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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

Orient Line

SS Oronsay

A painting of the Oronsay

RMS (later SS) Oronsay was the second Orient Line ship built after World War II, her earlier sister RMS Orcades was built in 1948. She was named after an island off the West coast of Scotland, which also influenced her décor. To enhance her Scottish identity she had a “Targe and Broadsword” insignia located aft of her funnel and on her bow. She had the typical Orient livery of a Corn coloured hull, white superstructure and a black topped yellow.

Built by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd at Barrow-in-Furness, especially for the Australasian service, her accommodations set a new standard, both in first and tourist class. With the final cost of building coming in at £4,228,000, she was considered to be the epitome of post-war British ship-building. Her decor was by Brian O'Rourke who was also the interior designer for what was called the “new look” of the Orion, as well as the Orcades. However, her exterior differed from the earlier Orcades (and the newer SS Orsova and the last Orient Line ship ever built, the SS Oriana) having been fitted with a thick mast set atop her Bridge. Like other passenger liners, Oronsay had considerable cargo facilities, with space for 370,000 cubic feet, accommodating both dry and refrigerated cargoes.

Above and below: The launching of the Oronsay

Originally issued by Orient Line – part of the author’s private collection

See during the fitting out process

Originally issued by Orient Line - part of the author’s private collection

Her keel was laid down in 1949 and was launched of Friday June 30, 1950 by Mrs A. Anderson, the wife of the Companies Chairman. However, during her fitting out, on October 28, at 9 pm a fire started in the cork insulation in the No. 2 hold and it burned for three days. The ship developed a 20 degree list. As there was a fear of her capsizing, a hole was cut into the side of her hull to let the water flow out.

Oronsay seen on fire and listing to port

From the P&O archives

In spite of the mishap, her completion was only delayed by only eight weeks. On April 29 and 30, 1951, she run her speed trails on the Clyde reaching a respectable 23.23 knots. She was officially delivered to Orient Line at Tilbury on May 3, 1951 and she was made ready for her maiden voyage to Australia.

RMS Oronsay being delivered to Orient Line on May 3, 1951

Author’s private collection

RMS Oronsay set sail for her maiden voyage to Australia on May 16, under the command of Captain Shurrock and sailed via the Suez Canal, to Fremantle (Perth), Adelaide, Melbourne, arriving in Sydney on June 18, 1951

Follow the rest of her career after her deck by deck as built description.

SS Oronsay Deck by Deck Description

Official Orient Line Postcard

All postcards - Author’s private collection

First Class

Description of Deck layout starting from forward to aft

First Class passenger accommodations occupied seven decks forward/amidships. These were named Bridge, Sun, A, B, C, D, E and F decks.

Bridge Deck

The Bridge

Sun Deck

This was a popular area for both games and enjoying the sun protected by a screen located forward. This deck could only be reached by stairs port and starboard.

A deck

The Arena

Author’s private collection

Forward was the popular fully enclosed “Arena” Look-Out, which was surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. This was followed by the Arena, then the Lobby and Library. Amidships was taken up by the spacious Games deck. Located aft was a lounge and as well as the Grill Restaurant, overlooking the pool down on A deck.

Games Deck

Author’s private collection

The aft decks with the First and Tourist Class Pools in view

B deck

The Main Lounge

Author’s private collection

This deck had one of the two walk around promenades. Far forward was the Children’s Playroom and play deck, followed by the forward Lobby and the Main Lounge. Next the Main Lobby and side Galleries, with the Verandah Bar aft.

Verandah Cafe

Author’s private collection

C Deck

The forward section was taken up by cabins, the Shop, Hairdressing Salon, with the Tavern and pool far aft. There was also a full walk around promenade deck.

D Deck

This deck, except for the Pursers Office was dedicated to cabins and suites, the most famous of these being The Flat. Other cabins were one and two berth cabins, most with private facilities.

The Flat (suite)

Author’s private collection

Outside twin bedded cabin

Author’s private collection

E Deck

This deck was fully occupied by cabins, and the Main (First Class) entrance Foyer and the Doctor’s Surgery.

Dining Room

Author’s private collection

F Deck

Forward section was occupied by cabins followed by the Main Dinning Saloon, a separate Children’s Dinning Room (port) and a small Auxiliary Dinning Room (starboard).

RMS Oronsay seen at Princess Wharf Auckland New Zealand in the late 1950’s

This photo was sent to me, but I was told that they think it was taken by a Mr. Eastwood Snr

But have no confirmation of same – See Photo note at bottom of page

Tourist Class

A Deck

With First Class occupying the forward section of the ship, Tourist was located aft, sharing a number of decks A to E decks. This deck contained the pool, changing room with showers, sun bathing deck and sports facilities.

B Deck

Forward was occupied with two and four berth cabins, a few with private facilities. These were followed the main stairwell, and a fully covered spacious screened Verandah deck with the Upper Promenade on either side. A Bar located forward on the starboard side. Aft was the Children’s Play Room and deck.

C Deck

Forward started with the Pursers office, Surgery, Lobby and Main stairwell. This was followed by the Main Lounge and Bar as well as the shop aft. On both sides were the lower Promenade decks.

D Deck

Aft of the Galley, was the Tourist Class Dinning Room, followed by the Lobby and a very large Library. Aft of this were further cabins, most being two berths, with some having four berths. None had private facilities.

Inside twin/tree or four berth cabin

Author’s private collection

E & F Decks

These two decks were fully occupied by cabins. Most of these were four berths; however there were some two and six berth cabins. None had private facilities.

Please Note: As you will have seen, I have no photos/postcards of the Tourist Class public rooms. If you have some, I would greatly appreciate some!

SS Oronsay at full speed

Author’s private collection

Specifications as Built

Built by: Vickers Armstrong shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness

Call Sighn: GCNB

Tonnage: 27,632 GRT (gross registered tons) – 28,136 GRT in 1970

Length: 708ft – 216m

Beam: 93.5ft – 28.5m

Draught: 31ft - 9.4 m

Propulsion: Parsons marine steam geared turbines - 42,500 SHP

Screws: two

Service speed: 22 knots.

Passengers: 668 First - 883 Tourist Class – 1,400 One Class in 1972

Crew: 622

Air-conditioning: Fitted in 1959

RMS Oronsay and early Orient Line postcard

Author’s private collection

Oronsay’s Career

Oronsay operated the UK to Australasia service sailing via the Suez Canal. However, on February 14, 1954 for on January 1, 1954, she would become the first Orient Line liner to cross the Pacific sailing to San Francisco via Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, and Vancouver. After returning to Sydney, she made two further Pacific crossings. In 1960 she transited the Panama Canal completing her first round the world voyage.

In San Francisco Harbour

Author’s private collection

On May 2, 1960, P&O (Peninsular Orient Line) absorbed Orient Line however Oronsay retained her traditional Orient Line corn coloured hull for another four years, until 1964, when in April the hull was finally painted white and she was the first of the Orient Line ships to change livery. She departed Southampton gleaming white on April 18, 1964.

P&O Postcard of a gleaming white SS Oronsay

Author’s private collection

Postcard of her transiting the Panama Canal after her hull was painted white in1964

Author’s private collection

Above and below: Two fine stern views of the SS Oronsay

Author’s private collection

Orient Line postcard - Author’s private collection

On January 14, 1970 Oronsay arrived in Vancouver but somehow it was said that there was Typhoid onboard, which meant that the health authorities had the ship quarantined and anchored out in the harbour. She remained there until February 4 when she was cleared and was free to depart. The outbreak was traced down to sewerage pipes that had been wrongly installed during a recent refit. She continued operating both Line Voyages and cruises; however from 1973 she spent most of her time as a cruise ship.

Oronsay and P&O liner Chusan meet up in Tenerife in the 1970’s

*Photographer unknown – Please read special photo note at bottom of page

In 1972 Oronsay was converted into a one class ship, like most of the fleet, now capable of accommodating 1,400 passengers and she become a reasonable success, although it was very short lived. There is one event that many passengers on one voyage will remember is in March/April 1973 when Rock star David Bowie sailed on the Oronsay from Los Angeles to Yokohama. During the voyage he gave an impromptu solo acoustic performance for the passengers and crew. The ship arrived in Yokohama on April 5 to great media fanfare.

However, she was mostly based in Australia and by 1974 it had become obvious that passenger numbers was in a severe decline with either superior ships on the horizon, including the SS Oriana as well as the foreign invasion such as Chandris Lines, Lloyd Triestino, Sitmar Lines, Flotta Lauro and TSS Fedor Shalyapin of “Celebrity Club Cruises’ operated by the author” as well as other Soviet ships operated by CTC, which offered cruises at more favourable fares.

Looking up to the Bridge from the forward Sports Arena

Photograph by Pam Franklin – provided by Stephen Moore

Thus, P&O decided to sell Oronsay and sold her to Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Company of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She departed Southampton for Australia on August 4, 1975 under the command of Captain Jack Lefevre, sailing to Sydney via Hamilton (Bermuda), Port Everglades, Nassau, Cristobal, Balboa, Acapulco, San Francisco, Honolulu, Suva and Auckland, arriving in Sydney on September 15.

Then on September 16 she departed Sydney with some 700 passengers for her final one way Fly/Cruise to Hong Kong, sailing via Brisbane and Manila, arriving in Hong Kong on September 28. Her passengers had a farewell party and left her feeling very sad for she was a fine ship and many had sailed on her many times, but as soon as they disembarked, workers came onboard to remove all that had not been sold (destore) to the breakers and the ship was left looking much like a lonely and an empty shell.

On October 7, 1975 SS Oronsay arrived in Kaohsiung Taiwan and on the 9th the transfer papers were officially completed, and she was soon broken up.

This fine liner that became known as a ship with a Scottish heritage had called in total at some 150 ports and had completed 64 world (line) voyages and 37 cruises and that in her 25 years of operation. But with her disposal, the sad fact was, that in a little over three years P&O had disposed of six fine liners; these being the Iberia, Orcades, Chusan, Orsova, Himalaya, and the now the Oronsay. That left P&O with just three ships for the Australian trade, the Arcadia, Oriana, and Canberra.

SS Oronsay departs Sydney for the last time, heading for Hong Kong

Author’s private collection

Photographs and Oronsay Memorabilia

Oronsay seen in her final dry-dock in Sydney

Photograph sent by Peter Thurlow, but believed to be taken by Chris-Benham

A wonderful memory of the Oronsay berthed at Circular Quay Sydney in her latter days

Author’s private collection

A souvenir Ships Bell set on an Anchor

This decorative Oronsay cigarette box is also part of my collection

A typical souvenir dish of the ship

Author’s private collection – the author has a set of them

Upon boarding this fold-up ships layout is given to passengers

Click on the image for an enlargement

Author’s private collection

SS Oronsay seen in Southampton for the last time

*Photographer unknown – Please read special photo note at bottom of page

Watch a wonderful 1960 film by British Pathe

“I Am a Passenger – Orient Lines SS Orcades”

Or: www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=78596

This film is also suitable to watch for the Orient Line SS Oronsay

“Orient Line – A Fleet History”

Is available for £23.50 plus p&p from “Ships in Focus”

email: sales@shipsinfocus.co.uk

***************************************************

Also Visit our Features on the following Orient Lines/P&O Ships

Orient Lines: RMS Orcades – SS Oronsay - SS Oriana - RMS Orion

P&O: RMS Strathaird - SS Iberia - SS Canberra

I trust you have enjoyed reading about this loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!

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Photographs on cruise-australia.net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

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