SS Empire Emerald Empire Emerald was a tanker that was built in 1941 by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd Haverton Hill - on - Tees , Co Durham , United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) . She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed El Gallo , serving until 1959 when she was scrapped . Description . The ship was a tanker . She was built in 1941 by Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd Haverton Hill - on - Tees , Co Durham . She was yard number 334 , The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of , and a draught of . She was assessed at 8 , 032 GRT , 4 , 676 NRT . The ship was propelled by a 674 nhp triple expansion steam engine , which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke . The engine was built by Richardsons , Westgarth & Co Ltd , West Hartlepool , Co Durham . History . WWII . " Empire Emerald " was launched on 26 August 1941 and completed in October . She was placed under the management of C T Bowring & Co Ltd . Her port of registry was Middlesbrough . The United Kingdom Official Number 164849 and Code Letters BCQC were allocated . " Empire Emerald " arrived at the Tyne on 14 October 1941 . She departed on her maiden voyage the next day , joining Convoy FN 532 , which had departed from Southend , Essex on 14 October and arrived at Methil , Fife on 16 October . She then joined Convoy EC 86 , which departed on 15 October and arrived at the Clyde on 20 October . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 19 October and sailed to New York , United States , arriving on 6 November and departing three days later for Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada , where she arrived on 11 November . " Empire Emerald " then joined Convoy HX 160 , which departed on 15 November and arrived at Liverpool , Lancashire , United Kingdom on 30 November . She was carrying a cargo of petrol . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 29 November , departing on 2 December as a member of Convoy BB 107 , which arrived at Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire the next day . She was involved in a collision on 3 December and arrived at Avonmouth , Somerset on 8 December . " Empire Emerald " departed from Avonmouth on 13 December , sailing to Barry , Glamorgan , from where she departed on 28 December for Milford Haven , arriving the next day . She departed on 30 December to join Convoy ON 52 , which departed from Liverpool on 31 December and dispersed at sea on 11 January 1942 . Her destination was Beaumont , Texas , United States , where she arrived on 27 January . She sailed four days later for Bermuda , arriving on 8 February and sailing the next day for Halifax , where she arrived on 12 February . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy HX 175 , which departed on 13 February and arrived at Liverpool on 25 February . She was carrying a cargo of avgas . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 25 February , sailing two days later with Convoy BB 143 , which arrived at Milford Haven on 28 February . Her destination was Avonmouth , where she arrived on 1 March . " Empire Emerald " sailed for Milford Haven on 14 March , arriving the next day . Whilst she was in port , her captain , Edward Butcher had to go ashore to receive orders for the Convoy . During his return to the ship , an accident occurred which later resulted in the amputation of his leg below the knee . In 1953 , he was unsuccessful in a war pension for the injury as it was deemed not to be directly attributable to the war . " Empire Emerald " joined Convoy ON 77 , which departed from Liverpool on 17 March and dispersed at on 28 March . She left the convoy and proceeded to the Belfast Lough , arriving on 20 March and sailing four days later to join Convoy ON 79 , which departed from Liverpool on 23 March and arrived at Halifax on 7 April . Her destination was New York , where she arrived on 7 April , departing five days later for Halifax , where she arrived on 20 April . " Empire Emerald " then joined Convoy HX 186 , which departed that day and arrived at Liverpool on 2 May . She was carrying a cargo of paraffin and petrol . Her destination was the Clyde , where she arrived on 2 May . " Empire Emerald " departed on 9 May to join Convoy ON 93 , which had departed from Liverpool the previous day and dispersed at on 17 May . She then sailed to Charleston , South Carolina , United States , arriving on 25 May and sailing three days later for Port Arthur , Texas , where she arrived on 3 June . " Empire Emerald " departed on 5 June for Key West , Florida , arriving on 10 June . She was a member of Convoy KN 109 , which departed on 11 June and arrived at the Hampton Roads , Virginia on 16 June . She sailed for New York on 18 June , arriving the next day and departing on 21 June for Cape Cod Bay , where she arrived on 22 June . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy BX 26 , which departed from Boston , Massachusetts on 24 June and arrived at Halifax two days later . She then joined Convoy HX 196 , which departed on 29 June and arrived at Liverpool on 10 July . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough , joining convoy BB 197 , which departed on 11 July and arrived at Milford Haven the next day . She then sailed on to Barry . " Empire Emerald " departed on 28 July for Milford Haven , arriving the next day and sailing on 30 July to join Convoy ON 117 , which departed from Liverpool on 31 July and dispersed at sea on 15 August . She was bound for New York , where she arrived that day . On 17 August , she sailed to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , arriving that day and returning to New York a week later . She departed for the Cape Cod Canal on 25 August , arriving the next day and joining Convoy BX 35B , which departed from Boston on 28 August and arrived at Halifax on 30 August . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy HX 205 , which departed on 31 August and arrived at Liverpool on 15 September . She was carrying a cargo of alcohol and petrol and was bound for Manchester , Lancashire . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy ON 133 , which departed from Liverpool on 25 September and arrived at New York on 11 October . She departed on 13 October for Philadelphia , returning to New York on 21 October . " Empire Emerald " then joined Convoy HX 213 , which departed on 26 October and arrived at Liverpool on 10 November . She was carrying a cargo of acetone , alcohol and petrol bound for Manchester . " Empire Emerald " departed from Liverpool on 14 December for Loch Ewe , arriving on 17 December . She joined Convoy JW 51B , which departed on 22 December and arrived at the Kola Inlet , Soviet Union on 4 January 1943 . She was carrying of Furnace Fuel Oil and of avgas . The cargo was delivered to Molotovsk on 17 January . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy RA 53 , which departed from the Kola Inlet on 1 March and arrived at Loch Ewe on 14 March . She sailed on the Clyde , arriving on 16 March . " Empire Emerald " sailed on 7 April to join Convoy ON 177 , which had departed from Liverpool on 6 April and arrived at New York on 23 April . She returned with Convoy HX 237 , which departed on 1 May and arrived at Liverpool on 17 May . She was carrying a cargo of petrol bound for the Stanlow Refinery , Ellesmere Port , Cheshire . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy ON 186 , which departed from Liverpool on 24 May and arrived at New York on 7 June . She was carrying the Convoy Commodore , Rear - Admiral E W Leir . Laden with a cargo of petrol bound for Avonmouth , she returned with Convoy HX 244 , which departed on 15 June and arrived at Liverpool on 30 June . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 29 June , joining Convoy BB 304 , which arrived at Milford Haven on 1 July . She arrived at Avonmouth later that day . " Empire Emerald " departed on 6 July for Milford Haven , arriving the next day . She saild on 8 July to join Convoy ON 192 , which departed from Liverpool on 9 July and arrived at New York on 22 July . She returned with Convoy HX 250 , which departed on 30 July and arrived at Liverpool on 12 August . Her captain , C T Dunn , was the convoy ' s Vice - Commodore . " Empire Emerald " was carrying a cargo of petrol bound for Avonmouth . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 12 August to join Convoy BB 315 , which arrived at Milford Haven the next day . She arrived at Avonmouth later that day . " Empire Emerald " departed on 17 August for Milford Haven , arriving the next day . She sailed on 20 August to join Convoy ON 198 , which departed from Liverpool on 21 August and arrived at New York on 4 September . She sailed on 12 September for the Hampton Roads , arriving the next day . " Empire Emerald " joined Convoy UGS 18 , which departed on 15 September and arrived at Port Said , Egypt on 13 October . She left the convoy at Oran , Algeria , where she arrived on 4 October . She sailed five days later to join Convoy KMS 28 , which had departed from Gibraltar on 7 October and arrived at Port Said on 19 October . She left the convoy at Bizerta , Algeria on 12 October . " Empire Emerald " sailed on 25 October to join Convoy KMS 29 , which had departed from Gibraltar on 20 October and arrived at Port Said on 31 October . She left the convoy at Malta , where she arrived on 26 October . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy VN 6 , which departed on 26 October and arrived at Naples , Italy on 28 October . She departed on 3 November as a member of convoy NV 7 , which arrived at Augusta , Sicily on 5 November . She sailed that day to join Convoy UGS 21 , which had departed from the Hampton Roads on 15 October and arrived at Port Said on 11 November . " Empire Emerald " then sailed to Suez , from where she departed on 28 November for Aden , arriving on 4 December . She joined Convoy AP 55 , which departed on 6 December and arrived at Bandar - Abbas , Iran on 14 December . She then sailed for Abadan , arriving the next day and departing on 17 December for Aden , where she arrived on 25 December . She sailed that day for Suez , arriving on 30 December . " Empire Emerald " then sailed to Port Said , from where she departed on 3 January 1944 for Alexandria , Egypt , arriving the next day . She then joined Convoy GUS 27 , which departed from Port Said on 5 January and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 4 February . She left the convoy at Augusta , < / ref > where she arrived on 11 January . She then joined Convoy AH 18 , which departed on 12 January and arrived at Bari , Italy on 14 January . She returned to Augusta with Convoy HA 19 , departing on 19 January and arriving on 21 January . " Empire Emerald " departed that day on a special voyage to Bizerta , arriving on 23 January . She departed on 1 February to join Convoy GUS 29 , which had departed from Port Said on 25 January and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 22 February . She sailed on to New York , arriving that day . She was a member of Convoy HX 281 , which departed on 27 February and arrived at Liverpool on 15 March . She was carrying a cargo of petrol bound for the Grangemouth Refinery , Stirlingshire , which was reached by leaving the convoy at Loch Ewe on 14 March and joining Convoy WN 557 to Methil , where she arrived on 16 March . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy EN 361 , which departed from Methil on 21 March and arrived at Loch Ewe the next day . She then joined Convoy ON 229 , which departed from Liverpool on 23 March and arrived at New York on 7 April . She sailed on 1 May for the Hampton Roads , arriving the next day and joining Convoy UGS 41 , which departed on 3 May and arrived at Port Said on 30 May . She left the convoy at Augusta on 26 May . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy VN 42 , which departed on 27 May and arrived at Naples the next day . She returned to Augusta with Convoy NV 42 , which departed on 1 June and arrived the next day . She sailed on 3 June to join Convoy MKS 51 , which had departed from Port Said on 30 May and arrived at Gibraltar on 9 June . She left the convoy at Algiers , arriving on 7 June . " Empire Emerald " sailed on 12 June to join Convoy GUS 42 , which had departed from Port Said on 3 June and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 29 June . She sailed on to New York , arriving later that day . She sailed on 2 July for Norfolk , Virginia , arriving the next day and sailing on 4 July for the Hampton Roads . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy UGS 48 , which departed on 14 July and arrived at Port Said on 8 August . She was bound for Augusta , arriving on 4 August . She then joined Convoy VN 57 , which departed on 5 August and arrived at Naples the next day . She returned to Augusta with Convoy NV 58 , which departed on 15 August and arrived at Augusta the next day . " Empire Emerald " sailed on 17 August to join Convoy GUS 49 , which had departed from Port Said on 13 August and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 8 September . She left the convoy at Bizerta , arriving on 19 August and sailing eight days later to join Convoy KMS 60 , which had departed from Gibraltar on 23 August and arrived at Port Said on 2 September . She left the convoy at Augusta , arriving on 29 August and departing that day as a member of Convoy AH 64 , which arrived at Bari on 31 August . She left the convoy at Brindisi on 31 August . " Empire Emerald " later sailed to Bari , from where she departed under escort on 6 September for Ancona , Italy , arriving on 7 September . She departed under escort on 13 September for Brindisi , arriving the next day . She joined Convoy HA 67 , which departed on 15 September and arrived at Augusta two days later . She sailed that day to join Convoy GUS 52 , which had sailed from Port Said on 11 September and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 8 October . She left the convoy at Algiers , on 20 September , sailing five days later to join Convoy KMS 63 . That convoy had departed from Gibraltar on 23 September and arrived at Port Said on 3 October . She left the convoy at Augusta , on 29 September . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy AH 70 , which departed that day and arrived at Bari on 1 October . She departed under escort on 7 October , arriving at Ancona the next day and sailing under escort for Bari on 12 October , arriving the next day . She departed under escort on 18 October , arriving at Ancona the next day . On 25 October , she departed under escort for Brindisi , arriving the next day . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy HA 76 , which departed on 31 October and arrived at Augusta on 2 November . She sailed to Bizerta , arriving on 4 November and departing four days later for Augusta , where she arrived on 10 November . She was a member of Convoy AH 79 , which departed on 14 November and arrived at Bari on 16 November . She sailed on to Ancona , arriving the next day before returning to Bari , from where she departed under escort on 19 November for Ancona . " Empire Emerald " arrived at Ancona on 20 November , departing under escort on 25 November for Algiers , where she arrived on 30 November . She departed on 18 December for Augusta , arriving three days later and departing that day for Naples , where she arrived on 22 December . She joined Convoy VN 87 , which departed that day and arrived at Livorno on 24 December . She left Livorno under escort on 29 December , arriving at Naples the next day . " Empire Emerald " departed on 14 January 1945 for Oran , arriving three days later and sailing that day as a member of Convoy GUS 66 , which arrived at the Hampton Roads on 6 February . She sailed on to New York , arriving later that day . Laden with a cargo of petrol , she joined Convoy HX 343 , which departed on 9 March and arrived at Liverpool on 24 March . " Empire Emerald " sailed to Southend via The Downs , arriving on 26 March and departing that day as a member of Convoy TAM 119 , which arrived at Antwerp , Belgium the next day . She returned with Convoy ATM 109 , which departed on 30 March and arrived at Southend the next day . " Empire Emerald " then joined Convoy TBC 114 , which departed on 30 March and arrived at Milford Haven on 3 April . She left the convoy at Falmouth , Cornwall on 2 April , sailing two days later to join Convoy ON 294 , which had departed from Southend on 1 April and arrived at New York on 20 April . She loaded a cargo of avgas and returned with Convoy HX 352 , which departed on 23 April and arrived at Liverpool on 8 May . She left the convoy at the Clyde . Post - war . " Empire Emerald " was a member of Convoy JW67 , which departed on 12 May and arrived at the Kola Inlet on 20 May . Her destination was Molotovsk , where she arrived on 22 May . She later sailed to Archangelsk , from where she departed on 2 June for the Clyde , arriving on 10 June . She departed on 20 June for Montreal , Quebec , Canada , from where she sailed on 5 July for Falmouth , arriving on 17 July and sailing that day for Liverpool , where she arrived two days later . She departed on 26 July for Ostend , Belgium , arriving on 30 July and sailing the next day for Rotterdam , Netherlands , where she arrived the next day . " Empire Emerald " sailed that day for Falmouth , arriving on 2 September and sailing two days later for Baltimore , Maryland , United States , where she arrived on 18 September . She sailed three days later for Naples , arriving on 7 October . She sailed on 15 October for Aruba , Netherlands Antilles , from where she departed on 6 November for Sheerness , Kent , United Kingdom . She arrived on 24 November and sailed two days later for Shell Haven , Essex , arriving on 27 November . In 1946 , " Empire Emerald " was sold to Lobitos Oilfields Ltd and renamed " El Gallo " . She remained under the management of Bowring ' s . On 20 April 1947 , " El Gallo " suffered an engine breakdown off the coast of Co . Wicklow , Ireland . Two tugs were sent from Dublin to prevent her running aground on the Codling Bank . She was carrying of kerosene from Curaçao , Netherlands Antilles to Dublin . In 1949 , she made a voyage to Panama City , Panama and Santiago , Chile . In 1954 , " El Gallo " underwent a survey , which resulted in repairs costing £85 , 000 being carried out as a result of metal fatigue being discovered in some structural areas of the ship . In 1958 , Lobitos Oilfields Ltd reported that they intended to sell " El Gallo " . She arrived at Briton Ferry , Glamorgan on 5 February 1959 for scrapping .