In 1664 and from 1665 to 1666 he served as Secretary to Michiel de Ruyter in the Mediterranean Sea and West Indies.
Colve remained in control until November 10, 1674, when power was formally transferred.
On 17 June 1675 Andringa married De Ruyter's niece Margaretha van Gelder in Sloten near Amsterdam.
[2][3] Andringa's first (and only) command was of the Stad en Lande (50 pieces) in De Ruyter's fleet, and in 1675 he was sent to the Mediterranean Sea.
He died a month after De Ruyter, and four days before the Battle of Palermo, of dysentery in an epidemic that prevailed in the fleet.