SS Orcades (1947)

For other ships with the same name, see Orcades (disambiguation).

300px Orcades leaving Southampton, Christmas Eve 1967
History
United Kingdom
Name:	RMS Orcades SS Orcades
Owner:	Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line) 1948–66 Peninsular and 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(Shipbuilders) Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness, England
Cost:	£3,418,000
Yard number:	950
Launched:	14 Oct 1947
Completed:	14 Nov 1948
Maiden voyage:	14 Dec 1948
Out of service:	13 Oct 1972
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

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 and was later used as a cruise ship. "Orcades" is the Latin name for the Orkney Islands.

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, Victoria, Australia. She was refloated and returned to service.

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

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.

Gallery

• Orcades c.1950.jpg

  Orcades c.1950 from a promotional postcard

• SS Orcades (1948) taken in 1959 in yellow livery.jpg

  Orcades 1959 in yellow livery

• SS Orcades (1948)- Port Said 1957.png

  Orcades at Port Said 1957

References

• Latimer, David W (2002) Passenger ships of the 20th century: an illustrated encyclopedia, p. 259, Colourpoint Books ISBN 1-898392-70-6
• Museum Victoria
• Ocean liner museum
• Photographs and deck plans
• ssMaritime