belgium on 5 April.[20] She returned with Convoy ATM 122, which departed Antwerp on 12 April and arrived at Southend that day.[21] She then made a voyage to Rotterdam, Netherlands with a cargo of foodstuff.[22] Her final convoy of the war was Convoy ON 298, which departed Southend on 21 April and arrived at New York on 7 May.[23]

On 4 December 1947, she was sold to NV Stoomscheep Maatschappij Nederland and renamed Ceram. On 17 April 1953,[4] she was sold to Amsterdam NV Reederij, Amsterdam and was renamed Amsteltoren.[24] In September that year, she was renamed Amstelbrug. In May 1959,[4] she was sold to Compagnia Navigazione Alameda SA, Greece and was renamed Armathia. In 1965, she was sold to Velamar Compagnia Navigazione, Greece and was renamed Calliman.[24] With the introduction of IMO Numbers in the 1960s, Calliman was allocated the number 502468. She served until 1968, arriving on 1 April at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping.[4]

• Photo of Amstelbrug
• Blog giving details of engine (in Dutch)