Royal Interocean Lines; MS Tjiwangi and MS Tjiluwah later known as the
“The Elegant White Yachts”
S.S. Waitaki
Built
for: “Oamaru & Dunedin Steam Ship Co”
SS
Waitaki
Author’s
private collection
Introduction:
Many long-standing supporters may question why do you Reuben have a page on such a small, steel 412-gross
ton coastal thirty five-passenger, cargo vessel online, owned by the Union
Steam Ship Company (USSCo) of
SS Waitaki’s Background:
The Oamaru & Dunedin Steam Ship Company of
On Saturday May 13, 1876 she was officially named Waitaki and was
launched and taken to her fit-out berth to be completed. When completed she
undertook her deep-sea trials and she sailed half way around the world to
An advertisement from
the “
REGULAR STEAM SERVICES BETWEEN OAMARU AND
“From Oamaru. - The Oamaru and Dunedin
Steam Ship Co’s SS WAITAKI, every Wednesday and Saturday at 10.80 a.m. -
The Union Steamship Co’s SS SAMSON, every Monday and Thursday, at 6 p.m.
From
Specifications:
Builder:? Hawes
& Miramar Ship Yards,
Yard Nr:?????????????????????? 200
Launched:? Saturday, May 13, 1876
Ship Type:?????????????????? Iron
Passenger / Cargo Vessel
Tonnage:? 412.2
GRT
Length:? 164.8ft
Breadth:????????????????????? 22ft
Daught:? 10.25ft - 3.12m.
Propulsion:? Steam
compound C2 cylinder 450 IHP - by the builder
Screws:? Single
Speed:???????????????????????? 10
Knots
Passengers:????????????????? 15
First Class - 20 Steerage
Passengers:????????????????? 40 Saloon Class - 20 Second 1879-1887.
Taken Over by the USSCo:
In 1979 the “OD” or the Oamaru & Dunedin Steam Ship Company was taken over by the ever-growing USSCo and she was placed on a varied coastal service until she was sold in 1883 to the Kamo Colliery Company who continued her regular coastal service, but if she carried passengers is unknown Omega Replica
Transcript
from the “Otago Witness” -
Saturday March 31, 1883 - Page 14
“Saturday.
Arrival.”
“The s.s.
Waitaki
arrived at Port Chalmers at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. She left Timaru at 4 p.m. on Thursday,
and encountered strong S.S.W. winds and a high sea during the passage. Captain
White reports that about 1 p.m. on the 22nd a strong S.S.W. squall passed over
Timaru, and did considerable damage to the shipping there. The stern mooring of
the Waitaki first gave way, and
she swung on to the ship Ugglan's moorings, doing considerable damage to the Waitaki's rail. Next the barque Rewa
broke adrift from her moorings and fouled the Ugglan, carrying away that
vessel's rudder, spanker-boom, and steering gear, doing at the same time
considerable damage to her own head-gear. An attempt was made by the steamers Titan and Waitaki to tow the Ugglan closer in, but owing to the strong
gale and heavy sea the attempt was given up, as the
ship was riding steadily; while the Waitaki was compelled to slip her anchor
with 75 fathoms chain, together with her rope moorings, and stand to sea as
above.
The above tragic event occurred whilst the Waitaki was under charter to
the ships master, Captain Thomas John Bendall. In the
very early hours of the morning of April 23, 1887 the Waitaki was still on a
voyage from Napier to
SS Mana arrived at the scene several days
later, however heavy southerly seas were running, thus on April 26 it was
officially decided to abandon the Waitaki to the underwriters.
When several of the officers reached
It seemed that very little time had elapsed since the course had been
altered until the Waitaki suddenly shuddered grinded to a loud halt as her bow
heaved up high onto the beach. The master immediately engaged the engines to
full speed astern, but it had no effect as the ship had run up on the beach at
full speed ahead in the first place and thus had run up a considerable way.
With her bow stuck in the sand and her aft section in the ocean, it was within
fifteen minutes that both the stokehold and the engine room filled up with sea
water and both had to be abandoned. Apparently large rock had penetrated the
port bilge and acted as a pivot, the aft of the ship was swinging with the sea.
The master reported at the inquest that it had been an extremely dark
night and the regular course had been maintained until the log gave 68 miles,
which should have brought the Waitaki off
The captain credited the accident to an alteration in the log and an
easterly swell setting the ship ashore, which could not be seen owing to the
darkness of the night.
Newspaper report of the Inquest:
Continued: Below left then right
However the court inquest into the loss of the Waitaki finally concluded
that the wrecking of the ship was attributable to the “over-confidence in
the log, and running the ship at full speed during thick and foggy weather in a
dark night.” The court considered the master, “Captain Thomas John Bendall accountable for taking no steps to verify his
position,” and held him fully responsible for the loss of the ship. His
Masters certificate was suspended for three months, which seems a rather light
sentence.
Also view
the many other Union Steamship Ships online …
TS
Loongana
TSS Monowai /
“Blue Water Liners sailing to the
distant shores.
I watched them come, I watched them go and I watched them die.”
****************************
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