THE M.V. RAKAIA

The Rakaia started life as the Empire Abercorn. Built by Harland and Wolff Limited (Belfast) in 1944/45 for the Ministry of War Transport, the Empire Abercorn was managed by the New Zealand Shipping Company until 1946 when the Company bought her and renamed her Rakaia.

Technical Data on Rakaia indicates that she was a refrigerated cargo vessel of 8,213 gross tons with a length overall of 474 feet 2 inches and an insulated cargo capacity of 367,902 cubic feet. Her 8 cylinder, 2 cycle, double-acting diesel engine gave her a service speed of 14.5 knots.

In 1950, Rakaia’s passenger accommodation was altered to allow her to assume the role of a cadet training ship for up to 40 cadets, and she operated in this role until 1968. The cadets lived in more than reasonable comfort. Their cabins, dining saloon and classroom were on the promenade deck, and their ante-room was on the boat deck. There were 3 full-time instructional staff: a schoolmaster, a seamanship instructor and a physical education instructor.

Whilst a cadet’s life on board one of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s cadet ships is well summarised in the Company’s prospectus printed in 1962, photographs and anecdotes are a great way to show that cadets not only worked hard but played hard.

Any material that you would like to display would be most gratefully received.

NOTE ON DOWNLOADING

To download pdf's please click on the links above or use the download panel on the right.

PC Users: Using the right hand mouse button click on the link and choose 'save target as...' from the popup menu.

MAC Users: Holding down Ctrl, click on the link and choose 'download link to disk...' from the pop up menu