By: William Gray1st Mar 2021 6:13PMThe RATA was built in 1929 by Bow McLachlan + Co, Paisley Scotland, and was launched on April 12th 1929, and under the command of Capt Pearson, the RATA completed her maiden voyage to Nelson on August 8th 1929, her building cost at the time was $80,000. In 1941 she was taken over by the Govt for war service mainly mine sweeping, she later returned to normal service, until the RATA and the first TITOKI were laid up in Nelson, having been replaced by the then new TOTARA and the new TITOKI, They were both sold in 1958 to the Lanena Shipping Co of Hong Kong and were towed there by the tug CABRILLA, the RATA was scrapped in 1959, and the First TITOKI was converted to a lighter (Barge). The image of the RATA displayed here was taken by the late Vern Messenger and appeared in the Weekly News as shown here, i have the same copy.