The motorship Teraaka (according to the stamp inscription), Teraka (according to Lloyd's Register, for her predecessor). She was built by Brodogradiliste Titovo at Kraljevica in 1959 as the Opatija, her name being changed to Ninikoria when bought by the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Development Authority in 1968. She has a gross tonnage of 980, net 472 tons. Overall length 211 ft. 4 in.; breadth 31 ft. 10 in., draft 12 ft. 1 lin., depth 20ft 2 in. There are two decks. Originally she was a tourist holiday ship taking visitors around the Dalmatian Islands. In 1974 the operation of the vessel passed to the central Govt., her role being changed from primarily a passenger ship to that of a marine training ship, crewed by officers and trainees of the marine training school. At the time of her transfer she was renamed Teraaka, derived from the legend of a Gilbertese warrior and navigator, from the island of Nikunan, who sailed in a "baurua" (a large Gilbertese sailing canoe) throughout the Gilbert Islands and as far a field as Nauru and the Phoenix Islands. However in the 1975-76 Lloyd's Register she is still listed as the Ninikoria.
SG23 Sea Breezes 9/76