The SS Chusan was a British ocean liner and cruise ship, built for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O)'s Indian and Far East Service in 1950. She was named after Chusan, a small island off China. A smaller version of the SS Himalaya, the Chusan had a gross register tonnage of approximately 24,215; and a capacity of 1,565 passengers and crew. She was built as a replacement for the ship RMS Viceroy of India, lost in the Second World War. She was approximately 646.5 feet (197.1 m) long. The Chusan is said to have brought new standards of shipboard luxury to India and the Far East.
Chusan entered service in 1950, with her maiden voyage from London, England to Bombay, India. But she first made two "shake down" "all first class trips", one of a week's length and the other of a fortnight, sailing to Lisbon, Casablanca and Madeira. For most of her working life, she carried passengers between London, Bombay, Japan, and Sydney, Australia. In 1973, she retired from service and was sold to be scrapped at Chou’s Iron and Steel Company Ltd. in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Career
Name: Chusan Photo in Hong Kong
Owner: Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Ordered: May 1946
Builder: Vickers Armstrong Ltd, Barrow in Furness, UK
Yard number: 964
Laid down: February 1947
Launched: 28 June 1949
Completed: 1950
Maiden voyage: 15 September 1950
In service: 1950
Out of service: 1973
Fate: Scrapped at Chou’s Iron and Steel Company Ltd, Kaoshiung, Taiwan in 1973
Status: Out of service
General characteristics
Class and type: Passenger/cargo ocean liner
Tonnage: 24,215 GRT
Length: 646.5 ft (197.1 m)
Beam: 85.2 ft (26.0 m)
Draft: 29 feet (8.8 m)
Depth: 36.2 feet (11.0 m)
Decks: 7 (passenger accessible)
Installed power: Six geared steam turbines rated at 42,500 horsepower
Propulsion: Twin propellers
Speed: 23 kn (42.60 km/h)
Capacity: 988 passengers (455 first class, 517 second class)
Crew: 577