User:NealeWellington/SS Rimutaka (1884)

RMS Rimutaka was one of five vessels built for the New Zealand Shipping Company.

Construction
She was constructed by J Elder and Co at Govan, Glasgow. The Rimutaka was powered by compound engines and partly insulated for the frozen meat trade. The ship was clipper bowed and barque rigged. She weighted 4,474 tons and was launched on 19 November 1884. The ship had accommodation for 76 first class passengers, 58 second class, and 280 steerage in temporary accommodation for outward voyages. She had 101,700 cu ft of refrigerated cargo space. She was the sister ship to the Kaikoura which had been launched in September. The ship was 420 feet long between perpendiculars and 451 feet overall, and 33 feet 4 inches deep. The compound engines were about 4,000 horse power.

Maiden voyage
She went to London for trials after being fitted up in early January and sailed on her maiden voyage on 15 January from Gravesend. Captain E O Hallett RN was its first master. He had previously been master of the Ionic and Tongariro. The ship sailed to Plymouth then Tenneriffe, rounding the Cape on 23 January, and then via Hobart to Wellington. A 45 day voyage.

The ship was then regularly sailed from New Zealand to England carrying passengers and frozen meat to England, and migrants to New Zealand until it was sold in 1899.

Zamania
The ship was sold to the British India Steam Navigation Company and renamed the Zamania in June 1899. In 1903, while moored, she was involved in a collision with the RMS Valetta, which had been caught by the current and propelled into both the Zamania and a German ship the Tanglin. By 1910 she was reported as being a mailer on the Singapore Rangoon route.

The Zamania was broken up in Japan in July 1911.