The 31,000 ton liner Orcades, built for the Orient line by Vickers, Armstrong Ltd, and which is the largest merchant ship to be launched in any country since the end of the war successfully went down to the slipway at Harrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, today. The launching ceremony was performed by lady Morshead, wife of Lt general Sir Leslie Morshead, manager of the Orient line. The Orcades is intended for the Australian run, and will carry 1560 passengers with cargo and mail, with a speed of 22 1/2 kn the ship will cut the prewar service schedule between England and Melbourne from 36 days to 28 days. Largest passenger liner yet built at Harrow, Orcades is estimated to cost ? million and is of entirely new design. 14 October 1947