S.S. Tofua (I) became known as the very first “Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Ltd”, (USSCo) ship that made a regular and a very important regular link with many of the Pacific Islands, which was greatly sought after by both the Polynesians and New Zealanders.

Before MV Tofua II, the Pacific Islands was well served by a good number of Union Steam Ship Company (USSCo) ships, including the very first SS Tofua that was built in 1908.

Tofua (Ship : 1951- ) Favourite Passenger and cargo ship of 5299 grt, built by W Denny & Bros., for the Pacific Islands service of the Union Steam Ship Company.

Black and white photograph of MV TOFUA (1951) berthed at wharf with cranes and buildings adjacent [Waitematā]. An island trader vessel to Fiji, NZ registered ship [Kings Wharf] Union SS Co of New Zealand Ltd.

And then followed the most famous open-boat voyage in maritime history: 3,618 nautical miles by Bligh’s makeshift log from Tofua to Timor in a 23-foot launch with no more freeboard than the length of a man’s hand, without charts, with meager provisions, and with the constant threat of imminent death.

Source of title - Supplied by Library Harcourt entered camp in June 1916 and sailed from New Zealand on the ship 'Tofua' with reinforcements for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 26 April 1917. He landed at Plymouth on 19 July and undertook training at Sling Camp.

Starboard side view of SS TOFUA (1908) leaving Queens Wharf. Small tugboat in foreground.

TOFUA (1908) USSCNZ 1917/0701/110 Career 01.1908: Delivered as Tofua for Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand at a cost of £100,297. Used on the Pacific Islands service. 1914/1918: One of the twelve Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand’s vessels to …

TOFUA 1951-1973. Expand/collapse. Details. Number of Images 7. Particulars of Ship. Builder Wm Denny & Bros Where Built Dumbarton Date Built 1951 Length x Breadth 115 metres Tonnage 5299 GRT Number of passengers 73 Propulsion Twin screw motor. 16.5 knots Owners & Previous Names 1951-73 USSCo

Tofua is in Tonga's Ha'apai island group and is a small caldera rising above the Pacific Ocean. It was near Tofua that Captain William Bligh was removed from the Bounty and commenced the famous 41 day voyage to Timor in an open launch, navigating with only a …