Willem Ruys, Liners No 01

Ordered in 1938 to replace the aging ships on the Dutch East Indies route, her keel was laid in 1939 at De Schelde shipyard in Flushing, Netherlands, for Rotterdamsche Lloyd Interrupted by World War II and two bombing raids, the liner finally departed for her maiden voyage on 2 December 1947, as 'Willem Ruys'.