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SS Koolinda

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SS Koolinda
SS Koolinda.jpg
SS Koolinda 2.jpg
SS Koolinda at Darwing wharf Northern Territory Library hdl:10070/70753
History
Name SS Koolinda
Owner Western Australian State Shipping Servce
Builder Harland & Wolff, Glasgow
Yard number 728
Launched 26 Aug 1926
Completed 1926
In service 1927
Out of service 1959
Fate scrapped in Hong Kong December 1959
General characteristics
Type passenger & cargo motor vessel
Tonnage 4,372
Length 344 feet (105m)
Beam 50 feet (15m)
Depth 28 feet 6 inches (8.69m)
Propulsion 2 x 8 cylinder, 4 stroke diesel engines
Speed 14 knots (26 kmh)



Remarks

Koolinda was used mostly for passenger and general freight transport on coastal routes in Western Australian waters. The State Shipping Service of Western Australia was established in 1912 with coastal ships operating as far north as Darwin. In May 1932, Koolinda famously narrowly missed seeing two German aviators lost on the Kimberley coastline. The men were eventually found close to death.


The commencement of the Second World War saw the Service running three ships Koolama, Koolinda and Kybra. Koolinda was used to carry evacuees from Darwin and PNG 1941-1942. Koolinda made over 16 trips into Darwin before making her final journey carrying evacuees. In the aftermath of the battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran in November 1941, the Koolinda recovered German sailors from a 31-man lifeboat and returned them to Carnarvon.

Soldiers carried

Fremantle to Exmouth 9 - 11 Feb 1943

Fremantle to Broome 21 Mar 1944 - 28 Mar 1944