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 (RMS) carrying first and tourist class passengers. "Orcades" carried many migrants to Australia and New Zealand and was later used as a cruise ship.

During the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne the "Orcades" served as an accommodation ship.

The vessel underwent refits in 1959 and 1964. During the 1959 refit the ship obtained a 'stovepipe' fitting to its funnel. Under the 1964 refit "Orcades" became a single class vessel and its external primary colour scheme changed from yellow to white.

The vessel's sister ship was the "Oronsay" (1951).

Orcades is an ancient name [ [http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Places/orkencyc.html Encyclopedia Britannica] ] for the Orkney Islands.

Footnotes

References

* Latimer, David W (2002) "Passenger ships of the 20th century: an illustrated encyclopedia", p.259, Colourpoint Books ISBN 1 898392 70 6
* [http://museumvictoria.com.au/DiscoveryCentre/Infosheets/Orcades Museum Victoria]
* [http://www.oceanlinermuseum.co.uk/orcades.htm Ocean liner museum]
* [http://www.ozhoo.com.au/~strathsisters/orcades/index.htm Photographs and deck plans]
* [http://www.ssmaritime.com/orcades.htm ssMaritime]