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TAHITI (1904)
Service dates: 1917-1930
Official number: 117715
Shipping lines: UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND
Ship type:
Passenger/Cargo Ship.
Career
- 19.04.1904
- Launched.
- 07.1904
- Delivered as the white-hulled Port Kingston for Elder Dempster’s Imperial Direct West India Mail Service Company. Ran Avonmouth/Bermuda/Kingston. In service she proved to be too large for the route’s needs.
- 14.01.1907
- While at anchor at Kingston she was driven ashore by an earthquake which killed over 700 and injured 1,000. The ship grounded twice in the harbour; the first time was when the sea receded and the second time when the surge back carried her ashore. She was refloated by tugs and Elder Dempster’s Delta and then used as a hospital ship.
- 1910
- When the unprofitable Imperial Direct ceased, the mail contract having run out, she was laid up at Avonmouth. Her services being taken over by Elders & Fyffes.
- 1911
- Acquired by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand for the ‘All Red Route’ and renamed Tahiti.
- 11.12.1911
- First sailing from Sydney replacing Moana on the route.
- 13.08.1914
- Following the outbreak of war she was chartered by the New Zealand Government and converted at Port Chalmers into HMNZ Transport No.4.
- 16.10.1914
- Went on her first sailing from Wellington to Egypt. She trooped mainly to Gallipoli and Marseilles but made three trips to the UK. During the war she operated in tandem and au pair with Maunganui.
- 02.1915
- Became HMNZ Transport No.5.
- 06.1915
- Now HMNZ Transport No.25.
- 12.09.1916
- Missed by a torpedo in the Mediterranean.
- 02.02.1917
- Chased by UC17 8 miles off the Lizard Head, English Channel. Drove her attacker away by a return of gunfire.
- 01.07.1917
- Takeover of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand by The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company agreed.
- 02.1918
- Trooped USA/Europe.
- 07.1918
- Came under British control.
- 21.11.1918
- She carried New Zealanders from London/Dunedin and then British troops from Bombay/UK.
- 03.05.1919
- Left London for Auckland with 1,700 troops.
- 04.07.1919
- Handed back to her owners to resume commercial service. She went to Vancouver for an overhaul and refit and was converted to oil.
- 04.1920
- Returned to service.
- 1921
- Placed on the San Francisco service.
- 03.11.1927
- At Sydney she collided with and sank the wooden harbour ferry Greycliffe with a loss of 42 lives. Tahiti was moving at 12 knots and the ferry captain took his craft in front of Tahiti on the assumption that she was moving at the harbour speed of 8 knots. The Court of Enquiry found Greycliffe 3/5th to blame and Tahiti 2/5th because she was speeding.
- 15.08.1930
- At 0430 hrs, out from Wellington, 460 miles off Rarotonga, the starboard propeller shaft snapped, unseating the engine and tearing a mortal hole in the hull stern plating. The water gained against the pumps until they were submerged and power was lost. For 60 hours the crew fought to stem the inflow – even bailing with 40 gallon oil drums. Union’s Tofua, Matson’s Ventura and Brynmor’s Penybryn went to her aid. Tahiti remained afloat for two days during which 103 passengers and their baggage were taken off plus 149 crew and their belongings. The mail and bullion was also saved.
- 17.08.1930
- When Captain Toten finally left her the stern was awash and the ship’s interior was rumbling like distant thunder. Tahiti finally sank slowly by the stern (24°40’S-166°15’W).