SS Theresia L M Russ Theresia L M Russ was a 1 , 694 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1927 by Neptun AG , Rostock , Germany for Ernst Russ . She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for two years during the Second World War . In 1944 , she was sunk by bombing at Gotenhafen , German occupied Poland . The ship was raised and repaired in 1945 . She was seized by the Allies at Copenhagen and passed to the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) and renamed Empire Concrete . In 1946 , she was passed to the Dutch Government and renamed Velsen . She was sold into merchant service in 1947 and renamed Cronenburgh . In 1955 , she was sold to Italy and renamed Astor under Panamanian management . She served until scrapped in 1970 . Description . The ship was built in 1927 by Neptun AG , Rostock , as yard number 413 . The ship was long , with a beam of a depth of . She had a GRT of 1 , 6964 and a NRT of 993 . Her DWT was 2 , 658 . The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine , which had two cylinders of , and diameter by stroke . The engine was built by AG Neptun . The engine was supplied with steam from two boilers with a total heating area of , operating at . The engine could propel her at . History . " Theresia L M Russ " was built for Ernst Russ , Hamburg . The Code Letters RGNK were allocated . She made her maiden voyage on 20 December 1927 . On 26 July 1932 , " Theresa L M Russ " rescued the 40 survivors from the Reichsmarine training schooner " Niobe " , which had capsized off Fehmarn in a squall . In 1934 , her Code Letters were changed to DHXN . On 14 August 1938 , the French steamship struck a mine and sank south east of Gibraltar . " Theresia L M Russ " rescued her crew of 14 , who had taken to the lifeboats . They were landed at Gibraltar . On 9 April 1940 , " Theresia L M Russ " was requisitioned at Bergen , Norway by the Kriegsmarine . She was returned to Ernst Russ on 29 April . On 15 August 1940 , she was again requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine . On 9 December 1941 , " Theresia L M Russ " was one of seven ships in a convoy travelling from Kirkenes , Norway to Tromsø , Norway when the convoy was attacked by and was sunk . " Theresia L M Russ " was returned to her owners on 23 May 1942 . She was damaged in an air raid on 26 February 1944 at Helsinki , Finland . On 18 December 1944 , " Theresia L M Russ " was sunk in a Royal Air Force raid on Gotenhafen , German occupied Poland . On 13 January 1945 , she entered dry dock for repairs . " Theresia L M Russ " was seized by the Allies in May 1945 at Flensburg . She arrived at Methil , Fife on 4 July 1945 . " Theresia L M Russ " was passed to the MoWT and renamed " Empire Concrete " . Her port of registry was London . The Code Letter GLOL and United Kingdom Official Number 180708 were allocated . She was operated under the management of Stockwood , Rees & Co Ltd . On 25 October 1946 , " Empire Concrete " was transferred to the Dutch Government and renamed " Velsen " . She was placed under the management of Wm Müller & Co NV , Rotterdam . On 9 February 1947 , " Velsen " was sold to Müllers and renamed " Cronenburgh " . Her port of registry was changed to Rotterdam and the Code Letters PDMW were allocated . On 20 July 1948 , " Cronenburg " grounded on a voyage between Stockholm and Mäntyluoto , Finland . It was subsequently discovered that she was leaking and she was drydocked for repairs . In 1955 , " Cronenburgh " was sold to U Gennari & Co , Italy . She was operated under the management of Compania de Navigation Caribbean Cargo Carriers SA , Panama and was renamed " Astor " . When IMO Number s were introduced , " Astor " was allocated number 5102755 . On 15 February 1970 , " Astor " was on a voyage from Algiers to Oran when she suffered damage to her boilers . She was sold on 9 March 1970 to Industry Varie SJV , La Spezia , Italy and arrived there under tow . Scrapping commenced on 23 March 1970 .