This is documentary film on the building of the P & O liner ‘Oriana’ at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furness.  It also shows the production of parts at the steelworks at Scunthorpe, Rotherham and Stocksbridge.  The film was made by the United Steel Companies, a steelmaking, engineering, coal mining and coal by-product group based in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.  The film starts with a man boarding a light aircraft as the voiceover states that we are making a film about the building...

This is documentary film on the building of the P & O liner ‘Oriana’ at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furness.  It also shows the production of parts at the steelworks at Scunthorpe, Rotherham and Stocksbridge.  The film was made by the United Steel Companies, a steelmaking, engineering, coal mining and coal by-product group based in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.  The film starts with a man boarding a light aircraft as the voiceover states that we are making a film about the building of the largest ship built in England, the P&O liner: Title – Fair Oriana With the co-operation of Vickers and P&O lines The newly built ship is out at sea.  The commentary states that it was named after Queen Elizabeth I.  The film then switches to the steelworks at Scunthorpe where steel ingots are passing through the rolling mill to be made into 1” plate.  These are then loaded onto a train to travel to Burrow in Furness in October 1957 for the first section of steel plating, placed into position in the building steps.  Then there is another section coming out of a workshop and being placed into position in the docks.  Sections are being welded together and stabilisers are fitted. Then the film moves to the hot continuous strip mill in Rotherham where thinner strips are being rolled for making pipes and tubes. Much of the process is filmed.  Pipes are carried onto the ship by crane.  The ship is shown being launched by Princess Alexandra, on 3rd November 1959, with a large noisy crowd watching.  Tugs move her into position for fitting out. The next scene shows the propeller shafts which are being forged in Rotherham.  Other parts are also shown being forged.  The electric arc furnace at Stocksbridge is used for making steel alloys.  Robert Welsh, a designer, is making new stainless steel cutlery especially for the ship, to take into account the different ways that British and Americans hold their cutlery.  The stainless steel is on the boat where it is being polished by women workers. At the Ocean Dock in Southampton, it is time for the maiden voyage to Australia and New Zealand.  Passengers on board are watching the launch as it is being put on by the ship’s own TV.  Part of the journey is filmed before the film ends. End Credits: Photography: R Larrabeiti, Ian Struthers, W Suschitsky Editing Pat Holmes Music Eric Rogers Recording Ken Cameron Produced by A Frank Bundy Directed by Bill Mason The End A Wallace Production. The United Steel Companies Ltd.