MV Waimarama

The column of smoke after Waimarama exploded on 13 August 1942
History
United Kingdom
Name	Waimarama
Namesake	Waimarama, New Zealand
Owner	Shaw, Savill & Albion Line
Port of registry	Southampton
Builder	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	1004
Launched	31 May 1938
Completed	6 October 1938
Identification	UK official number 166817 call sign GPGW
Fate	destroyed by air attack, 13 August 1942
General characteristics
Type	refrigerated cargo liner
Tonnage	As built: 11,092 GRT, 6,672 NRT 1940 onward: 12,843 GRT, 7,857 NRT
Length	516.9 ft (157.6 m)
Beam	70.4 ft (21.5 m)
Draught	27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
Depth	32.3 ft (9.8 m)
Decks	3
Installed power	2,463 NHP (12,000 bhp)
Propulsion	2 × Diesel engines 2 × screws
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h)
Capacity	484,545 cu ft (13,721 m3) refrigerated cargo plus space for chilled cargo 12 passengers
Sensors and processing systems	wireless direction finding echo sounding gyrocompass
Notes	sister ships: Waiwera, Waipawa, Wairangi

MV Waimarama was a UK refrigerated cargo liner. She was built in Northern Ireland for Shaw, Savill & Albion Line and launched in 1938. She carried perishable foods, particularly meat, from New Zealand to the United Kingdom.

Waimarama took part in Operation Pedestal in August 1942. A German aircraft bombed her before the convoy reached Malta. The ship exploded and sank with the loss of 83 of her crew.