RMS Strathaird
RMS Strathaird, later TSS Strathaird, was an ocean liner of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).
RMS Strathaird, in her original form with three funnels, passing under Sydney Harbour Bridge | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Strathaird in the Isle of Skye, Scotland |
| Owner | P&O Steam Navigation Co |
| Operator | P&O Steam Navigation Co |
| Port of registry | London |
| Route | Tilbury — Brisbane |
| Ordered | 14 January 1930 |
| Builder | Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow |
| Yard number | 664 |
| Laid down | 23 April 1930 |
| Launched | 18 July 1931 |
| Christened | 18 July 1931 by Lady Margaret Shaw |
| Completed | January 1932 |
| Maiden voyage | 12 February 1932 |
| Homeport | Tilbury |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scrapped in Hong Kong, July 1961 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | "Strath" class ocean liner |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 638.7 feet (194.7 m) |
| Beam | 80.2 feet (24.4 m) |
| Draught | 29 feet 2 inches (8.9 m) |
| Depth | 33.1 feet (10.1 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 490 |
| Notes | sister ship: RMS Strathnaver |
She was the second of five sister ships in what came to be called the "Strath" class. All previous P&O steamships had black-painted hulls and funnels but Strathaird and her sisters were painted with white hulls and buff funnels, which earned them the nickname "The Beautiful White Sisters" or just "The White Sisters". Strathaird and her sister ship RMS Strathnaver were Royal Mail Ships that worked P&O's regular liner route between Tilbury in Essex, England and Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. In 1935, they were joined by the third ship of the class, RMS Strathmore.
Strathaird remained in service for almost 30 years, being scrapped in 1961.