SS Orcades (1947)

SS Orcades was an ocean liner serving primarily the UK – Australia – New Zealand route. She started service as a British Royal Mail Ship (RMS) carrying first and tourist class passengers. Orcades carried many migrants to Australia and New Zealand^[1] and was later used as a cruise ship, and is featured in the British Pathe films "I am a passenger" on YouTube. She also made several voyages from Canada (Vancouver). "Orcades" is the Latin name^[2] for the Orkney Islands.

Name

• RMS Orcades
• SS Orcades

Owner

• Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line)
  1948–66
• Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O)
  1966–73

Port of registry London

RouteUK – Australia via Suez, later transpacific and via Panama Canal to UK (also cruises)

Quick facts History, United Kingdom ...

Orcades leaving Southampton, Christmas Eve 1969
History
United Kingdom
Name	RMS Orcades SS Orcades
Owner	Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line) 1948–66 Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) 1966–73
Port of registry	London
Route	UK – Australia via Suez, later transpacific and via Panama Canal to UK (also cruises)
Builder	Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Cost	£3,418,000
Yard number	950
Launched	14 October 1947
Completed	14 November 1948
Maiden voyage	14 December 1948
Out of service	13 October 1972
Identification	IMO number: 5264247
Fate	Broken up 1973, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
General characteristics
Tonnage	As built: 28,164 GRT; 1959: 28,396 GRT; 1964: 28,399 GRT
Length	709ft (216.1 m)
Beam	90.6ft (25.0 m)
Draught	31ft (9.4 m)
Installed power	34,000shp
Propulsion	Geared turbines, twin screws
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h) service speed
Capacity	As built, 773 1st class, 772 tourist class (1959, 631 1st class, 734 tourist class. 1964, 1,635 tourist class)
Notes	Originally corn coloured hull; white from 1964 refit

Close

Built at the Barrow-in-Furness yard of Vickers-Armstrong, Orcades (yard no. 950) had an identical hull and machinery to P&O's Himalaya (yard no. 951), but differed in superstructure and interior layout. The vessel's near-sister ships were Oronsay and Orsova

In 1952 Orcades was fitted with a 'top hat' funnel extension to clear smoke from the after decks. On 7 May 1952, she ran aground in Port Philip Bay half a mile off Rosebud Pier, Victoria, Australia.^[3][4] She was refloated and returned to service.^[5]

During the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Orcades served as an accommodation ship.^[1]

Orcades was refitted in 1959 and 1964. In the 1964 refit, Orcades became a single-class vessel and her hull colour changed from "Orient corn" to white.