The SS Maori was a British refrigerated cargo steamship constructed in 1893 by C.S. Swan & Hunter at Wallsend-on-Tyne for the Shaw, Savill & Albion Co. of London. Designed specifically for the colonial frozen meat trade, she featured an improved three-deck configuration, a poop deck, a long bridge house, and a lengthy topgallant forecastle. Her steel hull was equipped with a cellular double bottom throughout, and her hold was subdivided by six water-tight bulkheads, with insulation in her holds and 'tween decks to preserve perishable cargo. Measuring 402.6 feet (122.7 m) in length between perpendiculars and 48.3 feet (14.7 m) in beam, Maori was assessed at 5,200 GRT and 4,038 NRT, with a deadweight capacity of approximately 7,000 tons. Her propulsion system consisted of a 461 nhp triple-expansion steam engine with cylinders of 29, 46, and 77 inches in diameter and a 48-inch stroke, driving a single screw propeller. This setup enabled her to reach speeds of up to 12 knots during sea trials held off Tynemouth on October 28, 1893. Her maiden voyage commenced in December 1893 after loading 5,900 tons of cargo in Gravesend, with her destination being New Zealand ports. Throughout her service, Maori primarily transported frozen mutton, wool, and other colonial produce, visiting numerous ports including Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Timaru, Auckland, and Wellington, before returning to London in May 1894. Tragically, her service ended in August 1909 when she was wrecked off the coast of South Africa near Cape Town during a storm. The vessel ran aground on the rocky coastline south of Llandudno, resulting in the loss of 32 lives, including her Master and most navigating officers. The wreck now lies in approximately 24 meters of water amidst granite boulders and has become a notable scuba diving site, although it has suffered from vandalism and salvage activity over the years. The wreck was protected under South Africa’s National Heritage Resources Act and remains a significant site for maritime history and exploration.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.