Orient Line ships

[Doc Vernon]

Attachment 26077

"Orient Line ships -- the famous 'O Boats' -- weresuperior to the P&O liners. There was almost nocomparison," remembered Howard Franklin. "Ships like the Oronsay(1951) were more formal, even on the UK-Australia run, in first class and farbetter, innovative decor."

[Peter F Chard]

If my memory serves I think all the Orient Line liners were built by the same yard, Vickers at Barrow, Lancashire. Not surprising they were the best, cheers Peter in NZ -- also Lancashire born and bred !!!.

[Doc Vernon]

LOL No wonder why you say that Peter good on you though!
Cheers Actually to be exact Vickers-Armstrongs Cheers

[Colin Wood]

They were not always that formal. Remember Christmas eve 1973 in Darwin, I piloted either the Oronsay or Orsova inwards and wen I told them we would be using the starboard anchor with one shackle n the water, the Staff Captain sneeringly said 'I suppose we will end up with 8 shackles', we did as anchor snared some leftover war time wreckage. Come sailing, I was really glad it had snagged.
The line offered very discounted fares to fill the ship, so half the Darwin population who had not already flown out for Christmas booked for a cheap Christmas/New Year sailing to Brisbane and Sydney.
Come sailing time, the remainder of the local population had gone on board to see their mates off and quoff or guzzle duty free grog. ( I think this might have been the start of customs stopping open use of duty free bars in Darwin.)
When I tried to board to take vessel to sea, the throng was amazing and QM's eventually got me on board through a stores port.

Wind was standard force 3 to 4 SE'ly so directly at berth. Tug assistance was the Goyder, 10ton bollard pull, so on starboard quarter and pilot boat on port quarter pushing.The 8 shackles helped get me clear of wharf and able to get enough room to turn and not wipe out the Fort Hill or Iron ore wharves. When got back to shore, Stokes Hill wharf was covered with broken glass from fight between ship and shore.
Very glaf I was not on that cruise.

[Leslie Gray]

Attachment 26077

"Orient Line ships -- the famous 'O Boats' -- weresuperior to the P&O liners. There was almost nocomparison," remembered Howard Franklin. "Ships like the Oronsay(1951) were more formal, even on the UK-Australia run, in first class and farbetter, innovative decor."

Hi.I hope I'm doing this right.R540311 Les Gray.I joined Orcades June 1955 and stayed in her for a year as Oiler/Fireman
We did one Med.Cruise,one World Cruise,then a line run to Aussie. Great Days.

[Thomas bell]

Re Oronsay I sailed on her and I’ll bet I had the same cabin , it had the hause pipe going thro it . I joined her at Tilbury March 1957
I was 15 years 8 Months First trip was Australia via the Cape as it was during the Suez crisis I think the capt was NWSmith
One of the bosuns was a guy called (Wings March) , I think he got the name after falling down a hatch .Great days to remember
Ton Bell now 78

[Des Taff Jenkins]

No Orient Line anymore, otherwise I might have been able to go and see one. New liner berth at Eden on the far South Coast of N.S.W. had the first Liner recently Printer not working otherwise i would have put picture on.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

https://vimeo.com/361982208 Pacific Explorer at Edn
Cheers

https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/eden-port-1519

[happy daze john in oz]

Unlike P&O UK, P&O Australia does not build ne w ships.
It takes old Princess ones and refurbishes them.
So far two Holland America and One Princess, the Dawn which is now the one in the photo, with another, Golden Princess, in September of next year.

[Ken Elvy]

Also my first ship, Graham, Joined her in June 1957 and was in that very same cabin for two trips to Oz across the Pacific and back
Ken

[Thomas bell]

I think I had the same cabin in 1957 , the chain locker was just beneath.The first time we dropped anchor I’ll never forget the vibration and the noise.
A very happy ship , I went to Australia twice before I was sixteen. No time for delinquency you grew up fast . Great memories.