Name RMS OrcadesSS Orcades Cost £3,418,000 Launched 14 October 1947 Beam 28 m | Yard number 950 Length 216 m Builder Vickers-Armstrongs | |
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Owner Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line) 1948–66Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) 1966–73 Route UK – Australia via Suez, later transpacific and via Panama Canal to UK (also cruises) | ||
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.
