TEV Rangatira (1931)

Rangatira sailing at full speed.
History
NameRangatira
OwnerUnion Company
Ordered1930
BuilderVickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Cost£500,000 (1930)
Launched16 April 1931
In service1931–1965
FateScrapped 1968
General characteristics
TypePassenger ferry
Tonnage
Length419 ft (127.71 m)
Beam58 ft (17.68 m)
Draught
  • 29 ft (8.84 m);
  • 17 ft (5.18 m) (loaded)
Installed power13,800 hp (10,300 kW)
Propulsion6 boilers, turbo-electric, twin screw
Speedin excess of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity720 first class, 236 second class; later 794; up to 2,300 for day cruises
Crew112

TEV Rangatira was a passenger ferry that sailed the Wellington to Lyttelton route between 1931 and 1963. She was the first turbo-electric vessel (TEV) to arrive in Australia or New Zealand waters. During the Christmas season she would also run trips between Wellington and Picton.