SS Taioma 1944-2000

The steam tug first named Empire Jane was built in 1944 by Alexander Hall & co in Footdee, eastern edge of Aberdeen Harbour, Scotland. From 29 June 1944 until August 1945 the tug was employed in war service duties in the English Channel during the follow up phase to the Normandy invasion, towing the Mulberry Harbour. For a short time, it performed salvage and rescue duties in the US Omaha Beach area.

The Empire Jane was bought by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand on 21 August 1947 and renamed as the SS Taioma. It and its sibling ship the Tapuhi were purchased as replacements for the previous harbour tugs Natone and Terawhiti. The Taioma and the Tapuhi travelled to Wellington together and arrived in October 1947. The Taioma worked in the Wellington Harbour from 1947 to 1977 but was sold to British Petroleum New Zealand limited (BP) in 1975 to assist with barge operations though it continued under Union Company management.

The Taioma had quite an eventful life even after retiring from war service. In 1968 it returned to rescuing as it was one of the first vessels to arrive at the scene of the Wahine disaster in Wellington; in 1971, while lashing up to the MS Holmlea in winds gusting up to 70 knots, the Holmlea yawed, causing extensive damage to the Taioma. The wheelhouse was completely demolished, the flying bridge on the starboard side was extensively buckled and torn and electric lighting, wiring and fittings were ripped from the wheelhouse structure. The Taioma was repaired, with a few modifications to suit the owners’ requirements for the future operations.

From 1977 until 1978 Taioma was not used. On 30 June 1978 was officially donated to the Tauranga Historic Village as a tribute to all the merchant seamen who lost their lives in WWII. It was towed to Tauranga arriving on 15 July 1978. It was opened to the public at Coronation Pier until it was slipped on 5 March 1979 and then moved by truck and trailer to Tauranga Museum.  The journey started on 7 April 1979 and Taioma arrived at the Museum on 9 April 1979 after travelling 5kms. 

It was eventually refloated and scuttled off Mōtītī Island in the Bay of Plenty on 19 March 2000.