She passed through a series of Dutch and Soviet owners, and at different times was renamed Zwartewater, Postyshev and Akademik Pavlov.

De Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij NV built the ship in Rotterdam, launching her on 20 November 1920 and completing her in 19 February 1921.

[citation needed] In 1930 NV Stoomvaart Maatschappij "Nederlandsche Lloyd" acquired Zaandijk and renamed her Zwartewater.

[1] On 31 May 1938 the Nationalist auxiliary cruiser Vicente Puchol captured Akademik Pavlov in the Strait of Gibraltar, when the latter was carrying a cargo of coal.

The convoy comprised the Júpiter-class minelayers Júpiter, Marte and Vulcano, the auxiliary cruisers Lázaro, Jaime I, Domine and J.J.

[5][6] The commander of the battery which fired the deadly shot, Antonio Martínez Pallarés, had been reluctant to shoot, believing there was no point since the war was lost for the Republicans.

[5][8][9] Of the 2,112 men aboard, 1,476 were killed, 342 were wounded and 294 were captured, after being rescued by local fishermen and the lighthouse keeper, Santiago Saavedra, and his wife, Carmen Hevia.

Although the ship was a legitimate military target, he was nevertheless sentenced to death for the sinking, as well as rebellion and an unproved charge of being a communist.