TAIOMA

The Union Steam Ship Co, tug TAIOMA was built in 1944 by A. Hall & Co, Aberdeen as the EMPIRE JANE for the British Ministry of War Transport and was purchased by the Union Co, in 1947. She is seen here on the Wellington Patent Slip about to be put back in the water. Her wheel house is different to the one she was built with as this had to be rebuilt in the early 1970's after the Wellington - Lyttelton freight ferry HOLMLEA caught the tugs bridge with her bow in gale force winds while the tug was attempting to assit the larger vessel into her berth.