Oruba

From SN Guides

Work in progress - started by Benjidog 6 Dec 2009

Introduction

Oruba was in service from 1889 until scuttled in 1916 so had a service life of 27 years

Basic Data

• Type: Passenger ship
• Registered owners,managers and operators: Pacific Steam Navigation Co.
• Builders: Naval Construction and Armaments
• Yard: Barrow
• Country: UK
• Yard number: 1654
• Registry: N/K
• Official number: 96310
• Signal letters: N/K
• Call sign: N/K
• Classification society: N/K
• Gross tonnage: 5,857 grt
• Net tonnage: 3,351
• Deadweight: N/K
• Length: 131.1 Metres
• Breadth: 15 Metres
• Depth: 10.4 Metres
• Draught: N/K
• Engines: Single triple expansion steam engine
• Engine builders: Naval Construction and Armaments Co
• Works: Barrow
• Country: UK
• Power: 1,030 HP, 7,000 IHP
• Propulsion: Single screw
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Passenger capacity:1st. Class: 126; 2nd Class: 120; 3rd Class 400
• Crew: N/K

Career Highlights

• 20 Mar 1889: Launched by Naval Construction and Armaments
• 1890: Transferred to Orient Line
• 1906: Transferred to Royal Mail Steam Packet Co
• 1914: Purchased by the Admiralty
• 1 January 1916: Scuttled at Kephalo Bay Mudros as part of a breakwater

Service History

Oruba was built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Co's Britain to Valparaiso service.

In 1890 she was transferred to the Orient Line service and sailed from London on 4th July 1890 for Melbourne and Sydney via Suez.

In Feb.1906 she was transferred to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co and continued on the Australia service until Oct 16th 1908 when she commenced her last sailing to Australia. Oruba was the first vessel to use the newly opened Outer Harbor wharf at Port Adelaide. Until this was built, in bad weather it was sometimes necessary for passengers to disembark at Semaphore by being transferred to launches using a bosun's chair. She was later used on the service to Buenos Aires.

Oruba was purchased by the British Admiralty in 1914 and rebuilt to represent the battleship, HMS Orion.

In 1915 she was scuttled at Mudros Harbour, Lemnos Island, Greece as a breakwater in 1915.