Cathay (3)

Originally built as the Baudouinville for Compagnie Maritime Belge, this elegant cargo-passenger liner would serve multiple roles across several decades and shipping lines. Together with her sister ship Chitral (2), she represented a pinnacle of post-war European passenger-cargo vessel design.

Construction and Design

Built by S.A.S. Cockerill in Hoboken, the vessel was launched on January 10, 1957, and completed in October of the same year. The ship featured a distinctive yacht-like appearance, with Cathay (3) distinguished from her sister ship by unique window designs forward on the promenade deck. The vessel was designed with six cargo holds providing 532,000 cubic feet of capacity for refrigerated and general cargo.

Early Service

Initially operating as Baudouinville for Compagnie Maritime Belge on the Belgium-West Africa trade routes, the vessel's service was interrupted in 1960 following the independence of Belgian colonies in Africa, leading to a period of lay-up.

P&O Service

P&O purchased the vessel in 1960, renaming her Cathay (3). Her inaugural voyage under P&O colors began on April 14, 1961, following her sister ship Chitral (2) which had entered service on March 2, 1961. Based in Tilbury for cargo operations with passenger embarkation at Southampton, she operated on the London-Japan route. The service pattern included calls at Rotterdam, Southampton, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Penang, Port Swettenham, Singapore, Hong Kong, Yokohama, and Kobe, returning via Naples and Le Havre to London.

Eastern & Australian Service

In 1970, both Cathay (3) and Chitral (2) were transferred to P&O's Eastern & Australian subsidiary. The transfer included a modification to her funnel, adding a black cap to match the line's house markings. The vessel operated regular schedules from Sydney and Melbourne, with additional ports of call including Rabaul, Port Moresby, Noumea, and Manila.

Chinese Service

In the latter part of her career, Cathay (3) was sold to the People's Republic of China and renamed Shanghai. She initially served as a training ship for merchant navy cadets. By the late 1970s, the China Ocean Shipping Company deployed her on passenger services between Shanghai and Hong Kong, following a refit to accommodate tourist trade requirements.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Gross Tonnage	13,809 tons
Length	558 ft (170.1 m)
Beam	70 ft (21.3 m)
Draught	28 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion	Twin screws
Service Speed	16.5 knots
Passenger Capacity	274 (one class)
Crew	200
Passenger Decks	Five
Livery	White hull and superstructure, yellow funnel with red boot-topping