SS Miowera

SS Miowera was an Australian/New Zealand passenger/refrigerated cargo ship that was wrecked on the south reef, Avarua, Rarotonga on a voyage from San Francisco to Wellington[1].

History
Name: SS Miowera
Owner:
Port of registry: England
Builder: Swan Hunter of Wallsend
Yard number: 176
Launched: July 25, 1892
Completed: October 1892
Out of service: December 24, 1916
Renamed: Maitai
Identification: IMO number: 101935
Fate: Wrecked off Rarotonga
Status: Wrecked
General characteristics
Type: Passenger Ship / Refrigerated cargo ship
Tonnage:
  • 3,393 GRT
  • 1,888 NRT
Length: 345 ft (105 m) overall
Beam: 42.2 ft (12.9 m)
Depth: 25.1 ft (7.7 m)
Installed power:
  • 722 hp (538 kW)
  • 1x3 triple expansion steam engine
Propulsion: Single fixed pitch propeller
Speed: 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)

History

It was original built for James Huddart for Trans-Tasman traffic between Australia and New Zealand, along with a sister ship SS Warrimoo, and later joined by SS Aorangi. However, it was quickly withdrawn from this route and instead used to provide a service between Canada and Australia using subsidies from both countries. Huddart ran into difficulties after arranging to also call at New Zealand as part of the deal, and then after defaulting on payments, the ship was purchased on 16 August 1897 by the New Zealand Shipping Company. In 1908 this was sold on to the Union Steamship company and renamed the Maitai.

It ran aground on Christmas Eve 1916 outside Avarua Harbour on a reef while trying to recover an anchor.[2] All passengers and crew were rescued, and the wreck is still visible and now a site for tourists and snorkelling.

References
  1. "Tyne Built Ships".
  2. "Maitai wreck".


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