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ORCADIA

Shipbuildervessel built by Hall, Russell & Company, Limited (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)

Date3 April 1962

Object NamePASSENGER AND CARGO VESSEL

MediumSTEEL

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 150 1/3' x breadth 36 1/12' x depth 13 3/6'
Gross Tonnage: 896 ton

Object numberABDSHIP002587

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Hall, Russell & Co.
Yard Number: 901
Official Number: 303462
Subsequent Names: LOUISA (1999)

Fate: unknown

Propulsion: Motor
Description: Passenger and Cargo vessel, 2 decks, bridge deck 21'.

Owners:
1962: Secretary of State for Scotland, managed by Orkney Isles Shipping Co., registered at Leith.
1994: Trans Channel Ltd, Kirkwall.
1999: LGFTH Louisa Ltd., Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines.

General History:
ORCADIA was an inter island ferry that carried cars, passengers, cattle, sheep and provisions for the people on the islands of Orkney.

The ORCADIA had sliding hatch doors on the port and starboard sides of the ship at the fore end of the ship for loading cars and cattle on to the cargo deck. A mast with a derrick was situated forward end to load and unload cargos to the lower deck below the cargo deck through a hatch.

In January 1962 the Orkney Islands Shipping Company took over from Orkney Steam Navigation Company and ORCADIA (the third vessel of that name) took over the route. ORCADIA was managed by the Orkney Islands Shipping Co., but owned by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

ORCADIA was chartered to P&O in November 1982 and finally withdrawn from service in 1990. Sold in 1994 and at some point owned by Trans Channel Ltd, Kirkwall. Renamed LOUISA (1999) registered to Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines Islands, Carribean. Owners LGFTH Louisa Ltd. LOUISA returned across the Atlantic in October 2004 to El Puerto where she was used around the coast of Cadiz.

In early 2006 the Spanish civil guard raided the vessel and found she was operated by an armed gang engaged in plundering archaeological remains from the sea bed. Police found rifles and ammunition together with remains of 18/19th century cannon balls from the battle of Trafalgar. Reported to be laid up under arrest in Spanish Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain, 2009. Outcome of case, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines v Spain, was that no action should be taken.

Notes:
Oil 2 SA 6 cylinder (340x570 mm), producing 1230 bhp, by British Polar engines, Glasgow.