Dutch Houseflags of Shipping Companies [r]

Last modified: 2006-11-04 by jarig bakker
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• RASM
• Reederij op de Lek
• Reinplus Van Woerden
• Rensen Shipbuilding
• Van Riemsdijk
• Rotterdam-London
• Ruycontrans
• Rijnaarde

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• Houseflags of Shipping Companies

RASM

Rotterdamsche Algemeene Stoomvaart Maatschappij, Rotterdam - red flag, white diamond, black "RASM".
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 1 Jan 2005

Reederij op de Lek

What was to become ‘Reederij op de Lek’ aka ‘Stoomboot-Rederij op de Lek’ (i.e. Steam Shipping Co. on the River Lek) was founded in 1857, the Lek being one of the many rivers leading up to Rotterdam. A number of local shipowners, among them J.H. von Santen, joined forces to provide a waterbound transport service (persons and goods) between Rotterdam and Schoonhoven, located upriver. Animals were shipped, too - cows were milked on board!

At first the Schoonhoven-Rotterdam run and back was offered, later Dordrecht (on the Oude Maas) and Culemborg (on the Lek) became additional destinations.  Six boats were operated in 1879 (‘Stoombootdienst - i.e. Steamboat Service - op de Lek'); the name ‘NV Stoomboot-Reederij op de Lek’ was adopted in 1896. Gradually, paddle steamers were replaced by screw-driven ones.

A competitor, 'NV Stoombootdienst op de Lek', founded in 1903 and based at Schoonhoven, was taken over in 1912 adding, for instance, a vessel to the fleet exclusively dedicated to transport of passengers.  In 1935 the company took over ‘Stoomboot-Reederij Fop Smit & Co.’, adding the Rotterdam - Dordrecht - Gorinchem route but leaving the last lap (Gorinchem is on the Waal)  to road transport. Only one paddle steamer and one screw-driven vessel were left in 1947.  The last boat trip was on 29 February 1948, the company discontinuing the service one day later (excursions being an exception, ending in 1950) and operating lorries and passenger coaches (buses) from then on till the end in 1973.

An important source located by Jarig (text by Arie Alblas, see end of message) gives detailed information on the many flags used (apart from the Dutch flag at the stern, that is). On the first mast was flown a red pennant with the words ‘REEDERIJ o/d LEK’ whereas the starboard crane had a white rectangular flag with the abbreviation ‘S.R. o/d L’ in black letters.

Ships with the name ‘Reederij op de Lek [number]’ used specific flags. No. 1 had no crane but in the corresponding position flew the flag of Rotterdam (horizontally divided green-white-green) or Culemborg (now horizontally divided yellow above red; author mentions rather more stripes “red-yellow’). No. 2 flew the flag of Schoonhoven (not the lions of today but “red-black” in several “thin stripes”) and the flag of Rotterdam after taking No. 3’s place and flag.  No. 4 flew Culemborg (as above), Nos. 5 and 6, Schoonhoven (same).

An orange flag flown on the quarterdeck is mentioned but was probably only hoisted on national holidays or royal birthdays.  When a club, town or the like hired a vessel its own flag was often used (author mentions pictures of Frisian and Amsterdam flags, even the S.D.A.P. i.e. social democratic workers’ party).  See also photos on last site mentioned (end of message): they are unclear, but give an idea.
Sources: http://www.scheepsbouw-alblasserdam.nl/reederij_op_de_lek.htm (text © 2006 Cees van Homoet), http://www.xs4all.nl/~nieko/srodl.htm (text © Arie Alblas March 2005), historical society "A.W.K. Voet van Oudheusden", “Culemborg zoals het was”.
Jan Mertens, 18 Oct 2006

Reederij op de Lek - white flag

Reinplus Van Woerden

This bunkering service, Reinplus Van Woerden Bunker B.V. was the result of a 1994 merger between Reinplus Bunker GmbH (Wiesbaden, Germany) and Rotterdam-based companies Petroplus Marine BV and Van Woerden BV.  This fact and others gleaned from the company website (select GPRS/UMTS).

As mentioned in a source encountered before:
Rotterdam-based Rijnplus van Woerden has a share between 10% and 20% of the Dutch bunkering market, having five stations in all and offering (mainly) Esso brands to inland navigation. Other services include analyzing oil and drinking water

Apart from the bunkering stations, stationary of course, bunkering boats are active.  Germany has seven stations, and probably boats as well.  To end, a map on the site mentions Belgium (Antwerp), Switzerland (Basel) and Austria (Vienna).

The photo gallery (‘Fotogalerie’ in the ‘REINPLUS Info' section) shows the house flag on various stations and boats.  It was recently offered on German eBay (closed 16 April 2006, item no. 6620098767). Dimensions given as 95 by 150 cm.

On a white field are placed, in the upper hoist, the company logo (three red waves of unequal length, on the right end of the logo a white ‘+’ sign appearing on the top and middle wave) and in the lower fly, the name REINPLUS / VAN WOERDEN / BUNKER in green italic letters without serifs.  The waves are right-aligned, the words are left-aligned.
Jan Mertens, 31 May 2006

Rensen Shipbuilding

One of the flags seen on the Verbeke Bunkering vessel inauguration photoshoot is white with a green logo (for background, see message of 1 June 2006).  See ‘Photos’: page 5, sixth row (picture 4) and last or seventh row (picture 2).

Site of the company in question, Rensen Shipbuilding established at Zwijndrecht – the Dutch one, not the Belgian – on the Nieuwe Maas River opposite Dordrecht:
As explained in the introduction, Rensen – founded by George Rensen - has been building inland navigation vessels for a quarter of a century now totalling more than 250 units.   So-called casco’s or hulls are built in Romania, Russia, Poland, etc. and Rensen equips them be it tankers, bulk ships, or other kinds.

Buying and selling vessels, or counselling in that respect, is another or Rensen’s activities.  This includes selling off vessels traded in when having a new one built.   A separate firm, Rensen-Driessen Scheepsmakelaardij, takes care of this part of the business.

Lastly, since 2004 the firm also develops projects and designs ships, specializing in units up to 15000 dwt but under the name of  Rensen Seatrade BV.  See English version of separate pages. (The company logo in this last source is blue but there is only the trace of the flag with a green one, so let us be content with that for the moment.)

The logo is placed on a white flag above the company name ‘RENSEN’ in bold black serifed letters; suggesting the bow of a ship, the left part of the logo is linked to a stylized initial ‘R’ (white dots represent the ‘opening’ of the R).  The foot of the logo is rendered sinuously, suggesting waves.
The Rensen enterprise was probably founded in 1980 according to this press-release.
Jan Mertens, 3 Jul 2006

Van Riemsdijk

A name which crops up now and then in “Duwvaart” by Jansen & Van Heck is “Van Riemsdijk”, accompanied by different initials indicating members of a family active in push navigation, at least when the book was published i.e. 1988.

As usual a b/w picture of the house flag is given, to be found under “Eurobulk” (pp. 32-36) in above book.  It is described (additions by me, jm) as being yellow with (a broad horizontal) blue stripe and a white monogram ‘VR’ (in the middle).    According to the picture, the stripes are arranged 1:2:1 and the ‘R’ is wide enough to tuck a much smaller ‘V’ under it.

To give an idea, have a look at these funnels showing the monogram on this site.
Base of operations of this family, whose members seem to have had their own ships, was Rotterdam.
Jan Mertens, 11 Apr 2006

Rotterdam-London

Rotterdam-London Stoomvaart Maatschappij, Rotterdam - blue flag, white castle (?)
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign Steamship Companies, compiled by F.J.N. Wedge, Glasgow, 1926 [wed26]
Jarig Bakker, 27 January 2005

Ruycontrans

Ruycontrans BV is established at Werkendam on the Boven Merwede River. Described in various commercial internet directories as a freighting and (container) transportation firm, it has a modest web presence, mentioning a Mr Ruytenberg who may well have given his name to the firm. And showing the flag: red with a large blue diamond touching the edges and a large yellow initial ‘R’, serifed, on the diamond.
Jan Mertens, 5 Jul 2006

Rijnaarde

Rijnaarde BV is a young firm – founded 2003 – active in inland and maritime freighting, lcoated at Beuningen which is situated immediately to the West of Nijmegen, almost on the River Waal (as the Rhine is called once it has crossed the Dutch-German border).  Company website.

Two experienced owners – names not given, nor those of the firm they once worked for and finally took over – lead Rijnaarde.  In an area covering the Benelux countries, France, Germany, and Switzerland, shipments are arranged for a fleet of 25 private barges.  In addition there are freighting services concerning sea-going transport and transhipments.   Lastly, Rijnaarde is a construction material supplier.

Above shipments consist of bulk goods, of which wood and sand, gravel and the like are highlighted on the site.  Intermodal transport (seamless integration of different means of transportation) is very important to Rijnaarde.

The photos (“Foto’s”) on the site are very instructive – as they should be – and the first one very fittingly shows the house flag: yellow, bearing the firm’s logo: a light blue disk partially covered by three dark blue waves – frimbriated white – and large dark blue letters ‘RIJNAARDE’ to the right of it.  Logo and name cover about one fourth of the flag’s surface and they seem to be placed on the flag’s horizontal median line instead of in the centre.
(A few other pictures also show this flag, and Amer Shipping makes a guest appearance.)

Just the right kind of flag to brighten up a sombre day in May!
Jan Mertens, 25 May 2006