WAIMATE

New Zealand

Waimate 1951-1979. (Cargo) USSCo. 1951-1972.

ON: 179930

LR/IMO/ID: 5384724

Year: 1951

Name: WAIMATE

Type: Cargo ship

Flag: NZL

Launched: 8.2.51

Completed: 6.51

Owner: Union S.S.Co. of New Zealand Ltd., Wellington.

Builder: Henry Robb Ltd., Leith.

Yard No: 398

Link: 1623

Starke: V1951 #832

GRT: 3,506

DWT: 4,989

LOA: 105.3

LPP: 99.2

Beam: 15.4

1D-10.5 knots.

1950 Laid Down as KURUTAI for USSCo. NZ Ltd., completed as WAIMATE

1972 sold to Eastern Shipping Lines Inc., Manila & r/n EASTERN PLANET

1977 sold to Skyluck Steam Ship Co. SA, Panama & r/n SKYLUCK

She arrived at Hong Kong from Singapore on 6th February 1979 with over 2,500 refugees onboard. She had taken 27 days instead of the usual 5, and it would appear that the extra time was spent off the Vietnamese coast. She sailed from Singapore as Skyluck, changed her name to Ky Lu while she picked up her human cargo, and then reverted back to her registered name before arrival at Hong Kong.

The ship was intercepted by the Marine Police and ordered to anchor without landing any of the passengers. At this time there were already close to twenty thousand refugees in Hong Kong in various camps and the Government was hard pressed to accommodate them all. Other countries had accepted some but the majority of the boat people did not want to be resettled in other Asian nations. After almost four months of sitting off-shore the ship suddenly ran aground on Lamma on 29 June where the passengers scrambled ashore. Later investigations showed that the anchor cable had been cut.

She was seized by Hong Kong authorities and demolition ordered, refloated on 12 Apr. 1980 and towed to Junk Bay where demolition completed on 24 May1980.


Thanks to Miramar and several unrecorded sources.


Henry Robb Ltd., Leith.

http://www.leithshipyards.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Robb

Details: Mirimar Ship Index and John E. Hoskin, Flotilla Australia.

Photo Credits: The Late Allan Green Collection Vic. Australia