Why is the Wahine disaster significant?
On 10 April, 1968, the Wahine sunk in the Wellington Harbour. A total of 51 people on board died that day, and two others died due to their injuries – making it New Zealand’s worst modern maritime disaster. Eastbourne Historical Society.
What weather conditions caused the Wahine disaster?
The combination of warm tropical air and cold air dragged up from Antarctica produced exceptionally violent turbulence. At 5.50 a.m. on the morning of 10 April Captain H. G. Robertson decided to enter Wellington Harbour.
How did the Wahine disaster affect people?
Fifty-one people lost their lives that day, another died several weeks later and a 53rd victim died in 1990 from injuries sustained in the wreck. The Wahine’s demise also marked a coming of age for television news broadcasting in New Zealand as images of the disaster were beamed into the nation’s living rooms.
Is the Wahine still in the water?
“The Wahine no longer exists as a ship,” The Evening Post said. “It is gashed, torn and crumpled into unrecognisable shape. It is thought that the continual surging of the surf had scooped out a trench alongside the hull which then slid down into it, breaking her back.”
How did the Wahine sink?
The main cause of the Wahine’s sinking was that the ship went off course in one of the worst storms in New Zealand’s recorded history, and as a result went out of control and struck Barrett Reef. The build-up of water in the vehicle hold was the reason the ferry finally capsized.
What changed after the Wahine disaster?
The Wahine disaster helped shape maritime safety systems in New Zealand. It changed the way ferries operate on the Cook Strait and gave rise to organisations such as the Life Flight rescue helicopter service, which Interislander sponsors.
Where did the Wahine come from?
Wahine was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. Plans were made by the Union Company in 1961, and her keel was laid on 14 September 1964 as Hull No.
When was the Wahine removed?
TEV Wahine
| History | |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | |
| Maiden voyage | 1 August 1966 |
| Identification | 317814 |
| Fate | Wrecked 10 April 1968 |
When was the Wahine built?
Commissioned by the Union Steam Ship Company, the Wahine was purpose-built for the ‘Steamer Express’ service between Wellington and Lyttelton. When she was launched in Scotland in 1965, the Wahine was described as the world’s largest drive-on vehicle and passenger ship.
Who built the Wahine?
Wahine was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. Plans were made by the Union Company in 1961, and her keel was laid on 14 September 1964 as Hull No. 830.