Construction and dimensions
''King Orry'' was built by R. Duncan & Co., at Port Glasgow in 1871, with engines by Rankin & Blackmore, and launched on Monday 27 March 1871. Length 260'; beam 29'4"; depth 14'7", ''King Orry'' had an original tonnage of , and this was later increased to 1,104. Her original speed was 15 knot (unit), knots. In 1888, ''King Orry'' was refitted by Fairfield & Co at a cost of £8,246. She was lengthened by 30 Foot, feet, and at the same time she was reboilered by J. Jones & Co for £4,080. This thorough refit gave her a new boiler pressure of , her diagonal compound engine now had a stroke of 78 inches with a high-pressure cylinder of 52 inches and low pressure 92. Consequently, her speed was now increased from to . In 1895 she was given a complete electric lighting installation costing £575.Service life
Considered an exceptionally well appointed ship, ''King Orry'' saw service on the wide range of routes the Steam Packet Company then operated. ''A contemporary report of the time stated she had:-'' For her operation the latest advancements in technology had been introduced. Part of this was the provision for Engine order telegraph#Typical dial positions, telegraph communication with the engine room from both ends of the Bridge (nautical), bridge, a speaking tube in the center and a third telegraph at the Sea captain, Captain's Lookout, look-out house on the fore part of the hurricane deck. The vessel could therefore either been steered from the hurricane deck or the aft part of the ship. At the time ''King Orry'' entered service approximately 100,000 passengers were being conveyed by the Company, thanks in no small measure to the newly constructed low water landing pier at Douglas (now named the Victoria Pier), prior to the construction of which required passengers to disembark by boat. On 1 September 1873, during a voyage from Liverpool to Douglas, an explosion in her magazine injured several people, one seriously. On 12 August 1878, she collided with ''Concordia'', which was at anchor in the River Mersey. ''King Orry'' was undamaged and proceeded on her voyage to Douglas. On 19 June 1884, the ''King Orry'' was required to go to the assistance of the SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' which had suffered a mechanical failure.''The Isle of Man Examiner.'' Saturday, 21 June 1884 Departing Port of Liverpool, Liverpool at 24-hour clock#Midnight 00:00 and 24:00, 13:05hrs with approximately 250 passengers embarked, SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' cleared the River Mersey, Victoria Channel and set a course bound for Douglas, Isle of Man, Douglas. She passed the SS Tynwald (1866), ''Tynwald'', which was engaged in accompanying yachts racing in the River Mersey, Mersey, at 24-hour clock#Midnight 00:00 and 24:00, 14:30hrs which reported her to be making good speed. When approximately mid-channel the mechanical failure to her machinery occurred, forcing her Master mariner, Master, Sea captain, Capt. McQueen, to come to anchor and await the arrival of assistance. As there was no Wireless telegraphy, wireless communication at that time, anxiety was caused in Douglas, Isle of Man, Douglas as the scheduled time of arrival of the SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' passed, requiring the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to contact their Liverpool office to ensure that she had departed on time. This was duly confirmed and the ''King Orry'', under the command of Sea captain, Capt. Gill, was Coaling (ships), coaled and despatched in order to locate the SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' and give assistance. At 24-hour clock#Midnight 00:00 and 24:00, 23:15hrs the SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' was located by the ''King Orry'', which then took her under tow and proceeded to Douglas Harbour, Douglas. Passage was slow, and it was not until 24-hour clock#Midnight 00:00 and 24:00, 05:00hrs the following morning that the two vessels arrived in Douglas; where many people had stayed on the Douglas Harbour, Victoria Pier all night, anxious to receive news. Whilst out of commission, the ''King Orry'' replaced the SS Mona's Isle (1882), ''Mona’s Isle'' on the Liverpool schedule, and in turn she was replaced on the Fleetwood schedule by the SS Fenella (1881), ''Fenella''.Disposal
After 41 years of service – the longest service record up until that time in the history of the Steam Packet Fleet – the decision was made to withdraw her. She was taken by Sea captain, Captain Quine to Llanerchymor for breaking, but before scrapping commenced she was opened for public inspection with the proceeds of this been donated to the Honeywell Cottage Hospital.Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (Fred Henry, 1973) p.15 ''King Orry'' was broken up at Llanerchymor, Wales, in 1912.Official number and code letters
Official numbers are issued by individual flag states. They should not be confused with IMO ship identification numbers. ''King Orry'' had the UK Official Number 45479 and used the Code letters, Code Letters P K J B .References
;Bibliography * Chappell, Connery (1980). ''Island Lifeline'' T. Stephenson & Sons {{DEFAULTSORT:King Orry (1871) Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ferries of the Isle of Man Steamships of the United Kingdom Paddle steamers of the United Kingdom 1871 ships Merchant ships of the United Kingdom Ships built on the River Clyde Maritime incidents in September 1873