THE ORANJESTAD PROPELLER
April 13, 2009
Today was a historical day for Percy Sweetnam and his divers (Dick de Bruin; Toine van der Klooster; Rigo Hoencamp; Andre Loonstra and Paulus Martijn). According to Percy the propeller will be lifted and brought ashore in two phases. Today they successfully accomplished their first goal/phase by lifting the propeller from a depth of 225 feet. Subsequently, they towed it (hung from an airbag) and placed it at a depth of 40 feet just west of the Indian Head. That's where it will remain until this Saturday ready for phase II.
The divers all met at 8:00am at the fishermen's hut just west of the old Esso Club and after all preparations were done they left in a boat with the name of Torpedo (what a coincidence) at 9:30am.
After some hard work and strong current, I understand, they got the anchor at the Indian Head around 12:15pm and got to shore at 12:45pm. You people should have been there to join the happy faces in the Torpedo. It was a great moment for everyone on the pier, including a small crowd who are camping in the vicinity of the club.
I am not going to send you all the details because at that moment I didn't find it appropriate to ask questions. But Percy and his divers will be at the Reunion meeting on June 23rd with photos, films, etc. Mr. Dick de Bruin did some beautiful filming during the operation at 225 feet today.
On Saturday, April 18th, Percy and his divers will again lift it and tow to Savaneta and they are determined to lift it with a crane and put it on shore very close to the Brisas del Mar Bar/Restaurant, a place we call Caņon. Percy told me that his goal is to have it placed as a memorial in the Lago Colony close to where it all happened in memory of all those who gave up their lives during WWII. I again suggested to Percy that the best place would be on the hill close to the Cocoa Beach. I am sure it will be a super tourist attraction.
We will invite the media/press and everyone to come watch this historical moment on Saturday as it will remind everyone living in Aruba as what could have happened to Lago and Aruba on that early morning (3:31am) of February 16, 1942. In addition to that the memorial will teach our future generations the history of Aruba because only a handful of people are breaking their heads to try to document this. Mr. Dick de Bruin told me that he is going to write a book on this, an excellent idea.
Dufi Kock
THE PHOTOS SENT BY DUFI KOCK
Babu, the man in black with the cap and hand in pocket, is the reporter from Telearuba.  He is the man who did the TV interview for the dive.
Aruba Coast Guard boat who assisted in the dive.
Coast Guard return to shore with some of the divers.
Diver at the end of the pier dresses for the dive.  The Lake Tanker ORANJESTAD sank in 225 feet of water after being torpedoed by U-156.
This is the dive team: ffrom left to right: DICK DE BRUIN; PERCY SWEETNAM; TOINE VAN DEN KLOOSTER; RIGO HOENCAMP; ANDRE LOONSTRA; and PAULUS MARTIJN. The photo provided by Andre Loonstra.
Now the dive team with Dufi, third from left, first row and these are the divers before the dive.
The divers are off, Good Luck.
A very happy bunch of divers after the dive.
Some of the tanks used for the dive.  Orange marker was used to mark the spot.
Boat used for the dive along with Coast Guard boat.  They used the Torpedo to retrieve the propeller from the torpedoed Lake Tanker.
The Torpedo is loaded and leaves the dock for the historic dive. 

Babu, in the black shirt, back to camera, is the Telearuba's interviewer and Albino Tromp (the cameraman) also went with the divers in the boat.  They  filmed the whole process and Babu also took some photos while they were doing the lifting.
The divers are back safe and sound, mission accomplished!  What a great moment.
The ORANJESTAD propeller after it is lifted off the bottom.  This photo, with Mr. Paulus Martijn behind the propeller, was taken after the propeller was raised from 225 feet of water and set on the sand in 40 feet of water, pending moving it to another location and its removal from the sea by a crane.  The propeller was lifted from the sea bottom by use of an inflatable air bag.  The photo was given to Dufi by Mr. Andre Loonstra.
PHOTO OF PROPELLERS ON SISTER SHIP
This is a photo of the Pedernales a similar ship to the Oranjestad showing the ship under construction.  This gives you a good idea of what the Propellers of the ship look like.
This photo from Auke Visser's website:  http://www.aukevisser.nl/others/id144.htm
JUST RECEIVED
April 15, 2009
Link of video of first dive to Oranjestad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y6jivE-hac
Hi Dan, I am forwarding you this email I sent to Dufi. The link is to the first video we made on the Oranjestad. We also have video of the actual lift that you will get as soon as we can get it posted on YouTube. I want to make sure that all the people and companies that helped make this possible through either donated services, actual helping, financial assistance, or whatever means get properly thanked and recognized for their part in making this possible. we will make a list of all involved so they can get due credit.
regards
Andre Loonstra (recovery team member)
Aruba Scuba Center
THIS WAS ALSO RECEIVED FROM DUFI TODAY
Percy called me around 3 o'clock this afternoon and told me that he and a couple of his divers are going to move the propeller closer to the entrance at Savaneta. Reason was that it was a good opportunity since there were no ships tied up at the reef berth.
It is now 10:00pm and Percy just got home and called me to let me know that the propeller is inside the lagoon at Savaneta, near his waterfront house. He is now working to get a crane to lift it up on Saturday.
Dick de Bruin and Andre Loonstra are working on a press release.
Dick told me that one of the divers, Mr. Rigo Hoencamp is returning to Holland tomorrow because of his work responsibilities. It's a pity that he will not be here on Saturday, but we are happy that he did something great for Aruba, especially as far as our history is concerned.

We hereby take the opportunity to thank him and tell him "see you later amigo". We wish him all the best and hope that he will be back in Aruba shortly to see the monument in the Lago Colony.
PHASE II
Scheduled for April 18, 2009
Phase II, scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, is to bring the propeller ashore. Percy and his divers will again lift it, using an air bag, tow it to Savaneta where it will be lifted from the water with crane.  This should be on the shore very close to the Brisas del Mar Bar/Restaurant, a place known as Caņon. Percy has told Dufi that his goal is to have the propeller placed as a memorial in what was Lago Colony, close to where it all happened.  It will serve as a memory of all those who lived in Aruba and gave up their lives during WW-II.
As I receive photos from phase II and if the divers release any of the photos of the ORANJESTAD on the bottom; I will post them on this web site as soon as they are received.

I would like to say to all those who took part in this operation, congratulations, job well done. Dan Jensen
PRESS RELEASE FROM ARUBA
April 16, 2009
CLICK HERE TO SEE THAT PRESS RELEASE

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE DIVE

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT PHASE II

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE FIRST DIVE ON THE ORANJESTAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y6jivE-hac

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE LIFTING OF THE PROPELLER FROM THE BOTTOM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_r05tYV644

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE LIFTING OF THE PROPELLER FROM THE SEA TO LAND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A2oTHozsds

SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE EVENT

CLICK ON EACH SHOW TO SPEED UP THE SHOW, TIMED FOR 8 SECONDS PER SLIDE

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEMORIAL

RETURN TO THE ORANJSTEAD PROPELLER DIRECTORY