SS Ruahine
SS "Ruahine" was a UK-built ocean liner and refrigerated cargo ship. She was launched in 1909 in Scotland for the New Zealand Shipping Company, who operated her in scheduled service between Britain and New Zealand. She survived both World wars. In 1949 she was sold to Fratelli Grimaldi of Italy, who renamed her Auriga. She was scrapped in 1957. She was the second of three NZ Shipping Co ships called "Ruahine". The first was a steamship that was launched in 1891, sold and renamed in 1900 and scrapped in 1945. The third was the motor ship that  was launched in 1950, sold in 1967, renamed in 1968 and scrapped in 1974. Building. William Denny and Brothers built "Ruahine" at Dumbarton. She was launched on 19 August 1909 and completed on 6 November. She was long overall, registered length, beam and depth. Her tonnages were and . "Ruahine" had twin screws driven by twin triple-expansion steam engines. Between them they were rated at 848 NHP and gave her a service speed of . As built, "Ruahine" had berths for 520 passengers divided into three classes. Her holds had capacity for of refrigerated cargo. Denny's followed "Ruahine" with two  sister ships for the New Zealand Shipping Company: launched in 1910 and "Remuera" launched in 1911. Service. "Ruahine" entered service for the New Zealand Shipping Company in 1910, sailing from London to Auckland and Wellington. Her primary passenger traffic was emigrants from Britain to New Zealand. Her cargo was finished goods to New Zealand and raw foods to Britain. "Ruahine" was refitted in 1926 with reduced passenger accommodation, and again in 1933 with 220 tourist class berths. By 1930 "Ruahine" had wireless direction finding equipment. In 1934 the call sign GLYM superseded "Ruahine"s code letters HPVS. By 1935 she was  fitted with an echo sounding device. On 4 February 1938 "Ruahine" was involved in a collision with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker , which was on sea trials in the Firth of Clyde. From 1938 "Ruahine" ceased carrying passengers. From May 1938 until October 1939 she was laid up in the River Fal. In 1949 Fratelli Grimaldi bought "Ruahine", renamed her "Auriga", and had her refitted to carry 800 passengers. She operated on emigrant routes from Italy and France. She was scrapped in 1957 at Savona in Italy.