''Empire Abbey''

Empire Abbey SS ''Empire Abbey'' was a reefer (ship), refrigerated cargo ship built in 1943 and in service until 1966. She was also known as SS ''Teviot'', SS ''Ardilles'' and SS ''Tung An''. History War service ''Empire Abbey'' was built by Shipbuilding ...

'' was a 7,032 GRT refrigerated cargo ship built in 1943 by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd,

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

and managed by Elder & Fyffes Ltd. Sold to

Royal Mail Lines The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was a British shipping company founded in London in 1839 by a Scot, James MacQueen. The line's motto was ''Per Mare Ubique'' (everywhere by sea). After a troubled start, it became the largest shipping grou ...

and renamed ''Teviot'' in 1946. Sold to Mullion & Co.,

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

in 1960 and renamed ''Ardellis''. Sold to Hai An Shipping Co.,

and renamed ''Tung An'' in 1963. Scrapped in Taiwan in 1967.

''Empire Abercorn''

'' Empire Abercorn'' was an 8,563 GRT refrigerated cargo ship built in 1945 by

Harland & Wolff Harland & Wolff Holdings plc is a British shipbuilding and Metal fabrication, fabrication company headquartered in London with sites in Belfast, Arnish yard, Arnish, Appledore, Torridge, Appledore and Methil. It specialises in ship repair, ship ...

Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...

and managed by the

New Zealand Shipping Company The New Zealand Shipping Company (NZSC) was a shipping company whose ships ran passenger and cargo services between Great Britain and New Zealand between 1873 and 1973. A group of Christchurch businessmen founded the company in 1873, similar ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

. Sold to New Zealand Shipping Co. in 1946 and renamed ''Rakaia''. Sold to Federal Steam Navigation Co. in 1966. Scrapped in Hong Kong in 1971.

''Empire Ability''

'' Empire Ability'' was a 7,603 GRT

cargo ship A cargo ship or freighter is a merchant ship that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's List of seas, seas and Ocean, oceans each year, handling the bulk of international trade. ...

built in 1931 by

Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau Aktiengesellschaft (abbreviated Deschimag) was a cooperation of eight German shipyards in the period 1926 to 1945. The leading company was the shipyard AG Weser in Bremen. History The Deschimag was founded in ...

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (, ), is the capital of the States of Germany, German state of the Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (), a two-city-state consisting of the c ...

. Originally owned by

Hansa Line DDG Hansa, short for Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft Hansa (German Steamship Company Hansa; in modern orthography, Deutsche Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft Hansa) was a major German shipping company specialising in heavy freight and schedul ...

and named ''Uhenfels''. Captured by HMS ''Hereward'' off

Freetown Freetown () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, e ...

5 November 1940. Renamed ''Empire Ability'', managed by

Elder Dempster Lines Elder Dempster Lines was a UK shipping company that traded from 1932 to 2000, but had its origins in the mid-19th century. Founders Alexander Elder Alexander Elder was born in Glasgow in 1834. He was the son of David Elder, who for many ye ...

. Sunk by ''U-96'' 27 June 1941 at .

''Empire Ace''

Empire Ace ''Empire Ace'' was a 275-ton tug which was built in 1942 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was transferred to the Admiralty in 1947 and renamed ''Diligent''. She was transferred to the Ministry of Defence in 1961 and reverted to '' ...

'' was a 276 GRT coastal

tug A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

built by Cochrane & Sons,

Selby Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193. The town was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire; from 1974 until 2023, ...

. Launched on 12 September 1942 and completed in December 1942. Sent to

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

where she was sunk in an air raid on 15 March 1944. Salvaged on 10 May and repaired. To the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong * Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Tra ...

in 1947 and renamed ''Diligent''. To the

Secretary of State for Defence The secretary of state for defence, also known as the defence secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Ministry of Defence. As a senior minister, the incumbent is a member of the ...

in 1961 and renamed ''Empire Ace''. On loan to the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. To

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

in December 1964. Ran aground at

Campbeltown Campbeltown (; or ) is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre Peninsula. Campbeltown became an important centre for Scotch whisky, and a busy fishing port. The 2018 populatio ...

on 11 November 1968 and abandoned. Refloated in June 1969 but a constructive total loss. Scrapped at Campbeltown in 1971.

''Empire Activity'' (I)

was a 5,287 GRT cargo ship built in 1919 by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd.,

Wallsend Wallsend () is a town in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England, at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 43,842 and lies east of Newcastle upon Tyne. History Roman Wallsend In Roman times, this was the site of the fort of ...

. Originally named ''Belgian'' and owned by Frederick Leyland Line,

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

. Sold in 1934 to Achille Lauro,

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

and renamed ''Amelia Lauro''. Seized at

Immingham Immingham is a town and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England, on the south-west bank of the Humber, Humber Estuary, northwest of Grimsby. It was relatively unpopulated until the early 1900s, when the Great Central Railway began de ...

10 June 1940. Renamed ''Empire Activity'' in 1941, managed by Galbraith, Pembroke & Co. Wrecked off Newfoundland 3 October 1943.

''Empire Activity'' (II)

was a 14,250 GRT refrigerated cargo ship built 1940–42 by Caledon Shipyards,

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

. She was laid down as ''Telemachus'' and requisitioned as ''Empire Activity''. Completed as escort aircraft carrier HMS ''Empire Activity'', quickly renamed HMS ''Activity''. Later converted to merchantman MV ''Breconshire'', scrapped in Mihara, Japan in April 1967

''Empire Addison''

'' Empire Addison'' was a 7,010 GRT cargo ship built in 1940 by Lithgows Ltd.,

Port Glasgow Port Glasgow (, ) is the second-largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19,426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16,617 persons. The most recent census in 2011 s ...

. Operated by T & J Harrison, Liverpool. Sold in 1945 to T & J Harrison and renamed ''Philosopher''. Sold in 1959 to Concordia Shipping Corporation,

Liberia Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast–Lib ...

and renamed ''Aiolos''. Scrapped in Hong Kong in 1963.

''Empire Aden''

'' Empire Aden'' was a 7,308 GRT cargo ship built in 1945 by

Bartram & Sons Ltd Bartram & Sons was a shipbuilder on Wearside, North East England, that specialised in building cargo ships. It was founded in 1837, taken over in 1968, nationalised in 1977 and closed in 1978. Early decades George Bartram and John Lister founde ...

., Sunderland and managed by H Hogarth & Sons. Management passed to A Weir & Co., London in 1946. Sold to A Weir & Co. in 1948 and renamed ''Etivebank''. Sold to Alcyone Shipping Co., London in 1956 and renamed ''Alcyone Fortune''. Sold to Pan Norse Steamship Co.,

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

in 1958 and renamed ''Northern Venture''. Ran aground off

Okinawa most commonly refers to: * Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture * Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture * Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself * Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...

9 June 1967 and declared a total loss.

''Empire Admiral''

Empire Admiral SS ''Empire Admiral'' was a 7,842 ton steamship which was built in 1945 for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), she was sold in 1947 becoming ''Peter Dal'', and sold again in 1951 and renamed ''Benledi''. In 1953 she was sold to Bahamas and ...

'' was a 7,842 GRT cargo ship built in 1945 by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd,

Barrow in Furness Barrow-in-Furness is a port town and civil parish (as just "Barrow") in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the county of Lancashire, it was incorporated as a municipal borou ...

and managed by Alfred Holt & Co. Management passed to Glen Line in 1945 and to Kaye, Son & Co., London in 1947. Sold in 1947 to Dalhousie Steam and Motorship Co and renamed ''Peter Dal''. Sold in 1951 to Ben Line Steamers,

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

, passing to E G Thomson Ltd in 1953. Sold in 1963 to Andros Navigation Co,

Nassau Nassau may refer to: Places Austria * Nassau (Groß Sankt Florian), incorporated village of Groß Sankt Florian Bahamas *Nassau, The Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upp ...

and renamed ''Andros Tommeno''. Sold to Frank Shipping Co., Liberia in 1963 and then to Unique Maritime Corporation, Liberia in 1966 and renamed ''Unique Carrier''. Scrapped in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

in 1969.

''Empire Adur''

'' Empire Adur'' was a 1,479 GRT cargo ship built in 1920 by J. F. Duthie & Company,

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

. Originally named ''Griffdu'', owned by Universal Steamship & Barge Co., Seattle. Sold to The Charles Nelson Co.,

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

in 1925 and then to the Union Lumber Co., San Francisco in 1935 and renamed ''Noyo''. Sold in 1940 to Thia Niyom Panich Co.,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

and renamed ''Nang Suang Nawa''. To MoWT in 1942 and renamed ''Empire Adur'', managed by Singapore Straits Steamship Co. Sold to Thai Maritime Navigation Co., Bangkok in 1948 and renamed ''Nang Suan Nawa''. Lost at sea in 1955 whilst being towed by tug ''Albacore'' en route to Hong Kong for scrapping.

''Empire Adventure''

'' Empire Adventure'' was a 5,145 GRT cargo ship built in 1921 by Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland. Originally named ''Eastney'', owned by Romney Steamship Co. Ltd., London. Sold in 1924 to L Dreyfus et Compagnie, France and renamed ''Germaine L-D''. sold in 1931 to Società Anonima di Navigazione Corrado,

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

and renamed ''Andrea''. Seized off Newcastle upon Tyne in June 1940 and renamed ''Empire Adventure''. Sunk by ''U-138'' on 20 September 1940 off

Islay Islay ( ; , ) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll and Bute just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The island's cap ...

''Empire Advocate''

'' Empire Advocate'' was a 5,787 GRT cargo ship built in 1913 by Joh. C. Tecklenborg AG,

Wesermünde Bremerhaven (; ) is a city on the east bank of the Weser estuary in northern Germany. It forms an exclave of the city-state of Bremen. The River Geeste flows through the city before emptying into the Weser. Bremerhaven was founded in 1827 as ...

. Originally named ''Solfels'', owned by Hansa Line, Bremen. Taken as a

War prize A prize of war (also called spoils of war, bounty or booty) is a piece of enemy property or land seized by a belligerent party during or after a war or battle. This term was used nearly exclusively in terms of captured ships during the 18th and 1 ...

in 1919, managed by H Hogarth & Sons. Sold in 1920 to Lancashire Shipping Co. Sold in 1932 to Achille Lauro & Co., Naples and renamed ''Angelina Lauro''. Seized in Liverpool 23 June 1940 and renamed ''Empire Advocate'', managed by Galbraith, Pembroke & Co., London. Scrapped at

Bo'ness Borrowstounness, commonly known as Bo'ness ( ), is a town and former burgh and seaport on the south bank of the Firth of Forth in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Counties of Scotland, Historically part of the county of West Lothian (historic), ...

in 1945.

''Empire Aid''

''Empire Aid'' was a 479 GRT oceangoing tug built by Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Wallsend. Launched on 27 November 1943 and completed in April 1944. Managed by Overseas Towage & Salvage Co for MoWT. Sold in 1952 to Overseas Towage & Salvage Co and renamed ''Marinia''. Sold in 1954 to Kuwait Oil Co. Ltd and renamed ''Huda''. Sold in 1965 to H H Deeb,

Kuwait Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...

. Scrapped in

Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

in 1967.

''Empire Airman'' (I)

'' Empire Airman'' was a 6,561 GRT cargo ship built in 1915 by

Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino (STT) ("Technical Establishment of Trieste") was a private shipbuilding company based in Trieste from the mid-19th to early 20th century, and the most important naval shipbuilding firm of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ...

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

. Originally named ''Teodo'' and owned by the

Italian Government The government of Italy is that of a democratic republic, established by the Italian constitution in 1948. It consists of Legislature, legislative, Executive (government), executive, and Judiciary, judicial subdivisions, as well as of a head of ...

Ministry of Transport. Passed to the Ministry of Marine in 1924 and renamed ''Barbana''. Sold in 1936 to Società Anonima di Navigazione Garibaldi,

and renamed ''Barbana G''. Captured off Newcastle upon Tyne 10 June 1940. To MoWT, renamed ''Empire Airman''. Torpedoed and sunk by ''U-100'' on 21 September 1940 at approximately .

''Empire Airman'' (II)

was a 9,813 GRT tanker built in 1942 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Managed by Eagle Oil Co. Sold in 1946 to Eagle Oil & Transport Co. and renamed ''San Wenceslao''. Scrapped in Hong Kong in 1959.

''Empire Albany''

'' Empire Albany'' was a 306 GRT coaster built by Richards Ironworks Ltd.,

Lowestoft Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the List of extreme points of the United Kingdom, most easterly UK se ...

. Sold in 1946 to Mrs P Dowds,

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Departed

Port Talbot Port Talbot (, ) is a town and community (Wales), community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, situated on the east side of Swansea Bay, approximately from Swansea. The Port Talbot Steelworks covers a large area of land which d ...

on 20 November 1946 for Rosslare but never arrived. Presumed to have foundered.

''Empire Albatross''

'' Empire Albatross'' was a 4,714 GRT cargo ship built in 1919 by

Bethlehem Steel Corporation The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Until its closure in 2003, it was one of the world's largest steel-producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its success ...

Sparrows Point Sparrows Point is an industrial area in unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, adjacent to Edgemere. Named after Thomas Sparrow, landowner, it was the site of a very large industrial complex owned by Bethlehem Steel, known ...

. Originally named ''Hoxie'' and operated by

United States Shipping Board The United States Shipping Board (USSB) was a corporation established as an emergency agency by the 1916 Shipping Act (39 Stat. 729), on September 7, 1916. The United States Shipping Board's task was to increase the number of US ships supporting ...

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

. Passed to

United States Maritime Commission The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 1950. The co ...

in 1937 and then to MoWT in 1940 and renamed ''Empire Albatross''. Managed by Sir W Reardon Smith & Sons and then by Dene Management Co. Sold in 1942 to the

Belgian Government The Federal Government of Belgium ( ; ; ) exercises executive power in the Kingdom of Belgium. It consists of ministers and secretaries of state ("junior", or deputy-ministers who do not sit in the Council of Ministers) drawn from the polit ...

and renamed ''Belgian Fisherman'', managed by L Dens et Compagnie,

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

. Sold in 1946 to Compagnie Royale Belgique-Argentine SA and renamed ''Belgique''. Sold in 1950 to Hendrik Fisser AG,

Emden Emden () is an Independent city (Germany), independent town and seaport in Lower Saxony in the north-west of Germany and lies on the River Ems (river), Ems, close to the Germany–Netherlands border, Netherlands border. It is the main town in t ...

and renamed ''Martha Hendrik Fisser''. Scrapped in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

in 1958.

''Empire Albion''

'' Empire Albion'' was a 9,875 GRT cargo liner which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Dundee. Launched on 23 May 1944 and completed in September 1944 as ''Terbroch'' for the Netherlands Government. Sold in 1946 to Nederlands Amerikaansche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam and renamed ''Eemdijk''. Sold in 1960 to Orient Mid-East Line and renamed ''Orient Merchant''. Ran aground in

Lake Erie Lake Erie ( ) is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest avera ...

near

Port Colborne Port Colborne is a city in Ontario, Canada that is located on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario. The original settlement, known as Gravelly Bay, dates from 1832 and was renamed after ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada. Refloated on 8 May 1965, declared a constructive total loss. Sold to Compagnia Navigazione Labrador S.A., Panama and renamed ''Zambezi''. Arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for breaking on 19 November 1967.

''Empire Alde''

'' Empire Alde'' was a 3,675 GRT refrigerated cargo ship built in 1934 by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen. Originally named ''Pelikan'' and operated by F. Laeisz, Hamburg. To

German Navy The German Navy (, ) is part of the unified (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Marine'' (German Navy) became the official ...

in 1940. Seized at

Brunsbüttel Brunsbüttel (; Northern Low Saxon: ''Bruunsbüddel'') is a town in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany that lies at the mouth of the Elbe river, near the North Sea. It is the location of the western entrance to t ...

in 1945. To MoWTin 1946 and renamed ''Empire Alde'', managed by Kaye, Sons & Co. Sold to Elders & Fyffes Ltd in 1946 and renamed ''Pelikan''. Renamed ''Pacuare'' in 1947 and scrapped at

Troon Troon (Scottish Gaelic: ''An Truthail'') is a town and sea port in South Ayrshire, situated on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland, about north of Ayr and northwest of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Troon has a port with ferry and freight serv ...

in 1959.

''Empire Alderney''

'' Empire Alderney'' was a 288 GRT coastal tanker built in 1944 by J Harker Ltd.,

Knottingley Knottingley is a town in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the old A1 road before it was bypassed as the A1(M). Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it has a population of 13,503, increasing ...

. Sold in 1946 to Norsk Tankanlaeg A/S, Norway and renamed ''MIL 50''. Sold in 1955 to Partenrederei Max S, Germany and renamed ''Max S''. Sold in 1958 to Marina Mercante Nicaragüense,

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

.Sold in 1959 to Compagnia Maritima Mundial, Nicaragua. Sold in 1980 to Trafford Holdings Ltd.,

Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands () is a self-governing British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory, and the largest by population. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are located so ...

''Empire Aldgate''

'' Empire Aldgate'' was a 3,485 GRT heavy lift ship built in 1945 by William Gray & Co. Ltd.,

West Hartlepool West Hartlepool was a predecessor of Hartlepool, County Durham, England. It developed in the Victorian era and took the name from its western position in the parish of what is now known as the Headland. The former town was originally formed ...

. Sold in 1946 to the Rodney Steamship Co., London and renamed ''Thackeray''. Sold in 1951 to Silvertown Services Ltd and renamed ''Sugar Refiner''. Sold in 1958 to Valck & Monkton,

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

and renamed ''San Patrico''. Sold in 1962 to World Maritime Co., Liberia who sold her in 1965 to Altair Maritime Corporation, Liberia. Abandoned at

Tarragona Tarragona (, ; ) is a coastal city and municipality in Catalonia (Spain). It is the capital and largest town of Tarragonès county, the Camp de Tarragona region and the province of Tarragona. Geographically, it is located on the Costa Daurada ar ...

in 1965 and scrapped at Cartagena in 1967.

''Empire Alfred''

''Empire Alfred'' was a 242 GRT oceangoing tug built by J S Watson Ltd.,

Gainsborough Gainsborough or Gainsboro may refer to: Places * Gainsborough, Ipswich, Suffolk, England ** Gainsborough Ward, Ipswich * Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, a town in England ** Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency) * Gainsborough, Saskatchewan, Ca ...

. Launched on 5 September 1944 and completed in October 1944. Sold in 1946 to the

French Government The Government of France (, ), officially the Government of the French Republic (, ), exercises Executive (government), executive power in France. It is composed of the Prime Minister of France, prime minister, who is the head of government, ...

and renamed ''Muscle''. Sold in 1951 to Les Abeilles Compagnie des Remorquage Sauvignon,

Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...

and renamed ''Abeille No. 22''. Scrapped at Le Havre in June 1969.

''Empire Allenby''

Empire Allenby The ''Empire Allenby'' was a 9,904 ton cargo liner which was built in 1944. She was renamed ''Drakensberg Castle'' in 1946, and scrapped in 1959. History ''Empire Allenby'' was built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as yard number 633. S ...

'' was a 9,904 GRT cargo ship built by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland. Managed by Prince Line. Sold in 1946 to Union Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd. and renamed ''Drakensberg Castle''. Scrapped in Hong Kong in 1959.

''Empire Alliance''

'' Empire Alliance'' was a 9,909 GRT tanker built in 1945 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland and managed by Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., London. Sold in 1945 to British Tanker Co and renamed ''British Dragoon''. Scrapped at Blyth in 1962.

''Empire Almond''

'' Empire Almond'' was a 6,860 GRT cargo ship built in 1941 by

Taikoo Dockyard Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company () was a dockyard in what is now Taikoo Shing, MTR Tai Koo station and part of Taikoo Place of Quarry Bay on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It predates the era before the reclamation of Victoria Harbour. ...

& Engineering Co Ltd, Hong Kong and managed by W Runciman & Co. Ltd. Management passed to Coolham Steamship Co. Ltd. in 1943. Sold to Kaye, Son & Co., London in 1946 and renamed ''Marquita''. Renamed ''Marshland'' in 1951, sold in 1960 to Polish Steamship Company,

Szczecin Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the Poland-Germany border, German border, it is a major port, seaport, the la ...

and renamed ''Huta Zgoda''. Converted to a floating warehouse in 1969 and renamed ''MP-Zozie-12'' Scrapped at

Faslane His Majesty's Naval Base, Clyde (HMNB Clyde; also HMS ''Neptune''), primarily sited at Faslane on the Gare Loch, is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth). It ...

in 1978.

''Empire Amethyst''

'' Empire Amethyst'' was an 8,032 GRT tanker built in 1941 by Furness Shipbuilding Ltd,

Haverton Hill-on-Tees Haverton Hill is an area within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees (borough), Stockton-on-Tees and ceremonial county of County Durham, England. Once considered a part of Billingham, Haverton Hill was once a thriving industrial community which has s ...

. Torpedoed and sunk by ''U-154'' on 13 April 1942 at .

''Empire Andrew''

''Empire Andrew'' was a 138 GRT estuary tug built by R Dunston Ltd., Thorne. Launched on 27 November 1943 and completed in February 1944. Sold in 1948 to the

Polish Government The government of Poland takes the form of a Unitary state, unitary semi-presidential republic, semi-presidential Representative democracy, representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Poland, president is the head of state and t ...

and renamed ''Dzik''. On shipping registers until 1961 when relegated to port work only, scrapped at an unknown date.

''Empire Anglesey''

'' Empire Anglesey'' was a 288 GRT coastal tanker built in 1945 by J Harker Ltd., Knottingley. Sold in 1946 to A/S Tankskibsrederiet, Köpenhamn, Denmark and renamed ''Abadan''. Sold in 1961 to Celtic Coasters Ltd.,

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

, Ireland and renamed ''Renee J''. Scrapped in

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

in 1969.

''Empire Ann''

''Empire Ann'' was a 232 GRT coastwise tug built in 1942 by A Hall & Co. Ltd.,

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

. Launched on 9 January 1943 and completed in April 1943. Sent to

during the Second World War. Sold in 1947 to

United Steel Companies The United Steel Companies was a steelmaking, engineering, coal mining and coal by-product group based in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, England. History The company was registered in 1918 and the following year saw a joining together of ste ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

and operated by

Workington Workington is a coastal town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. The town is at the mouth of the River Derwent on the west coast, south-west of Carlisle and north-east of Whitehaven. At the 2021 census the ...

Harbour & Dock Board, renamed ''Solway''. Arrived for scrapping at

Fleetwood Fleetwood is a coastal town in the Borough of Wyre in Lancashire, England, at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 25,939 at the 2011 United Kingdom census, 2011 census. Fleetwood acquired its modern character in the 1830 ...

on 21 April 1977.

''Empire Annan''

'' Empire Annan'' was a 2,385 GRT cargo ship built in 1935 by Schichau F GmbH,

Elbląg Elbląg (; ; ) is a city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland, located in the eastern edge of the Żuławy region with 127,390 inhabitants, as of December 2021. It is the capital of Elbląg County. Elbląg is one of the ol ...

. Originally owned by Kohlen-Import & Poseidon Co.,

Königsberg Königsberg (; ; ; ; ; ; , ) is the historic Germany, German and Prussian name of the city now called Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was founded in 1255 on the site of the small Old Prussians, Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teuton ...

and named ''Masuren''. Seized in 1945 at

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

and renamed ''Empire Annan''. To United States Maritime Commission in 1947 and sold to Fanmaur Shipping & Trading Co.,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. Sold in 1950 to T N Ephianiades, Greece and renamed ''Thomas N Ephiphaniades''. Sold in 1952 to J Blumenthal, Hamburg and renamed ''Helga Boge''. Sold in 1960 to Koehn & Bohlmann Rederei, Hamburg and renamed ''Fuhlsbuttel''. Scrapped at Bremerhaven in 1964.

''Empire Antelope''

'' Empire Antelope'' was a 4,753 GRT cargo ship built in 1919 by Todd Drydock and Construction Company,

Tacoma Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, southwest of Bellevue, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, northwest of Mount ...

. Originally owned by United States Shipping Board and named ''Ophis''. Renamed ''Bangu'' in 1928. To United States Maritime Commission in 1937 and MoWT in 1941, renamed ''Empire Antelope''. Torpedoed and sunk by ''U-402'' on 2 February 1942 at .

''Empire Antigua''

Empire Antigua SS ''Culross'' was a 7,331 ton cargo ship which was built as ''Empire Antigua'' in 1945. She was renamed Culross in 1946. In 1960, she was renamed ''Akastos'', serving under a number of flags until 1968 when she was renamed ''Marina'', being sc ...

'' was a 7,331 GRT cargo ship built in 1946 by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Managed by Dodd, Thompson & Co. Sold in 1946 to the South Georgia Co. and renamed ''Culross''. Laid up at

Gairloch Gairloch ( ; , meaning "Short Loch") is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. A tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a ...

in 1958. Sold in 1960 to Navigazione y de Comercio Apolo Ltda,

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

and renamed ''Akastos''. Reflagged to Greece in 1961 and

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

in 1966. Sold in 1967 to Blue Cross Transocean Co.,

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

. Renamed ''Marina'' in 1968 and scrapped in Hamburg.

''Empire Anvil''

'' Empire Anvil'' was a 7,177 GRT

landing ship An amphibious warfare ship (or amphib) is an amphibious vehicle warship employed to land and support ground forces, such as marines, on enemy territory during an amphibious assault. Specialized shipping can be divided into two types, most crud ...

built in 1943 by the

Consolidated Steel Corporation The Consolidated Steel Corporation was an American steel and shipbuilding business. Formed on 18 December 1928, the company built ships during World War II in two main locations: Wilmington, California, and Orange, Texas. It was created by the mer ...

Wilmington, Los Angeles Wilmington is a neighborhood in the South Bay and Harbor region of Los Angeles, California, covering . Featuring a heavy concentration of industry and the third-largest oil field in the continental United States, this neighborhood has a high p ...

. Laid down as ''Cape Argos'' and completed as ''Empire Anvil''. To MoWT in 1944, managed by Furness, Withy & Co. To the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

in 1944 as HMS ''Rocksand''. Returned to MoWT in 1946 and renamed ''Empire Anvil'', again managed by Furness, Withy & Co. To United States Maritime Commission in 1947. Renamed ''Cape Argos'' in 1948. The proposed sale to China in 1948 was postponed and she was renamed ''Empire Anvil'' in 1950 and laid up in

James River The James River is a river in Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers in Botetourt County U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowli ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. Sold in 1960 to China Merchants Steam Navigation Co., Taiwan, and renamed ''Hai Ya''. Sold in 1973 to Yangming Marine Transport, Taiwan. Scrapped at

Keelung Keelung ( ; zh, p=Jīlóng, c=基隆, poj=Ke-lâng), Chilung or Jilong ( ; ), officially known as Keelung City, is a major port city in northeastern Taiwan. The city is part of the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area with neighboring New Ta ...

in 1974.

''Empire Archer''

'' Empire Archer'' was a 7,031 GRT cargo ship built in 1942 by

Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Limited was a major Scottish shipbuilding company based in Dundee, Scotland that traded for more than a century and built more than 500 ships. History W.B. Thompson CBE (1837 - 1923) founded the ...

Dunbar Dunbar () is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately east of Edinburgh and from the Anglo–Scottish border, English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and ...

and managed by Raeburn & Verel Ltd. Sold in 1946 to H Hogarth & Sons, Glasgow and renamed ''Baron Murray''. Sold in 1959 to Cathay Shipping Corporation, Panama, and renamed ''Cathay''. Scrapped at

Yokosuka is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city has a population of 373,797, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th-most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region. The city i ...

in 1963.

''Empire Ardle''

'' Empire Ardle'' was a 2,798 GRT cargo ship laid down by

Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft is a German shipbuilding company located in Flensburg. The company trades as ''Flensburger'' and is commonly abbreviated ''FSG''. History ''Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft'' was founded in 1872 by a group of ...

Flensburg Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish and ; ; ) is an independent city, independent town in the far north of the Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel and Lübeck, it is the third-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg's ...

as ''Sasbeck'' and seized uncompleted at

Lübeck Lübeck (; or ; Latin: ), officially the Hanseatic League, Hanseatic City of Lübeck (), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 220,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city on the German Baltic Sea, Baltic coast and the second-larg ...

. To MoWT in 1946 as ''Empire Ardle''. Sold to Rodney Steamship Co., London in 1947 and renamed ''Lewis Hamilton''. Sold in 1950 to C H Abramsen,

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

and renamed ''Indus''. Sold in 1968 to C Hultstrom, Stockholm and then to Seabird Navigation Incorporated, Liberia, and renamed ''Falcon''. Sold in 1969 to Lilly Navigation Corporation, Panama and renamed ''Sea Falcon''. Sold to Seabird Navigation Incorporated in 1970, scrapped at

Avilés Avilés (Asturian and ;) is a town in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is, along with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main cities in the Principality of Asturias. The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, partially in a land that belonged ...

in 1971.

''Empire Ariel''

''Empire Ariel'' was a 129 GRT estuary tug built in 1942 by R Dunston Ltd., Thorne. Launched on 20 September 1942 and completed in November 1942. Sold in 1947 to Compagnie Rem. Les Tuyaux Bleus,

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( ; ; Gascon language, Gascon ; ) is a city on the river Garonne in the Gironde Departments of France, department, southwestern France. A port city, it is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the Prefectures in F ...

and renamed ''Ariel''. Sold in 1951 to J Lasry & Sons,

Oran Oran () is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is w ...

and renamed ''Jolasry 5''. Sold in 1956 to D Tripcovich & Co., Italy, and renamed ''Velox''. Sold in 1976 to Marittima Farsoura, Italy, renamed ''Manuella F'' and converted to a

barge A barge is typically a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and ocean, marine water environments. The firs ...

''Empire Arnold''

'' Empire Arnold'' was a 7,045 GRT cargo ship built in 1942 by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. Managed by Sir R Ropner & Co. Torpedoed and sunk by ''U-155'' on 4 August 1942 at .

''Empire Arquebus''

'' Empire Arquebus'' was a 7,177 GRT landing ship laid down as ''Cape St Vincent'' for United States War Shipping Administration and completed in 1944 by

, Wilmington as ''Empire Arquebus''. Managed by Donaldson, Brothers and Black Ltd., To Royal Navy in 1944 and renamed HMS ''Cicero''. Returned to MoWT in 1945 and renamed ''Empire Arquebus'' under the management of Donaldson, Brothers and Black Ltd. To United States War Shipping Administration in 1946. Sold that year to Société Misr. de Navigatione Maritime,

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

and converted to a passenger ship, renamed ''Al Sudan''. Sold in 1959 to

Egyptian Government The politics of Egypt takes place within the framework of a republican semi-presidential system of government. The current political system was established following the 2013 Egyptian military coup d'état, and the takeover of President Abdel ...

and then sold in 1961 to United Arab Maritime Co.,

United Arab Republic The United Arab Republic (UAR; ) was a sovereign state in the Middle East from 1958 to 1971. It was initially a short-lived political union between Republic of Egypt (1953–1958), Egypt (including Occupation of the Gaza Strip by the United Ara ...

. Sold in 1973 to Egyptian Navigation Co., Egypt. Arrived in

Suez Suez (, , , ) is a Port#Seaport, seaport city with a population of about 800,000 in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal. It is the capital and largest c ...

in 1980 for scrapping but still extant in 1984.

''Empire Arrow''

was a 3,766 GRT intermediate tanker built in 1945 by J L Thompson & Sons, Sunderland. Sold in 1947 to British Tanker Co. and renamed ''British Bugler''. Sold in 1958 to Compagnie d'Armement Maritime,

Djibouti Djibouti, officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...

and renamed ''Montmajour''. Sold in 1963 to Greek Tanker Shipping Co.,

Piraeus Piraeus ( ; ; , Ancient: , Katharevousa: ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens city centre along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf in the Ath ...

and renamed ''Mantinia''. Laid up in Piraeus in 1978, scrapped at Kynosoúra in 1981.

''Empire Arthur''

Empire Arthur SS ''Empire Arthur'' was a 784-ton oil tanker, coastal tanker which was built in 1942. She saw service mainly in British coastal waters during the Second World War, and was briefly used as an auxiliary, supporting Royal Navy operations off wes ...

'' was a 780 GRT coastal tanker built in 1942 by

Grangemouth Grangemouth (; , ) is a town in the Falkirk (council area), Falkirk council area in the central belt of Scotland. Historically part of the Counties of Scotland, county of Stirlingshire, the town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firt ...

Dockyard Co. Ltd. Capsized and sank off Freetown 22 November 1943 and declared a total loss. Salvaged in 1948 and repaired, becoming ''Merula'', owned by Ape Azionara Petroliere, Italy. Sold in 1951 to F T Everard & Sons and renamed ''Adherity''. Scrapped at Nieuw Lekkerkerk, Netherlands in 1962.

''Empire Arun''

'' Empire Arun'' was a 5,490 GRT cargo ship built in 1922 by Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste. Originally owned by

Lloyd Triestino Lloyd Triestino was a major shipping company, created in 1919 when the city of Trieste became part of Italy in the settlement after the First World War. It ran passenger services on ocean liners around the world. Seriously harmed by Second World W ...

and named ''Savoia''. Captured on 11 February 1941 by Royal Navy at

Kismayu Kismayo (, , ; ) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region. The city is situated southwest of the capital Mogadishu, near the mouth of the Jub ...

Italian Somaliland Italian Somaliland (; ; ) was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia, which was ruled in the 19th century by the Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate in the north, and by the Hiraab Imamate and ...

. To MoWT in 1942 and renamed ''Empire Arun'', managed by Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. Sold in 1947 to Goulandris Bros., London and renamed ''Granlake''. Sold in 1949 to Compagnia Maritima del Este, Panama and renamed ''Dryad''. sold in 1951 to Hikari Kisen K.K.,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

and renamed ''Shiranesan Maru''. Sold in 1953 to Mitsi Kinkai Kisen K.K., Tokyo and then in 1955 to Hokuyo Suisan K.K., Tokyo. Sold in 1962 to Nichiro Gyogyo K.K., Tokyo and renamed ''Dainichi Maru''. Scrapped at Utsumi-Machi, Japan in 1969.

''Empire Ash''

'' Empire Ash'' was a 263 GRT oceangoing tug built in 1941 by

John Crown & Sons Ltd John Crown & Sons Ltd, was a British shipbuilding company founded in 1847 and based on the River Wear, Sunderland. History In its centenary year the shipyard was acquired by J.L. Thompson & Sons. Ships built by John Crown & Sons Ltd See ...

, Sunderland. Launched on 13 August 1941 and completed in October 1941. Sold in 1946 to Clyde Shipping Co Ltd and renamed ''Flying Fulmar''. sold in 1956 to C J King & Sons Ltd,

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

and renamed ''Sea Alarm''. To Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum in 1973, restored 1978. Scrapped upon the closure of the museum, but engine saved. Questions were asked by the

Select committee on Welsh Affairs The Welsh Affairs Select Committee (or simply the 'Welsh Affairs Committee') is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and poli ...

about the scrapping of the tug as there was public outcry at the time.

''Empire Asquith''

'' Empire Asquith'' was a 7,082 GRT cargo ship built in 1944 by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Managed by R Chapman & Son. Management passed to

Counties Ship Management Counties Ship Management Co. Ltd. (CSM) was an ocean-going merchant shipping company based in the United Kingdom. During the Second World War CSM merchant ships made a substantial contribution to supplying the British war effort, at a cost of 1 ...

Ltd., London in 1946, and ''Empire Asquith'' was sold to them in 1947, renamed ''Brockley Hill''. Sold in 1951 to Crest Shipping Co., Nassau, and renamed ''Starcrest''. Sold in 1957 to Compagnia de Navigazione Phoenix, Panama and renamed ''Argosy'', flying the Liberian flag. Sold in 1958 to Codemar Compagnia de Empresas Maritimas, Panama. Sold in 1960 to Ipar Transport Co.,

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

and renamed ''Nezihi Ipar''. Laid up in Istanbul in 1962 and scrapped there in 1970.

''Empire Athelstan''

'' Empire Athelstan'' was a 7,803 GRT heavy lift ship built in 1946 by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., Barrow in Furness and initially managed by P Henderson & Co. passing to Alfred Holt & Company later in 1946. Sold in 1947 to Ben Line Steamers and renamed ''Benalbanach''. To

Ministry of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government a ...

in 1965, managed by British India Steam Navigation Co. To

Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for Business and Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...

Sea Transport Branch in 1969 and then sold to Mercur Shipping Enterprise, Panama and renamed ''Dragon Castle''. Sold in 1975 to Cuatebol Shipping S.A., Panama. Scrapped at

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

in 1975.

''Empire Atoll''

'' Empire Atoll'' was a 692 GRT refrigerated coaster built in 1941 by Ardrossan Dockyard Ltd,

Ardrossan Ardrossan (; ) is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. The town has a population of 10,670 and forms part of a conurbation with Saltcoats and Stevenston known as the 'Three Towns#Scotland, Three Towns'. Ardrossan is loca ...

. The only refrigerated coaster built during the war. Capacity refrigerated cargo space. Launched on 12 July 1941 and completed in 1942. Sold in 1946 to Coast Lines Ltd., and renamed ''Hadrian Coast''. Sold in 1967 to E Davidou, Greece. Ran aground at Mehidia,

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

on 10 January 1970 after suffering engine trouble and declared a total loss.

''Empire Attendant''

Empire Attendant MV ''Domala'' was a British cargo liner that was launched in 1920 as ''Magvana'', but completed in 1921 as ''Domala''. She was the first major ocean-going passenger ship to be built in the United Kingdom as a motor ship. The British India ...

'' was an 8,441 GRT passenger ship built in 1921 by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow. Originally owned by British India Steam Navigation Co. and named ''Domala''. Beached in the

Solent The Solent ( ) is a strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland Great Britain; the major historic ports of Southampton and Portsmouth lie inland of its shores. It is about long and varies in width between , although the Hurst Spit whi ...

2 February 1940 after being bombed and set on fire. Rebuilt as a cargo ship for MoWT and renamed ''Empire Attendant'', managed by Andrew Weir & Co Ltd (Bank Line). Torpedoed and sunk on 15 July 1942 by ''U-582'' at .

''Empire Audacity''

'' Empire Audacity'' was a 5,537 GRT cargo ship built in 1939 by Bremer Vulkan, Bremen. Originally named ''Hannover'' and owned by

North German Lloyd Line Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL; North German Lloyd) was a German shipping company. It was founded by Hermann Henrich Meier and Eduard Crüsemann in Bremen on 20 February 1857. It developed into one of the most important German shipping companies of th ...

. Captured on 7 March 1940 by Royal Navy off

Dominica Dominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. It is part of the Windward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of t ...

. To MoWT, renamed ''Sinbad'', then ''Empire Audacity'', managed by Cunard White Star Line. Converted to an

escort aircraft carrier The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVE), also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slower type of aircraf ...

in 1941, to Royal Navy as . Torpedoed and sunk on 23 December 1941 by at .

''Empire Audrey''

''Empire Audrey'' was a 657 GRT coastal tanker built in 1943 by G Brown & Co Ltd,

Greenock Greenock (; ; , ) is a town in Inverclyde, Scotland, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The town is the administrative centre of Inverclyde Council. It is a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, and forms ...

. Launched on 23 February 1942 and completed in June 1943. Sold in 1946 to F T Everard & Sons Ltd., London, and renamed ''Audacity''. Grounded on 11 January 1967 near the Terschelling Bank Light Vessel,

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

(). Her bottom was damaged and she was flooded. Refloated on 21 January and towed to Harlingen where temporary repairs were carried out. Towed to

Greenhithe, Kent Greenhithe is a village in the Borough of Dartford in Kent, England, and the civil parish of Swanscombe and Greenhithe. It is located east of Dartford and west of Gravesend. Area In the past, Greenhithe's waterfront on the estuary of the Ri ...

25 January. Sold for scrap at a later date. Scrapped in August 1969 at Boom, Belgium.

''Empire Austen''

'' Empire Austen'' was a 7,057 GRT cargo ship built in 1942 by Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow. Managed by Honeyman & Co until 1946 when management passed to

(CSM). She was sold to CSM in 1949 and renamed ''Frinton''. Sold to Crest Shipping Co., Nassau in 1951 and renamed ''Freecrest''. Sold in 1955 to International Navigation Corporation, Liberia and renamed ''Fairwater''. Sold in 1961 to Surrendra Private Ltd.,

Calcutta Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...

and renamed ''APJ Usha''. Scrapped in India 1961.

''Empire Avocet''

Empire Avocet ''Cotati'' was a steam cargo ship built in 1918–1919 by Moore Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Oakland for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as part of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) to rest ...

'' was a 5,963 GRT refrigerated cargo ship built in 1919 by the Moore Shipbuilding Co.,

Oakland Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...

. Originally owned by United States Shipping Board and named ''Cotati''. To United States Maritime Commission in 1937 and MoWT in 1942, managed by New Zealand Shipping Co. Torpedoed and sunk on 29 September 1942 by ''U 125'' at .

''Empire Ayr''

'' Empire Ayr'' was a 5,064 GRT cargo ship built in 1943 by

Öresundsvarvet Öresundsvarvet was a Swedish shipyard in Landskrona that was established in 1915 and largely phased out between 1980 and 1982. Foundation Öresundsvarvet was constituted on 16 December 1915 by Gothenburg shipbuilder, Arthur Du Rietz. During a ...

Landskrona Landskrona is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona to the island of Ven, an ...

. Originally owned by J T Essberger, Hamburg and named ''Eberhart Essberger''. Seized at

Kiel Kiel ( ; ) is the capital and most populous city in the northern Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. With a population of around 250,000, it is Germany's largest city on the Baltic Sea. It is located on the Kieler Förde inlet of the Ba ...

in 1945, to MoWT, renamed ''Empire Ayr''. Sold to

USSR The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

1946 and renamed ''Dmitry Donskoy''. Scrapped in USSR 1974.

References

Sources

* {{Empire ships A