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It is back at its old workplace – where it worked in clouds of steam until the 1970s. On 15 October, the fully restored steam crane ‘number 38’ was unveiled amid great interest and festivities by historian Maarten van Rossem. The historic crane is back at its old spot, the former Schelde terrain, and even stands on an original piece of railway track that used to run across the shipyard. Wesley Sekewael is extremely proud. For six years, this man from Vlissingen and his Steam Crane Schelde 38 Foundation have been working towards this moment.
Here is the story so far: Wesley saved the crane from demolition and with great patience and dedication has put it back together again, piece by piece, with the help of a large group of enthusiastic volunteers. Friday 15 October was the highpoint of this long-running rescue operation. The fully restored steam-powered hoisting crane, including the engine house, was unveiled amid a concert of steam whistles by Maarten van Rossem. The Dutch historian and TV personality is patron of the steam crane.
The historic crane stands on an original piece of railway track that used to run across the shipyard.
Prior to the unveiling, Wesley and Maarten van Rossem each gave a speech in the Machinefabriek, where over two hundred guests had gathered. Steam crane number 38 and its sister crane number 39 were both once built in the Machinefabriek. Before the speeches, scouts had opened the Machinefabriek’s magnificent rolling doors and Wesley gave the signal to sound the ship’s horn of the Nieuw-Amsterdam, which he had brought to Vlissingen especially for the occasion. This is the largest ship’s horn in the Netherlands, although not from a ship built by De Schelde, but the steam boilers of the New Amsterdam did come from De Schelde.
“The steam cranes number 38 and number 39 are the only remaining ones that were designed, built and used in our country. We have to treasure them.” Wesley Sekewael
During his speech, Maarten van Rossem told the audience that the steam engine was the most important invention in ten thousand years of human history. After all, as the historian explained, it was thanks to the steam engine that the Industrial Revolution could take place, to which we owe our prosperity. In his speech, Wesley recalled that the refurbished crane had returned to the De Schelde site for the first time since 1975.
The historic crane is now on display behind the Scheldewerf museum, which is housed in the Oude Verbandkamer. It was a special moment for the city of Vlissingen and its inhabitants, because, as Wesley said, crane number 38 has a special place in the hearts of many inhabitants of Vlissingen. “There are even many former employees of the shipyard who can still remember the crane.” Wesley mentioned several families who have played a major role in the history of De Schelde, including the Mulock Houwer family. It was Technical Director Mulock Houwer who designed the steam crane in the seventies.
The crane was unveiled in a hurricane of roaring steam whistles.
His daughters were present at the unveiling, as was former crane driver Jan Bommeljé. After the programme in the Machinefabriek had finished, the group went outside, where the crane was ready to be unveiled. The boom, still in horizontal position, was hoisted up, whereupon Maarten van Rossem officially unveiled the crane in a hurricane of roaring steam whistles. One of those steam whistles was a seldom-heard, monotonous Steven & Struthers steam siren.
Wesley looks back on a successful event. The steam crane is an important piece of industrial heritage, he emphasises. “The steam cranes number 38 and number 39 are the only remaining ones that were designed, built and used in our country. Moreover, both cranes are a national railway monument. We have to treasure them.” He calls the revival of crane number 38 “a unique event”. “De Schelde not only built ships but also a lot of machines and equipment. It is nice that both categories now form a monument in the form of a real ‘Schelde’ product.”
“I am talking about crane number 38 as a symbol of mechanical engineering and the former ferry Koningin Emma as a reminder of shipbuilding heritage. Our project would never have succeeded without the help of a large group of enthusiastic volunteers.” Wesley is also grateful to Damen Naval. “Thanks to Damen’s efforts, we were able to outsource, among other things, the heavy construction work that needed to be done on the crane’s central frame to Damen specialists at no cost.”