1945 Laid down as a powered lighter YF1047 for intended U.S. military duties in the South Pacific by Stevenson & Cook Engineering Co. Ltd. at Port Chalmers, New Zealand.
But the war ended before she was completed, and she was taken over by the New Zealand Marine Department on behalf of the War Assets Realization Board, and completed.
Launched under the name AVON. Named after the Avon River at Christchurch, New Zealand.
Tonnage 240.51 gross, 159.14 net, dim. 107.3 x 23.6 x 9.6ft.
Built of wood with steel frames.
Powered by two diesel engines each 6 cyl, 540 bhp., manufactured by Hercules Motor Corp., Canton Ohio, U.S.A.
Homeport Dunedin.
1946 Was she chartered by Holm & Co., a well know New Zealand coastal shipping company. The AVON traded between various ports in New Zealand, and she was well known at Picton and Wellington.
1949.When charter finished she was handed back to the N.Z. Marine Department.
April 1950 Sold to South Seas Maritime Co. Noumea, and renamed MONIQUE.
Tonnage given as 214 net, 179 net, 159 dwt.
On a voyage from the port of Tadine on the island Mare in the Loyality Group to Noumea in August, under command of Captain Charles Ohlen, with on board 19 crew and 101passengers, she disappeared after 31 July 1953.
There was reported that she was dangerously overloaded and listing seriously to port before sailing from Tadine.
(As given in Watercraft Philately Vol. 45 page 82: Sold in 1948 to Union Manufacturing & Export Co. New Zealand, was not mentioned in my New Zealand sources.)
source: Fair Winds and Rough Seas, the Story of the Holm Shipping Company, by Allan Kirk. The Era of Coastal Shipping in New Zealand by Murray Jennings. Watercraft Philately Vol. 45 page 82, Dan Rodlie.