SS Cathay was the name of a number of ships, including:-

• SS Cathay, launched in 1924, served with P & O until bombed and sunk in 1942.

• SS Cathay
  SS Empire Archer
  Empire Archer was a 7,031 ton cargo ship which was built in 1942. She was renamed Baron Murray in 1946. In 1959 she was renamed Cathay, serving until 1963 when she was scrapped.-Wartime:...
  
  , launched in 1942 as Empire Archer, renamed Cathay in 1959 and operated by the Cathay Shipping Corporation, Panama and scrapped in 1963.

, completed for Compagnie Maritime Belge

Compagnie Maritime Belge

-History:The CMB was founded in 1895 under the name Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo . At the request of Leopold II of Belgium and with support from British investors, a maritime connection was opened with Congo Free State. On 6 February 1895 the CMB ship Léopoldville was the first to leave port...

 in 1957 as Baudouinville, withdrawn 1960, re-named Cathay in 1961 and operated by P&O. Transferred in 1969 to P&O subsidiary Eastern & Australian Steamship Company, (E&A). Withdrawn December 1975. Eventually passed to People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 as Kengshin, later Shanghai. Fate uncertain. Sister ship was built as CMB's Jadotville in 1956, also transferred 1961 to P&O then to E&A (1970). Withdrawn 1975, later scrapped Taiwan.