ORMEDA/ORDUNA
(1) was built in 1914 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 15507grt, a length of 570ft, a beam
of 67ft 4in and a service speed of 15 knots. She was
laid down with the intention of being named Ormeda
but was launched on 2nd October 1913 as the Orduna.
She commenced her maiden voyage to Valparaiso on 19th
February 1914 and in the following October was chartered
to Cunard for their Liverpool to New York service,
standing in for vessels requisitioned for trooping.
On 28th June 1915 she was chased by a U-boat but managed
to outrun her attacker some 20 miles from the Smalls.
Twelve days later , on 9th July, she was missed by
a torpedo when 30 miles south of Queenstown in Southern
Ireland. During December 1915, she carried Canadian
troops from Canada to England. In June 1918 she sank
a German submarine by gunfire and on 1st December
of the same year was in collision with and sank Elder
Dempster's Konakry off Galley Head, Ireland. She returned
to PSNC on 31st December 1919 and resumed service
to Montevideo on 1st April 1920. In 1921 she was transferred
to Royal Mail's Hamburg - Southampton - New York service,
to cater for a lack of German berths, making her first
sailing on 28th May. In the autumn of 1922 she returned
to her builders for a refit and resumed the South
American service on 1st January 1923. Converted to
oil in 1926 she reverted to PSNC ownership on 7th
April 1927, operating the Panama route. In 1941 she
was requisitioned as a troopship and continued in
that role until November 1950 when she was decommissioned
and laid up. She was broken up at Dalmuir in 1951
after 37 years of exemplary service.
ORBITA (1) was built in 1914
by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 15495grt,
a length of 570ft, a beam of 67ft 4in and a service speed
of 15 knots. Sister of the Orduna she was launched on 7th
July 1914 and entered service in 1915 as an auxiliary cruiser
and also as a short crossing troopship. In March 1919 she
was completed as a commercial vessel and commenced her southbound
maiden voyage on 26th September. On 30th April 1921 she was
chartered to Royal Mail Lines for deployment on their Hamburg
- Southampton - New York service and two years later, together
with her sister, was transferred to Royal Mail ownership.
Three years later and after being converted to oil burning
she returned to PSNC and on 4th November 1926 resumed the
Liverpool - Panama Canal - Callao - Valparaiso service. In
1941 she was requisitioned for troopship duties for the duration
of the Second World War and in 1946 was used to carry emigrants
to Australia and New Zealand. She was broken up by Thos. W.
Ward at Newport, Monmouthshire in 1950.
JAMAICA was built in 1908 by
W Harkness & Son at Middlesbrough with a tonnage of 1138grt,
a length of 220ft, a beam of 34ft and a service speed of 11
knots. She was launched on 11th August 1908 for Elder Line
Ltd and completed as a passenger feeder for the Caribbean
operating out of Kingston, Jamaica, connecting with the Imperial
Direct West India services. In 1911 she was laid up at Kingston
when the service was discontinued. She was sold to the Royal
Mail Steam Packet Co. in 1912 for use on their Central America
services out of Colon and transferred to PSNC in 1914. During
1915 she was requisitioned for Government service locally.
In 1918 ownership was shown to be Royal Mail but she continued
to operate for PSNC. She was sold to Soc. Industrial del Aysen
of Valparaiso in 1929 for their Valparaiso - Punta Arenas
ports and renamed Coyhaique. After a further fourteen years
service she was broken up locally.
ACAJUTLA was built in 1911
by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend with a
tonnage of 1170grt, a length of 215ft 8in, a beam of 33ft
6in and a service speed of 11 knots. She was built for the
Salvador Railway Company of London and acquired by PSNC, together
with the Salvador, in 1915 for their Central American services
operating a fortnightly service through the Panama Canal.
During the 1920's she was rebuilt and modernised. She was
sold to Pandelis Line of Greece in 1946, renamed Marathon,
and operated by Neil and Pandelis of London on a Greek Island
service.
SALVADOR was built in 1909
by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend with a
tonnage of 1128grt, a length of 215ft 8in, a beam of 33ft
6in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Acajutla
she was built for the Salvador Railway Company of London and
acquired by PSNC in 1915 for their Central America services.
Like her sister she was rebuilt and modernised during the
1920's. She was sold to Pandelis Line of Greece for operation
by Neil & Pandelis of London on their Greek Island service
and renamed Salamis. At the time of her sale the Salvador
had transited the Panama Canal on 779 occasions; the greatest
number by any commercial ship. The Panama Canal Co. recognised
the achievement by issuing a certificate of honour. The Acajutla
also received one.
CAUCA was built in 1915 by
Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend with a tonnage
of 1448grt, a length of 226ft, a beam of 35ft 2in and a service
speed of 11 knots. She entered service in 1915 and was based
at Panama. Sold in 1923 she was renamed Tonkin by Indo-Chinoise
de Navigation of Haiphong in Indo-China. She was sold on again
during the 1930's and all trace of her was lost.
LAUTARO was built in 1915 by
Harland & Wolff at Glasgow with a tonnage of 6240grt,
a length of 399ft 1in, a beam of 52ft 2in and a service speed
of 12 knots. Completed in 1915 she was built as the Bostonian
for Leyland Line and sold to Glen Line in the following year
and renamed Glengyle. On 10th June 1917 she was chased by
a submarine in the Mediterranean and escaped after returning
gunfire. She became the Lautaro in 1923 when she was acquired
by PSNC. In 1947 she was sold to Jenny Steam Ship Co. of London
and renamed River Swift. In the following year she caught
fire at Rio de Janeiro and was damaged beyond repair resulting
in her being broken up in South America during 1949.
ORCA was built in 1918 by Harland
& Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 15120grt, a length
of 574ft, a beam of 67ft 4in and a service speed of 15 knots.
She was launched on 15th January 1918 and completed as a cargo
ship but returned to the builder's yard on 18th February 1921
where she was remodelled as per her design as a passenger
liner. Her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York via
Hamburg on 18th December 1922. She was transferred to Royal
Mail Line ownership in 1923 and sold to White Star Line in
January 1927 and was renamed Calgaric. In 1931 she was laid
up at Milford Haven and during the year made just one voyage
to the Baltic with Boy Scouts. On 9th June 1933 she started
a summer season of voyages from Liverpool to Montreal before
being laid up again at Milford Haven. After only 16 years
service she was sold for £31,000 and scrapped at Rosyth
during 1935.
BALLENA was built in 1919 by
W Dobson & Co. at Newcastle with a tonnage of 5210grt,
a length of 400ft 1in, a beam of 52ft 4in and a service speed
of 11 knots. She was launched on 7th November 1919 as a standard
"B" type vessel and entered service with PSNC in
1920. She was sold to Rethymnis & Kulukundis of Panama
and renamed Mount Ida. Four years later, in March 1937, she
became the Mendoza and owned by Hamburg Sud Amerika Line of
Hamburg. On 8th December 1940 she collided with Hamburg America's
Adalia off Flushing and on 22nd March 1945 she was sunk by
Russian bombers off Pillau.
BOGOTA (3) was built in 1919
by Cammell Laird & Co. at Birkenhead with a tonnage of
5167grt, a length of 400ft 1in, a beam of 52ft 4in and a service
speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Ballena she was launched
on 18th March 1919 as the War Lapwing but renamed Bogota before
completion. After thirteen years service she was sold to Fratelli
G & F Bozzo of Genoa in 1932 and renamed Madda. On 17th
June 1937 she was damaged while serving in the Spanish Civil
War and in June 1940 she was chased by British warships and,
consequently, beached at Teneriffe. She was later refloated
and survived WW2 before being sold to Cia Nav. Sota y Aznar
(Sir Ramon de la Sota) of Bilbao, Spain who renamed her Monte
Nafarrate in 1945. In 1956 she was sold to Angel Riva Suardiaz
of Bilbao and renamed Riva de Luna. Two years later her owners
changed her name to Rivadeluna and in 1972 ownership was recorded
as being Naviera Rivadeluna. She was broken up in 1974.
MAGELLAN (3) was built in 1913
by J C Tecklenborg at Geestemunde with a tonnage of 6553grt,
a length of 462ft 4in, a beam of 59ft 2in and a service speed
of 12 knots. She was built as the Alda for Roland Linie A.
G. of Bremen. In 1919 she surrendered to the British Shipping
Controller and was placed under the management of PSNC who
purchased her in 1920 and renamed her Magellan. After fourteen
years further service she was broken up in 1934.
OROPESA
(2) was built in 1920 by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead with
a tonnage of 14118grt, a length of 530ft, a beam of 66ft 4in
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. She was launched on 9th
December 1919 and commenced her maiden voyage on 4th September
1920 on the Liverpool - Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires service.
On 14th May 1921 she was chartered to Royal Mail for their
Hamburg - Southampton - New York service but reverted to PSNC
on 22nd November 1922 and deployed on the Valparaiso run via
the Cape. She was converted to oil during 1924 and in February
1927 began operating to Valparaiso via the Panama Canal. In
1931 she carried the Prince of Wales and Prince George to
South America. Later in the year she was laid up at Dartmouth
where she remained for over six years. She resumed service
in 1937 and was requisitioned as a troopship in September
1939. On 16th January 1941 she was torpedoed three times by
U-96 off the coast of Ireland with the loss of 113 lives.
LA PAZ was built in 1920 by
Harland & Wolff at Glasgow with a tonnage of 6548grt,
a length of 406ft, a beam of 54ft 2in and a service speed
of 12 knots. One of a class of three cargo ships she entered
service in 1920. On 1st May 1942 she was torpedoed by U-109
off Florida and subsequently beached. She was later sold,
with her cargo of export whisky, to U.S. agents and eventually
passed to the War Shipping Administration. In 1945 she was
sold to Construction Aggregates Corp. of Chicago, Illinois
and no longer engaged in deep sea trading. By 1954 she no
longer appeared in Lloyds Registry of Shipping.
LOBOS was built in 1921 by
Harland & Wolff at Glasgow with a tonnage of 6479grt,
a length of 406ft, a beam of 54ft 2in and a service speed
of 12 knots. Sister of the La Paz she entered service in 1921
and broken up in 1952.
LOSADA was built in 1921 by
Harland & Wolff at Glasgow with a tonnage of 6520grt,
a length of 406ft, a beam of 54ft 2in and a service speed
of 12 knots. Sister of the La Paz she entered service in 1921
and was broken up in 1952.
ALVARADO was built in 1920
by A & J Inglis at Glasgow with a tonnage of 2434grt,
a length of 303ft 5in, a beam of 43ft and a service speed
of 10.5 knots. The first of three similar ships she was launched
as the War Raisin and acquired by MacAndrews & Co. who
renamed her Alvarado for their Mediterranean services. She
proved to be too large for their operation and was consequently
acquired by PSNC for collier duties in 1922. In 1933 she was
sold to Cia. Carbonifera Rio-Grandense of Rio de Janeiro who
renamed her Herval. She was broken up at Rio de Janeiro during
1965.
ALMAGRO was built in 1920 by
A & J Inglis at Glasgow with a tonnage of 2434grt, a length
of 303ft 5in, a beam of 43ft and a service speed of 10.5 knots.
Launched on 23rd April 1920 she was completed as the Almagro
for MacAndrews & Co. Proving to be too large for MacAndrews
Mediterranean services she was acquired by PSNC in 1922 for
the New York to Valparaiso service. After eleven years service
she was sold to Cia. Carbonifera Rio-Grandense of Rio de Janeiro
in 1933 and renamed Itaquy. Her owners renamed her Tuquy in
1934 and she continued to trade with them until 1963 when
she was sold to undisclosed buyers and renamed Artico. Two
years later she was sold to Comissario Maritima Modesta Roma
of Rio de Janeiro who renamed her Roma Um. In February 1967
she caught fire during a voyage from Manaus to Areia Branca
in the River Amazon and was beached at Belem On 30th October
1967 she capsized and became a total loss.
ARANA was built in 1920 by
A & J Inglis at Glasgow with a tonnage of 2434grt, a length
of 303ft 5in, a beam of 43ft and a service speed of 10.5 knots.
Sister of the Alvarado she was launched on 17th September
1919 as the War Date and completed in January 1920 as the
Arana for MacAndrews & Co. She was acquired by PSNC in
1922 for collier work between New York and Valparaiso. Sold
in 1933 she became the Chay under the ownership of Cia. Carbonifera
Rio-Grandense of Rio de Janeiro. Ten years later she was sold
to Cia. Commercio y Navegazione of Rio de Janeiro, retaining
her name. In 1958 she was sold to Nav. Mercantil S. A. of
Rio de Janeiro, again, without a change of name and was finally
broken up at Rio in May 1961.
EBRO was built in 1915 by Workman
Clark & Co. at Belfast with a tonnage of 8489grt, a length
of 450ft 4in, a beam of 57ft 9in and a service speed of 13
knots. She was launched on 8th September 1914 for Royal Mail
Line and commenced her maiden voyage to South America where
she joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron on 28th April 1915. Acquired
by PSNC in 1922 she was placed on the New York - Panama Canal
- Callao - Valparaiso service. In December 1930 she was laid
up in the River Dart where she remained until February 1935
when she was sold to Jugoslavenska Lloyd for £21,000
and renamed Princess Olga. She was sold to Cia. Colonial of
Lisbon for their Lisbon - New York and Central American service
to Rio de Janeiro and renamed Serpa Pinto. In 1955 she was
sold for scrapping in Belgium and realised £115,000.
ESSEQUIBO was built
in 1914 by Workman Clark & Co. at Belfast with
a tonnage of 8489grt, a length of 450ft 4in, a beam
of 57ft 9in and a service speed of 13 knots. Sister
of the Ebro she was launched on 6th July for Royal
Mail Line and commenced her maiden voyage to South
America on 18th November under the command of Capt.
J. C. Chevet. In 1915 she was acquisitioned as a hospital
ship and on 15 March in 1917 she was stopped and inspected
by U-54, then allowed to continue her voyage. The
passengers aboard Essequibo gave three cheers and
U54 sent the flag signal "God speed you".
Essequibo replied “Thank you” according
to the U54 war diary (see photographs on www.u54.suedholland-ferienhaus.de/html/im_gefecht__1_.html
). She was acquired by PSNC in 1922 and placed on
the New York - Panama Canal - Callao - Valparaiso
service. In 1930 she was laid up until Mar 1935 when
she was sold to Arcos Ltd for £21,000, transferred
to the USSR and renamed Neva. She was taken out of
Lloyds Register at the owner's request in 1957.
ORMEDA/ORDUNA
(1) was built in 1914 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 15507grt, a length of 570ft, a beam
of 67ft 4in and a service speed of 15 knots. She was
laid down with the intention of being named Ormeda
but was launched on 2nd October 1913 as the Orduna.
She commenced her maiden voyage to Valparaiso on 19th
February 1914 and in the following October was chartered
to Cunard for their Liverpool to New York service,
standing in for vessels requisitioned for trooping.
On 28th June 1915 she was chased by a U-boat but managed
to outrun her attacker some 20 miles from the Smalls.
Twelve days later , on 9th July, she was missed by
a torpedo when 30 miles south of Queenstown in Southern
Ireland. During December 1915, she carried Canadian
troops from Canada to England. In June 1918 she sank
a German submarine by gunfire and on 1st December
of the same year was in collision with and sank Elder
Dempster's Konakry off Galley Head, Ireland. She returned
to PSNC on 31st December 1919 and resumed service
to Montevideo on 1st April 1920. In 1921 she was transferred
to Royal Mail's Hamburg - Southampton - New York service,
to cater for a lack of German berths, making her first
sailing on 28th May. In the autumn of 1922 she returned
to her builders for a refit and resumed the South
American service on 1st January 1923. Converted to
oil in 1926 she reverted to PSNC ownership on 7th
April 1927, operating the Panama route. In 1941 she
was requisitioned as a troopship and continued in
that role until November 1950 when she was decommissioned
and laid up. She was broken up at Dalmuir in 1951
after 37 years of exemplary service. 
OROPESA
(2) was built in 1920 by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead with
a tonnage of 14118grt, a length of 530ft, a beam of 66ft 4in
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. She was launched on 9th
December 1919 and commenced her maiden voyage on 4th September
1920 on the Liverpool - Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires service.
On 14th May 1921 she was chartered to Royal Mail for their
Hamburg - Southampton - New York service but reverted to PSNC
on 22nd November 1922 and deployed on the Valparaiso run via
the Cape. She was converted to oil during 1924 and in February
1927 began operating to Valparaiso via the Panama Canal. In
1931 she carried the Prince of Wales and Prince George to
South America. Later in the year she was laid up at Dartmouth
where she remained for over six years. She resumed service
in 1937 and was requisitioned as a troopship in September
1939. On 16th January 1941 she was torpedoed three times by
U-96 off the coast of Ireland with the loss of 113 lives.
