SS Japara (1930)

The SS Japara was a passenger and cargo steamship built by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij (KPM) in 1930. She primarily operated in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), providing transport and communication between the islands.

Japara provided vital service to the Dutch East Indies, carrying passengers, mail, and essential supplies. She was known for her comfort and relatively luxurious accommodations compared to other ships serving similar routes. Her routes typically connected major ports such as Batavia (Jakarta), Surabaya, and Makassar, facilitating trade and travel within the archipelago.

During World War II, with the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies in 1942, Japara was requisitioned by the Dutch government for military use. She participated in evacuation efforts, attempting to transport civilians and troops to safety. On 20 January 1944, Japara was sunk by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-26 off the coast of New Guinea. Many passengers and crew were lost in the sinking. The wreck of the Japara remains a war grave and is located in the Bismarck Sea.