
TSMV Kaitawa was a collier built for the Union Steam Ship Company in 1949. She carried coal from the west coast ports of Greymouth and Westport to customers such as Chelsea Sugar (Auckland), Auckland Gas Company and the cement works at Portland (south of Whangarei).
The following pictures were taken between 21 Feb and 14 Mar 1963 by Ron Moloney, Radio Officer on Kaitawa. Captions are by Roger Wincer.




Owner: Union Steam Ship Co
Builder: Henry Robb Ltd, Leith, Scotland
Launched: 1949
Gross tonnage: 2485
Propulsion: Two 5-cylinder Polar diesels
Wrecked: 1966

Kaitawa was lost with all hands near Cape Reinga on 23 May 1966.