Santa Catarina (ship)

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Santa Catarina was a Portuguese carrack that was seized by the Dutch East India Company (also known as V.O.C) during February, 1603 off Singapore. It was such a rich prize that its sale proceeds doubled the capital of the V.O.C.

This period marked the end of the Portuguese monopoly on trade with the East Indies. The Dutch who had found about the trade routes in 1596 due to another Dutchman, Jan Huyghens van Linschoten, were attempting to appropriate some of that wealth for themselves.

At dawn of February 25, 1603 three Dutch ships under the eventual command of Admiral Jakob Van Heemskerk spotted the carrack at anchor off the Eastern coast of Singapore. After a couple of hours of fighting, the Dutch managed to subdue the crew who forfeited the cargo and the ship, in return for the safety of their lives. The cargo was particularly valuable because it contained several hundred ounces of musk.

The ship was laden with wares from China and Japan and was travelling from Macau to Melaka.

The Amsterdam Admiralty Court confiscated the ship on September 4, 1604.