SS Orcades (1947)

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

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.

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

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.

Gallery

• 
  Orcades c.1950 from a promotional postcard
• 
  Orcades 1959 in yellow livery
• 
  Orcades at Port Said 1957