Built as a cargo-passenger vessel under yard No 976 by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness, U.K. for the Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London.
30 June 1950 launched under the name ORONSAY, named after an island off the coast of Argyllshire on the west coast of Scotland between Colonsay and Islay, Mrs. A.L.Anderson, wife of the Orient Line Chairman, performed the launching ceremony.
Tonnage 27.632 gross, 15.122 net, 11.501dwt., dim. 708.8 x 90.6 x 31.0ft (draught)., length bpp 681.7ft.
Powered by 6 Pametrade type geared steam turbines, manufactured by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd., Barrow-in-Furness, 42.500 shp., speed 22 knots, twin screw.
Passenger accommodation for 668 first, 833 tourist class, crew 630.
Cargo capacity 151.920 cubic feet general cargo and 222.990 cubic feet reefer cargo.
28 October 1950 during fitting out damaged by fire, when the cork insulation in the reefer hold No 2 got on fire, most probably during welding, she was severe damaged and delivery was delayed.
Building cost £4.228.000.
She was built for the liner service between the U.K. and Australia.
16 May 1951 sailed from London under command of Capt. T.L. Shurrock on her maiden voyage to Australia.
Shortly after entering service she was fitted out with Denny Brown fin stabilizers.
01January 1954 entered the new service of the Orient Line from Sydney via Auckland, Suva and Honolulu to Victoria B.C., Vancouver and San Francisco, before she returned via the same ports to Australia.
1954 Fitted out with a Welsh Hat on the funnel (as seen on the stamp) to reduce soot on deck.
09 November 1959 refitted by Harland & Wolf in Liverpool, fully air-condition throughout passenger and crew accommodation.
02 May 1960 Transferred to the P& O-Orient Lines.
21 September 1962 registered ownership transferred to Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.
August 1975 made her last voyage to Australia, sailed from Southampton via the North Atlantic to Port Everglades, Panama Canal, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland to Sydney.
From Sydney she sailed to Hong Kong were all her passengers disembarked and most of her crew, before she headed for the scrap yard in Taiwan.
09 October 1975 sold to Nan Feng Steel Enterprise Co. Ltd, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
10 April 1976 work commenced.
On Bahamas 1984 35c sg 677 . Fiji 1980 50c sg 599.
Source: Origins Orient and Oriana by C.F. Morris. Orient Line a Fleet History by P. Newall. Some web-sites.