■ Orsova happy to carry cargo and passengers

SHORTLY after the end of the Second World War, the Orient Line ordered two passenger liners for their services to Australia and in 1954 they took delivery of a third vessel, the 29,091 grt Orsova, a slightly updated version of the previous two.

She was designed to carry up to 1,500 passengers, plus a quantity of cargo, and had a service speed of 22 knots from twin screws driven by geared turbines.

In 1958 her service from the UK was expanded to include trans-Pacific voyages from Sydney to San Francisco and seven years later she was transferred to P&O ownership.

Having spent her latter days cruising, Orsova was scrapped in 1974.

This picture gives a good impression of the general layout including the position of cargo holds concealed beneath passenger decks.

By Capt Murray Paterson.