This article appeared in MARINE NEWS Vol 47 No 3 1998
A UNIQUE NEW ZEALAND PAIR by Iain Steverson
Two C1-type vessels purchased by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited immediately after the end of the Second World War - the Wairimu ex Cape Alava and the Wairata ex Cape Igvak
The Wairimu was designated a C-1B and in fact was the first motor vessel of the class built, being delivered in April 1941 from her builders the Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (Todd Pacific Shipyard IAC). The Wairata was designated a C-1A type and was built at the Pennsylvania Shipyard Inc., Beaumont, Texas, and delivered on 30 August 1943. Sawyer & Mitchell's definitive work "From America to
"The C-1 type vessels were the smallest of the three original types designed by the United States Maritime Commission. They were intended to be efficient and economical on routes that did not call for fast ships. The original design included accommodation for eight passengers. The C-1A was a shelter deck type whilst C-1B was of full scantling design.
"The general characteristics of all ships were the same. They had raked stem and cruiser stern, superstructure amidships two masts (one between holds 1-2 and one between holds 4-5) and a kingpost between holds 2-3, 3 holds forward 2 aft the accommodation. Two complete decks extended fore and aft and a third deck was fitted forward of the machinery space.
"However there were differences, the full scantling (B) type of ship being in fact more strongly built than the shelter deckers and for 200 tons additional weight in the hull there was an extra 1500 tons deadweight capacity.
"Machinery were two engines (Nordberg) of the two stroke single acting type the drive being taken through two magnetic couplings and a reduction gear to a single propeller. Accommodation was arranged for 41 persons."
Wairata in Indonesian waters.
Wairimu working cargo at Calcutta
Only three vessels of the C1 type sailed under the Red Ensign, the Wairimu, Wairata and La Estancia ex
La Estancia was purchased by Buries Markes in 1947, renamed by them as Montcalm in 1952, and sold to Wilhelmsen of_0slo as Tyr, finally scrapped in Hong Kong in 1975, three years after her sister Wairata met the same end in
The biggest overseas operators of the C1 s were the Norwegians, who took twenty seven of the forty eight disposed of, and subsequently purchased more second-hand.
The most famous Cl was Captain "Stayput" Carlsen's Flying Enterprise ex
Flying Enterprise shortly before sinking.
My association with the Wairata was due to the Union Company's decision to convert passenger accommodation in 1955 to house three apprenticed cadets. Disappointingly, the Wairimu was not so converted. I was fortunate enough to do two
Whilst on board I discovered the wartime log books, and in my spare time I took the details of her wartime voyages whilst operating under the United States Maritime Commission.
Voyage 11 was missing, but in view of her trading pattern it seems probable that she crossed the
As cadets in the 1950s, with her speed of 14 knots she was the fastest ship we were likely to serve on, and having spent three voyages in the Waihemo on the trans-Pacific trade being passed by everything but Carpenters' Lakemba and Suva it was exciting to actually overhaul ships. For growing lads the food was excellent (she still carried passengers) which meant we managed ice cream, chicken, eggs to order (daily!) and pancakes, delicacies not experienced in the "Intercolonials", which at best could be described as "basic feeders". The run was exotic and in many respects she was a ship to be proud of. Unlike the "Intercolonials" that went on to batteries or shore power in port at night, you could actually find your ship amongst the quite magnificent "Home Boats" strung along the likes of Aotea Quay in Wellington.
It always intrigued me why the
Perhaps they were a Chief Engineer's nightmare!
Voyages under the United States Maritime Commission of m v "
Voy 1
Voy 2
Voy 3
Voy 4
Voy 5
Voy 6
Voy 7
Voy 8
Voy 9
Voy 10
Voy 11 Records missing.
Voy 12