the liner Ruahine (1951), the NZ Shipping Company's last new build

crossing in the Panama Canal (John Wallace photo)

Despite the name, the NZ Shipping Company was always a British owned affair. Formed in London in 1873 it was taken over by P&O in 1916. In 1973 the NZSC name was removed and everything was then just P&O.

By the late 1940s, with the success of the RMS Rangitoto & Rangitane the NZ Shipping Company ordered a third ship to to operate on the lucrative service, but it was decided that she would be somewhat smaller at 17,851 GRT than her two earlier 21,000 GRT sisters. She was built by John Brown & Co at Glasgow in yard 658, and she was launched on 27 July 1950, and was named Ruahine by Mrs W.C. Dawes, the widow of the NZSC Chairman from 1904 to 1920. She was the third and the last post-war ship to be built for the NZSC. Apparently, Mrs Dawes also officiated at the launching of Ruahine 2, some forty one years earlier.

Ruahine’s outward design was very similar to her larger sisters and upon first sight she was easily recognisable as a member of the fleet, although there were distinctive differences, such as Ruahine having only had three lifeboats slung along on either side. Her after decks were very much shorter. Also, she had a different internal layout and accommodated less passengers than her two larger sisters. She was completed and ran her sea trials in May 1951 and was duly delivered to her owners. She departed for her maiden voyage London to Wellington on 22 May, sailing via Curacao, Panama, Tahiti to Wellington. Later she would also visit Auckland and Lyttleton. Returning to the UK she would sail via Tahiti, Panama, Miami and Bermuda to London.

In 1967 she was transferred to Federal Line, then in 1968 sold to Orient Overseas Line, Hong Kong and renamed Oriental Rio.

Info and more pics on this webpage