Whangape was a 2931 gross tons cargo ship, built by T Richardson & Sons, Hartlepool in 1892 for the British Maritime Trust as Adriana, sold while on the slips to Elder, Dempster & Company and renamed Asaba. After being launched she was sold to the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand and renamed Whangape. She was chartered by the Royal Australian Navy and took part in operations against the German colonies in the Pacific with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force during the First World War in 1914. She was returned to her owners in 1914. Whangape was sold in 1928 to Chun Young Zan (Moller & Co) and renamed Nanking.