Page 1 of 1
Tabakea (Landing Craft) 1967
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 5:36 pm
by Arturo
Tabakea is a landing craft built in England in 1967.
She is 631 tons, 63 feet long and powered by 2-168 hp Gardner Engines. Speed; 8 knots.
Tabakea meens “Turtle God”
Kiribati, 1979, S.G.?, Scott; 339
Source: Watercraft Philately
Re: Tabakea (Landing Craft) 1967
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:55 pm
by aukepalmhof
The TABAKEA (turtle) was built as a landing craft ferry on a yard in Twickenham, near London in 1967 I believe for the British Government, at that time Kiribati was still a colony of Great Britain and became independent in 1979.
After arrival in the Gilbert Island as Kiribati was known, she was used in the passenger-vehicle ferry service on the Tarawa lagoon between the commercial islet of Betio and the administrative islet of Bairiki a passage of about 20 minutes.
Occasional she made voyages to the two nearest outer islands, a passage of around two days, where she loaded huge loads of pandanus thatch, which is used as roofing material in Tarawa. It was a light load so the pandanus could be loaded very high, and the ship then resembles more like a floating haystack.
I could not find anything more on the ship, fate unknown.
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/article ... seadog.htm
Sources: Log Book 9/21 and internet
Gilbert Island 1976 $1 sg37, scott?, Kiribati 1979 $1 sg98, scott339 and 1981 $1 sg023