King Orry on Thurnham Marsh, Thurnham, Lancaster

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iBase ID

275655

Reference identifier

nla20180412002

Title

King Orry on Thurnham Marsh, Thurnham, Lancaster

Place

Thurnham, Lancaster

General notes

TSS (RMS) King Orry (IV) - the fourth vessel in the line's history to be so named - was the lead ship of the King Orry Class of passenger ferries and packet ships. More commonly referred to as the six sisters, they were built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company between 1946 and 1955 primarily to replace war-time losses.

On Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August 1975, King Orry carried her last passengers from Llandudno to Liverpool.

King Orry was bought by R. Taylor and Son of Bury for breaking up, and was taken to Glasson Dock to await her fate. She was berthed alongside for more than two months and there were rumours that she might be resold to Greek interests.

However, during a severe storm on the night of Friday, 2 January 1976, whilst laid-up at Glasson Dock on the lower estuary, King Orry broke away from her berth and drifted aground in the Lune Estuary, coming to rest on the mud flats. A great deal of energy was spent trying to re-float her, until she was finally re-floated on 15 April 1976.

Lynch and Son of Rochester, Kent broke her up in 1979.

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