The MV Waimarama Story of Bravery and Sacrifice

The MV Waimarama was a New Zealand-owned passenger ferry that sank on June 13, 1959, after a collision with the MV Tawera. The ferry was traveling from the East Cape to Eastbourne.

The tragedy resulted in the loss of 16 lives, with many more injured. The incident was a major maritime disaster in New Zealand's history.

The MV Waimarama's sinking led to significant changes in maritime safety regulations in New Zealand. The country's shipping laws were revised to include new safety standards for passenger vessels.

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The MV Waimarama was a 23-meter-long passenger ferry that operated in New Zealand.

It was built in 1963 and spent most of its life carrying passengers on the Hawke Bay coast.

The ferry played a crucial role in connecting coastal communities and providing a vital transportation link.

Its name, Waimarama, is derived from the Māori language, with "wai" meaning water and "marama" meaning calm.

Operation Pedestal was a major operation during World War II that involved a heavily escorted convoy of Allied merchant ships, including MV Waimarama and her sister ship Wairangi.

In July 1942, the ships selected for Operation Pedestal, including Waimarama and Wairangi, had their armament increased with the addition of extra anti-aircraft guns.

The convoy, originally known as WS 12S, left the Firth of Clyde in Scotland on 2 August 1942, consisting of 14 Allied merchant ships.

Waimarama and Wairangi were among the ships that would face repeated attacks from German and Italian aircraft, surface vessels, and submarines from 11 August onward.

As part of the convoy's enhanced defenses, Waimarama and Wairangi would have been fitted with extra anti-aircraft guns, including Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and/or Bofors 40 mm guns.

Waimarama was a development of a successful design, built by Harland and Wolff in 1938.

She was 516.9 ft long and had a beam of 70.4 ft, with a draught of 27 ft 7 in.

Her space for refrigerated cargo was 484,545 cubic feet, which was seven per cent less than her sisters, but she also had a special section for chilled cargo.

Waimarama was launched on 31 May 1938 and completed on 6 October that year.

She had two screws, each driven by a six-cylinder two-stroke double-acting Burmeister and Wain diesel engine, which developed a total of 2,463 NHP.

Her service speed was 18 knots, which was exceptionally fast for a cargo liner.

On 13 August, disaster struck the MV Waimarama.

The ship was attacked by Italian torpedo boats and German E-boats, and then Luftwaffe aircraft bombed the convoy, hitting Waimarama with three or four bombs.

The cargo on board included ammunition and aviation spirit, which made the ship a ticking time bomb.

Within minutes, Waimarama "blew up with a roar and a sheet of flame with clouds of billowing smoke".

Eighty-three crew members lost their lives in the explosion, including the ship's Master.

The crew had no time to launch the lifeboats.

Some crew members were blown into the water, but the burning oil on the surface made it a desperate situation.

A 17-year-old cadet named Frederick Treves managed to save the life of an officer who couldn't swim.

Treves kept the officer's head above water and then gave him a piece of wood to cling to, saving his life.

For his bravery, Treves was awarded the BEM and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.

The nearby Blue Star liner Melbourne Star was also affected by the explosion, with many crew members jumping overboard due to the intense fire and smoke.

The destroyer HMS Ledbury risked her own safety to rescue survivors from both ships.

Ledbury successfully rescued survivors, but the exact number of survivors is disputed, with some sources saying 22 men from Melbourne Star and two from Waimarama survived, while others claim 24 from Melbourne Star and 18 from Waimarama.

By 0930 hrs, Ledbury had completed the rescue and landed the survivors on Malta on 15 August.

The aftermath of the MV Waimarama's story is a remarkable one. The Shipwrecked Mariners Society granted each survivor £76 10s relief.

The bravery of the crew was recognized by the authorities, with Master Robert Pearce, DSC, and his Third Wireless Officer John Jackson being mentioned in dispatches for their gallantry, skill, and resolution during a convoy to Malta.

Their award was a testament to the crew's exceptional service, and it's a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, there are heroes who make a difference.

In 2012, the 70th anniversary of Convoy MW 12's departure from Gibraltar was commemorated with a special stamp issued by MaltaPost.