Ranui was built by Mac McGeady of Supreme Craft and funded by the Patriotic Fund of the Joint Council of the Red Cross and St John.

Originally named El Alamein she was launched on 29 January 1945. She was designed as a passenger ferry with a shallow draft,

an open top and passenger capacity of 40 passengers.

She ferried returned World War II servicemen over Lake Rotorua to Lake Rotoiti and onto the Rotorua Convalescent Hospital.

Rānui was welcomed by pōwhiri and launched into the waters of the Hokianga harbour on the 15 June, 2018.