THE 24,000-ton Chusan is remembered as the first P&O liner to undertake a world cruise. Made in 1959, it involved 32,000 miles of steaming and called at 24 ports.

Chusan was also the first of the company's ships to resume calls at Japanese ports after a lapse of 13 years, caused by the Second World War.

P&O ordered Chusan from Vickers Armstrongs at Barrow and the launching ceremony took place on June 28, 1949.

The official hand-over took place the following year. With her white hull, two masts, single large buff funnel and streamlined bridge, she looked every inch a British liner.

The new ship, which had been designed for the service to India and China, had accommodation for 474 passengers in first-class and 541 in tourist class.

Chusan was tried out on three luxury cruises, all made from Southampton.

During a refit in Southampton, Chusan's silhouette was slightly changed. A new funnel top, designed by Vosper Thornycroft at Southampton, was installed with the object of keeping smoke from the upper decks.

When jets began to offer increasing competition on the Far East routes, Chusan was transferred to the Australian trade.

In the latter part of her career the ship was based at Southampton as an almost permanent cruise liner. She was scrapped at Taiwan at the age of 23.