SS Terawhiti 1907-1950

The Terawhiti was a single screw steam tug built in 1907 by Ramsgate Ferguson in Leith, Scotland.

The Terawhiti was engaged in many salvaging tasks around New Zealand, two examples being its role in rescuing of the steamship Kaipara — which ran aground in the Rangitoto Channel in 1910 — and another incident in 1943, wherein the Terawhiti helped prevent a dangerous explosion in central Wellington, the latter example being a near-miss in which the John Davenport, a United States merchant marine-manned Liberty ship, anchored itself in Wellington carrying over 3000 tonnes of munitions. It was the most explosive cargo that had ever been set at the Wellington port. When a fire broke out in one of the ship’s holds, the John Davenport was quickly moved to Aotea Quay with the assistance of the reliable Terawhiti. Thankfully, the fire was put out before it reached the munitions.

The Terawhiti worked in New Zealand waters for four decades before being sold to Sydney company, Howard Smith Ltd in 1947 for use as a tug in Melbourne. On 30 September 1950, the ship capsized in Melbourne following a collision with a freighter. It sank quickly and resulted in the drowning of 35-year-old firefighter, William Thompson.