Komaiwai

[john sefton]

This article was written by E.W. Argyle in Sea Breezes February 1957.


A new 3d. stamp of Fiji which bears the familiar inset portrait of the Queen also shows a tropical scene on one of the outlying islands of the group. This scene includes a small wooden ship loading copra for export. Some years ago the Fijian authorities granted the sum of £5,000 for research aimed at ridding the group of the purple moth (Levuana Iridescens) whose depredations on coconuts, of which copra is the dried kernel, had reached alarming proportions.
Scientists introduced a 2-winged parasite from Malaya and within two years the moth was almost wiped out. The landing stage of a copra plantation at the South end of the island of Taveuni at Waimagere managed by Mr. J. V. Tarte can be seen incorporated in the design of the stamp illustrated. The background includes a range of hills—the South and south-east parts of Vanua Levu which are separated from Taveuni by the Somo Somo Strait in the centre of the picture.
Deep sea vessels are able to make their way through the strait when heading for Udu Point on the extreme right of the stamp, around which is Labassa, a sugar loading port on the North side of the island of Vanua Levu. The attractive stamp design is an honest interpretation of a photograph taken about five years ago which is reproduced with this article. The illustration was provided by W. H. Carpenter and Co. (Fiji) Ltd., of Suva and the vessel shown is the company's Komaiwai.
Although the tide is almost full in the design it is obvious that by the vessel's position there is not sufficient water to allow the Komaiwai alongside. Copra is transported between shore and ship in the vessel's own boats which are warped back and forth.

The Komaiwai is a vessel of 140 gross tons with dimensions 77ft. x 19.5ft. x 8.4ft. Net tonnage is 91. The vessel was built at Huskisson, New South Wales, by A. Settree and Sons in 1947. She has a 6-cylinder Caterpillar D. 13,000 marine engine of 100 b.h.p., providing a speed of 6'/2 knots. There is accommodation for six passengers in three 2-berth cabins with provision for 50 deck passengers. The crew total 17 including hands for carrying copra from the plantations to the ship.

Fiji SG285

[aukepalmhof]

Built of wood by A.W.Settree at Huskisson, NSW. Built for W.R.Carpenter.
Tonnage 140 gross, 91 net, 228 dwt.

1949 Sold to Island Transport Ltd.
1960 Hulked and scrapped in Fiji.