SS British Drummer British Drummer was a tanker built in 1945 as Empire Ensign by J L Thompson & Son Ltd , Sunderland , Co Durham , United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) . She was sold into merchant service in 1947 and renamed " British Drummer " . A sale to Norway in 1957 saw her renamed Anella . In 1958 , a further sale saw her renamed Norse Commander . In September 1966 , she developed boiler defects that were deemed uneconomic to repair , and she was scrapped in November that year . Description . The ship was built in 1945 by J L Thompson & Son Ltd , Sunderland , Co Durham . She was yard number 120 . The ship was long , with a beam of . She was assessed at 3 , 750 GRT , 1 , 897 NRT , 5 , 143 DWT . Her tanks had a capacity of of cargo . The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine , which could propel the ship at . History . " Empire Ensign " was built for the MoWT . She was placed under the management of the British Tanker Co Ltd , London . The United Kingdom Official Number 180152 was allocated . Her Code Letters were GDMS . " Empire Ensign " made her maiden voyage on 3 April 1945 , when she departed from [ [ Sunderland , Co Durham ] ] to join Convoy FS 1775 , which had departed from Methil , Fife that day and arrived at Southend , Essex on 5 April . On 7 April , she joined Convoy OS 121 KM , which had departed from the Clyde that day and split at sea on 14 April . " Empire Ensign " was in the part of the convoy which formed Convoy KMS 96G and arrived at [ [ Gibraltar ] ] on 16 April . She departed from Gibraltar on 20 April for Bizerta , Algeria , where she arrived three days later . She sailed on 25 April for Piraeus , Greece , where she arrived on 28 April . On 2 May , she sailed for Port Said , Egypt , arriving two days later . She then sailed to Suez , from where she departed on 7 May for Aden . " Empire Ensign " arrived at Aden on 12 May . She then sailed to Colombo , Ceylon , from where she departed on 20 May for Calcutta , India , arriving on 25 May . A round trip was made to Madras , arriving back at Calcutta on 10 June before sailing for Madras on 15 June . She arrived at Madras three days later and departed for Chittagong on 21 June , arriving on 24 June . " Empire Ensign " sailed on 1 July for Madras , arriving five days later and departing that day for the Park Strait , from where she sailed on 9 July for Calcutta , arriving four days later . She sailed on 23 July for Colombo , arriving on 22 August and sailing two days later for [ [ Vizag ] ] , India , where she arrived on 3 September . She sailed the next day for Madras , arriving two days later . " Empire Ensign " departed on 1 October for [ [ Port Swettenham ] ] , Malaya , arriving on 15 October . She sailed on 3 November for Singapore , arriving the next day . In 1947 , " Empire Ensign " was sold to the British Tanker Co Ltd , London and was renamed " British Drummer " . On 28 May 1947 , " British Drummer " was in port at Haifa , Palestine being loaded with [ [ benzine ] ] when there was an attack aimed at two water tanks , which the attackers may have thought contained fuel . " British Drummer " was from the site of the attack . In 1956 , she was sold to BP Tankers Ltd , London . In 1957 , " British Drummer " was sold to Rederi A / S Mimer & A / S Norfart , Oslo , Norway . She was renamed " Anella " and placed under the management of Arne Blystad , Oslo . In 1958 , " Anella " was sold to Bucha , Godager & Co , Oslo and renamed " Norse Commander " . In 1959 , she was chartered to Esso for use between [ [ Fawley Refinery ] ] , Hampshire , United Kingdom and Mode Wheel Locks on the [ [ Manchester Ship Canal ] ] . In 1961 , she was carrying [ [ fish oil ] ] from Iceland . On 9 September 1965 , " Norse Commander " caught fire whilst under repair in a drydock at the Albert Dock , [ [ Tanjong Pagar ] ] , Singapore . The fire was quickly extinguished and little damage was done . A reporter and cameraman from " [ [ The Straits Times ] ] " were refused access to the dock by the [ [ Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore | Singapore Port Authority ] ] , which claimed that the reporter " might interfere with the firefighting operation , speak to the wrong people and write the wrong report " . The port authority later handed out an official [ [ press release ] ] . " The Straits Times " commented in an [ [ editorial ] ] that the ban of its reporter was " censorship of the very worst kind , bureaucracy in its stupidest mood " . In 1966 , " Norse Commander " suffered boiler defects . She arrived under tow at Singapore on 6 September . Repairs were deemed to be uneconomic , and she was sold to the Hong Huat Hardware Co , Singapore for scrapping . She arrived at their yard on 12 November 1966 . External links . [ [ Category : 1945 ships ] ] [ [ Category : Wear - built ships ] ] [ [ Category : Empire ships ] ] [ [ Category : Ministry of War Transport ships ] ] [ [ Category : Steamships of the United Kingdom ] ] [ [ Category : Tankers of the United Kingdom ] ] [ [ Category : Steamships of Norway ] ] [ [ Category : Tankers of Norway ] ]