Batavier II was powered by a single 4-cylinder, triple-expansion steam engine of 2,000 indicated horsepower (1,500 kW) that moved her up to 14 knots (26 km/h).

[1] Also beginning in 1899, Batavier Line service between Rotterdam and London was offered daily except Sundays;[5] each of the ships made three round trips per week.

In December 1914, Batavier II made news when porters handling what was identified as a 750-pound (340 kg) crate of Swedish matches discovered an escaped German Army officer inside.

The plot unraveled when the porters could only move the heavy crate by rolling it, which knocked the man unconscious; the officer was returned to the custody of British military officials.

[7] In June 1915, passengers on Batavier II witnessed an attack by two German airplanes against a British steamship between the Galloper and the North Hinder Lightships.

Also on board Batavier II were four escaped Russian prisoners of war and Richard Hansemann, a German-born New York businessman.

[1][14][Note 1] Damaged by E55's gunfire, Batavier II's crew steered her back into Dutch territorial waters.

Despite efforts to stem the flow of water,[15] Batavier II sank 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) from the Molengat North Buoy, off Texel.