Orient steamship company's "SS Orient"

Category

Library Item

Item no

24520

Title

Orient steamship company's "SS Orient"

Description

Item states:
Length 460 ft - Beam 46.35
Tons register 5,400 - Horsepower 5,400

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1881

Size

14.1 x 23.6 cm

Type

Photograph; Reproduction

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

SS Orient was built in 1879 by John Elder & Co, Glasgow and the first ship built for the Orient Steam Navigation Co.Ltd. She was also the first specifically designed for the Australian mail service and built to Admiralty armed merchant cruiser specification. She had two funnels, four masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was passenger accommodation for 120-1st, 130-2nd, 300 steerage class, or 1,500 troops. Launched on 5th June 1879, she sailed from London on her maiden voyage to Melbourne and Sydney via the Cape on 3rd Nov.1879 and returned via Suez.

She was the biggest ship on the Australian route, and set a London/Adelaide record of 37 days 22 hours. On her second outward voyage in 1880 she set a Plymouth/Cape Town record of 17 days 21 hours which stood for 10 years. In 1881 she had refrigeration fitted and in 1882 was chartered as transport for the Anglo-Egyptian War, then later in 1884 she had electric lights installed.

In November 1899 she became a troopship for the Boer War and on 17th July 1903 resumed commercial services to Sydney. Her last sailing on this service began on 23rd July 1909 and in 1910 she was sold to Italian ship breakers and renamed ORIC for her final voyage to Italy where she was scrapped.

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Related images

Related subjects

Landscape > Water > Seas

Transport > Water > Masts

Transport > Water > Sails

Transport > Water > Ships

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