SS Oronsay (1951)
Encyclopedia
For other ships of the same name, see Oronsay.
SS Oronsay was the second Orient Line ship built after World War II
. A sister ship to SS Orcades
, she was named after one of many islands called Oronsay
on the west coast of Scotland
.
The liner was completed in 1951 at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness
; but several months behind schedule due to a serious fire while in the fitting-out berth. The Oronsay operated the UK to Australasia
service, via the Suez Canal
until 1953. Her accommodation set new standards, in both first and tourist class, with decor by Brian O'Rourke. In 1960 the Orient Line was absorbed into P&O
and Oronsay continued as a cruise ship, but, with declining passenger numbers, she was broken up in 1975.
SS Oronsay was the second Orient Line ship built after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A sister ship to SS Orcades
Orcades (1948)
SS Orcades was an ocean liner serving primarily on the UK – Australia – New Zealand route. It started service as a British Royal Mail Steamer carrying first and tourist class passengers...
, she was named after one of many islands called Oronsay
Oronsay
This is a list of islands called Oronsay , which provides an index for islands in Scotland with this and similar names. It is one of the more common names for Scottish islands. The names come from Örfirisey which translates from Old Norse as "tidal" or "ebb island"...
on the west coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The liner was completed in 1951 at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
; but several months behind schedule due to a serious fire while in the fitting-out berth. The Oronsay operated the UK to Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
service, via the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
until 1953. Her accommodation set new standards, in both first and tourist class, with decor by Brian O'Rourke. In 1960 the Orient Line was absorbed into P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
and Oronsay continued as a cruise ship, but, with declining passenger numbers, she was broken up in 1975.
Famous passengers
- When he was a child, politician Tony AbbottTony AbbottAnthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
's family returned to Australia on the Oronsay in 1961. - Musician David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
travelled on the Oronsay from San Francisco to YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
in March/April 1973.