MV Empire Abercorn

Rakaia
History
United Kingdom
Name	Empire Abercorn (1944–46) Rakaia (1946–71)
Owner	Ministry of War Transport 1944–45 Ministry of Transport 1945–46 New Zealand Shipping Co 1946–66 Federal Steam Nav Co 1966–1971
Operator	New Zealand Shipping Co 1945–68
Port of registry	1944: Belfast 1946: London
Builder	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	1230
Launched	30 December 1944
Completed	30 June 1945
In service	1945
Out of service	28 March 1968
Identification	UK official number 168539 call sign GFGW IMO number: 5289481
Fate	Scrapped in Hong Kong, 1971
General characteristics
Tonnage	8,563 GRT, 4,350 NRT, 9,633 DWT
Length	474 ft 2 in (144.53 m)
Beam	63 ft 3 in (19.28 m)
Depth	34 ft 2 in (10.41 m)
Installed power	7,500 hp (5,600 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Harland & Wolff two-cycle double-acting 8-cylinder diesel
Speed	14.5 knots (26.9 km/h)
Capacity	367,902 cu ft (10,418 m3) insulated cargo space, 45 passengers (later 40 cadets)
Sensors and processing systems	wireless direction finding echo sounding device gyrocompass
Notes	sister ship: Empire Clarendon[1]

MV Empire Abercorn was a cargo and passenger ship that was built in 1944, renamed MV Rakaia in 1946 and remained in service until 1971.