MS Akaroa (1914) - Ship History

Ship History

The ship was built in 1914 by Harland & Wolff of Belfast, and was originally named Euripides when she sailed for the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line. She was 14,947 gross tons at the time and could make a top speed of 15 knots. Her shakedown cruise took place in June 1914, with her maiden voyage from London to Brisbane leaving on 1 July 1914. Two days after her arrival, she was taken over for Australian troop transport; the following year she returned to the UK-Australia run, but would continue transporting Australian troops through 1919, when she was overhauled at Belfast.

In 1929, the Euripides was transferred to the White Star Line, and in 1932 was again transferred, this time to the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. The company had her re-fitted to 15,128 gross tons, and renamed the ship Akaroa, sailing her from Southampton, England to Wellington, New Zealand by way of the Panama Canal. On 1 September 1939, two days before the declaration of war, under Captain William Horatio Hartman, she set sail for Auckland, arriving on 8 October. The voyage was an epic one and the passengers presented the Captain with a silver salver in memory of, "an epic and perilous voyage". Captain Hartmann was awarded the OBE in 1943. In 1945 she was again re-fitted, and continued the UK-NZ run. Finally, in May 1954, she was sent to the breakers at Antwerp.