De Giessenburg was a VOC return vessel. She made four trips between Holland and Batavia (Jakarta) before staying in Asia. The old ship was deployed in the Indonesian archipelago in her last year.

Last trip

The Giessenburg encountered a severe storm on her voyage to Banda and was pushed off course by a strong westerly current on entering Strait of Buton. The ship no longer responded to the rudder, the fore topsail tore and she ran aground.

Cargo and crew rescued

The crew of the Giessenburg was rescued and the cash, papers, textile and slaves were transferred to the ships Kroonprins and Snuffelaar and taken to Banda. A part of the cargo was secured on Buton and remained there in the care of the local king until the factory in Makassar would be able to collect it. Some other goods and gunpowder came with the pantjalang (a local ship type, also spelled pencalang) Swaan to Batavia, where the master H. Huurman and the officers of the wrecked ship were also present.

After their journals had been reviewed by the head of the Company's naval forces Nicolaas Houtingh and his staff, in the presence of the Company's lawyer, the master and officers were acquitted of dereliction of duty and they were declared fit for service again in the meeting of 4 July 1766.

Yard: Amsterdam

• Generale missiven van gouverneurs-generaal en raden aan heren XVII der Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie.
• VOC site.
• DAS.