Hello Theo,

I think it concerns a coal loading device. This also explains why it is not in Hans's vessel database.

I do not have the SSM book. But I found a reference to bunker machines: Hugo van Driel en Ferry de Goey, Rotterdam Cargo Handling Technology 1870-2000 (Walburg Pers/Stichting Historie der Techniek, Eindhoven 2000)ISBN 90-5730-145-8
Source: [www.historischhuis.nl] . This book describes the principle.

The description was in Dutch but I had this translated by AltaVista (not too bad!) and after a few modifications it looks like:
"Already in 1901, the SHV (Steenkolen Handelsvereniging, the biggest competitor of SSM) had opened an establishment in Rotterdam. In the port of Rotterdam much coal was necessary as fuel for the innumerable sea ships. Taking coal as fuel was called `bunkering’ - filling the coal bunkers of the ships. In 1904, the company decided to purchase a floating bunker machine. The writers acknowledge easily the claim of D.G. of Beuningen of SHV that he firstly himself tried to design a bunker machine. But it was J.D. Dresselhuys of the Schiedam yard A.F. Smulders (Gusto) which devised the first bunker machine. This sailing machine would be designs as a result of a French example: self-trimmer; a ship which himself could discharge itself by means of a transporter. From the dredging world similar systems had been however already been known. Particularly the Haarlem yard Conrad had already wide experience in this area. New was the combination of a transport link under the load area which passed through in a towing tower in the front of the ship. Above in the tower, coal could be brought in a rotating dosing device which positioned above the shutters of the coal bunkers of a ship. The bunker machine was built in secret so that the dock workers got no chance to organise opposition. With the Pluto, the first bunker machine of the SHV, 7 people could bunker in an hour 250 barrels coal. With hand strength for this 250 man have been necessary. With a second bunker machine the SHV had become independent of the power of the dock workers. The SHV took over competitor Louwman in 1905. One built also floating transhipment machines for the export of coal. Because the demand of coal was larger than the German supply also much English coal was used as bunker coals. The availability of the large floating transhipment machines in Rotterdam led to more export from the Westphalian mines. The transport of coal moved mainly from rail to the Rhine. The municipality would have let install the first bucket tap on the rampart in 1903, for the transhipment of basalt. As from 1905 the SHV had also floating bucket taps for the transhipment of Rine barge to sea ship. The buckets became gradually improve and in 1911, two port companies proceeded this way also ore to skip. At these floating transhipment machines it concerned therefore always direct transhipment of the one ship in the other."

Hope this makes sense. At least it brings Conrad in the bunker machine picture. Hans, Gusto was mentioned again !

Regards,
Willem