SS Stakesby ( 1930 ) Stakesby was a cargo ship that was built in 1930 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd , Sunderland , Co Durham , United Kingdom . She was torpedoed by in 1940 and later sank . Raised in 1943 , she was repaired , passed to the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) and renamed Empire Derwent . She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed Swan Point , serving until she was wrecked in 1949 . Description . The ship was built in 1930 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd , Sunderland , Co Durham . The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of and a draught of . She was assessed at 4 , 026 GRT , 2 , 339 NRT . The ship was propelled by a 277 nhp compound steam engine , which had two cylinders of and two cylinders of diameter by stroke . The engine was built by J Dickinson & Sons Ltd , Sunderland . History . Pre - war . " Stakesby " was built for Rowland & Marwood Steamship Co , Whitby . She was operated under the management of Headlam & Son , Whitby . The Official Number 161017 and Code Letters LGDK were allocated . On 15 May 1933 , " Stakesby " ran aground at Buenos Aires , Argentina . She was on a voyage from Cardiff , Glamorgan to Villa Constitución . She was refloated on 19 May . With the change of Code Letters in 1934 , " Stakesby " was allocated GPWM . On 23 June 1939 , " Stakesby " ran aground near Puerto Obligado , Argentina , whilst outward bound for Sharpness , Gloucestershire . She was refloated on 25 June . World War II . 1939 - 40 . With the onset of World War II , " Stakesby " was armed with a four - inch gun and a 12 - pounder gun . She departed from Kingston , Jamaica on 24 September 1939 for Newport , Monmouthshire , where she arrived on 15 October . She then sailed to Avonmouth , Somerset , arriving on 19 October . She left Avonmouth on 25 October for Newport , from where she departed on 7 November for Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire , arriving two days later . On 11 November , she sailed from Milford Haven to join Convoy OB 33 , which departed from Liverpool , Lancashire , on 10 November and dispersed at sea on 15 November . She was carrying a cargo of coal with a stated destination of Buenos Aires , where she arrived on 20 December . " Stakesby " departed from Buenos Aires on 8 January 1940 and sailed to Freetown , Sierra Leone , arriving on 30 January . Carrying a cargo of maize and pollards , she departed from Freetown on 10 February as a member of Convoy SL 20 , which joined Convoy SL 20F at sea on 25 February . The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 28 February . " Stakesby " detached from the convoy and sailed to The Downs , off the coast of Kent . She arrived on 28 February and sailed that day to Southend , Essex , to join Convoy FN 106 , which arrived at Methil , Fife , on 1 March . She departed from Methil on 4 March and sailed to Aberdeen , arriving the next day . " Stakesby " departed from Aberdeen on 16 March for the Tyne , arriving two days later . She departed from the Tyne on 17 April as a member of Convoy FS 148 , which arrived at Southend on 19 April . She detached from the convoy and put into Immingham , Lincolnshire , arriving on 18 April and leaving two days later to join Convoy FS 151 which departed from the Tyne that day and arrived at Southend on 22 April . She departed from Southend on 24 April as a member of Convoy OA 135G , which formed Convoy OG 27 on 26 April . Her destination was Saint John ' s , Newfoundland . Convoy OG 27 arrived at Gibraltar on 3 May . " Stakesby " detached from the convoy and sailed to Saint John ' s , arriving on 10 May . Five days later , she sailed to Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada , arriving on 19 May . Laden with a cargo of lumber , she departed from Halifax on 25 May as a member of Convoy HX 49 , which arrived at Liverpool on 24 June . She detached from the convoy and sailed to Southend , arriving on 24 June , departing the next day with Convoy FN 201 , which arrived at Methil on 27 June . She then sailed to Dundee , Perthshire . " Stakesby " departed from Dundee on 9 July and sailed to Methil . She departed from Methil on 20 July as a member of Convoy OA 187 , which dispersed at sea on 25 July . Her destination was Sydney , Cape Breton , Nova Scotia , where she arrived on 2 August . She departed the next day for Chatham , New Brunswick . She returned to Sydney on 10 August , departing two days later as a member of Convoy HX 65 , which arrived at Liverpool on 27 August . " Stakesby " was carrying a cargo of pit prop s , destined for the Tyne . At about 23 : 55 hrs ( German time ) on 25 August , " Stakesby " was hit by a torpedo fired by , which was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg - Wilhelm Schulz . She was hit in the No . 1 hold . Her cargo provided sufficient buoyancy to keep her afloat , although a fire developed at the forward end of the ship . At the time , " Stakesby " was north of the Butt of Lewis ( ) . After an hour , the 36 crew abandoned ship , as the fire was beyond their capacity to fight . They were rescued by the Norwegian merchant ship which took them to Stornoway , Outer Hebrides . was despatched to the aid of " Stakesby " . She was towed to Glumaig Bay , but sank after the tow broke . 1942 - 43 . In January 1942 , " Stakesby " was raised and temporary repairs were carried out . She departed from Stornoway under tow on 9 June and arrived at Rothesay Bay , Bute , on 12 June . She was then towed to the Clyde where more temporary repairs were made . " Stakesby " was then towed to Sunderland for permanent repairs to be made . She was taken over by the MoWT , renamed " Empire Derwent " and placed under the management of Neill & Pandelis Ltd , London . She retained her Code Letters GPWM and Official Number 161017 . Her port of registry was changed to Sunderland . The repair of " Empire Derwent " took until 30 April 1943 to complete . She departed from Sunderland on 1 May and sailed to Methil , arriving the next day . She then joined Convoy EN 223 , which arrived at Oban on 5 May . She left Oban a week later and sailed to the Clyde , arriving on 13 May . She was a member of Convoy ONS 9 , which departed from Liverpool on 28 May and arrived at Halifax on 9 June . " Empire Derwent " was bound for New York . She then joined Convoy XB 57A , which departed from Halifax that day and arrived at Boston , Massachusetts on 11 June . " Empire Derwent " left the convoy at the Cape Cod Canal and sailed to New York , arriving on 14 June . She sailed from New York on 1 July for Boston . She then joined Convoy BX 61 , which arrived at Halifax on 6 July . Carrying a cargo of lumber and steel , she joined Convoy SC 126 , which departed from Halifax on 8 July and arrived at Liverpool on 23 July . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe to join Convoy WN 458 which arrived at Methil on 25 June . She then joined Convoy FS 1178 , which departed from Methil on 26 June and arrived at Southend two days later . " Empire Derwent " left the convoy at the Tyne , arriving on 27 July . " Empire Derwent " departed from the Tyne on 28 August to join Convoy FS 1206 , which had departed from Methil that day and arrived at Southend on 30 August . She then joined Convoy CW 205 , which departed the next day and arrived at the St Helens Roads on 1 September . She then sailed to the Clyde , arriving on 13 September . " Empire Derwent " departed from the Clyde on 8 October to join Convoy OS 56KM , which had departed from Liverpool on 7 October and split at sea on 18 October . She was carrying cargo described as " stores " and vehicles . She was in the part of the convoy that formed Convoy KMS 29G , which arrived at Gibraltar on 20 October . " Empire Derwent " was a member of Convoy KMS 30 , which departed from Gibraltar on 31 October and arrived at Port Said , Egypt , on 11 November . She left the convoy at Bône , Algeria , arriving on 4 November . She departed from Bône on 22 November for Philippeville , where she arrived the next day . On 27 November , she departed for Algiers , arrivng the next day and departing two days later to join Convoy MKS 32 , which had departed from Port Said on 22 November and arrived at Gibraltar on 3 December . Carrying a cargo of iron ore , " Empire Derwent " joined Convoy MKS 32G , which departed that day and rendezvoused with Convoy SL 141 at sea on 14 December . The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 17 December . Her destination was Barrow - in - Furness , Lancashire , where she arrived that day . She departed from Barrow - in - Furness on 25 December for Newport , arriving two days later . 1944 - 45 . " Empire Derwent " departed from Newport on 8 January for Milford Haven , arriving the next day . She departed on 13 January to join Convoy OS 65KM , which departed from Liverpool on 14 January and split at sea on 26 January . Her cargo consisted coal and vehicles , destined for Naples , Italy . She was in the part of the convoy that formed Convoy KMS39G , which arrived at Gibraltar on 28 January . She then joined Convoy KMS 39 , which departed that day and arrived at Port Said on 7 February . " Empire Derwent " left the convoy at Augusta , Sicily , on 3 February to join Convoy AH 22A , which departed that day and arrived at Bari on 5 February . She sailed on to Taranto , arriving that day . On 9 February , " Empire Derwent " departed from Taranto for Gallipoli . She departed on 23 February to join Convoy HA 26 , which had departed from Bari that day and arrived at Augusta on 25 February . She departed from Augusta on 11 March to join Convoy GUS 33 , which had departed from Port Said on 5 March and arrived at the Hampton Roads , Virginia , United States , on 4 April . She left the convoy at Bizerta , Algeria , on 14 March . She departed from Bizerta on 23 March , arriving back there on 9 April . " Empire Derwent " departed that day to join Convoy KMS 46 , which had departed from Gibraltar on 6 April and arrived at Port Said ten days later . She left the convoy at Augusta on 11 April . The next day , she was escorted to Brindisi , arriving on 14 April . She departed on 28 April to join Convoy HA 39 , which had departed from Bari that day and arrived at Augusta two days later . " Empire Derwent " departed on 4 May to join Convoy MKS 48 , which had departed from Port Said on 29 April and arrived at Gibraltar on 10 May . She left the convoy at Bizerta , where she arrived on 12 May . She departed on 16 May to join Convoy MKS 49 , which had departed from Port Said on 9 May and arrived at Gibraltar on 20 May . She departed three days later for Melilla , Spain , where she arrived on 24 May , departing three days later for Gibraltar , arriving on 28 May . " Empire Derwent " was a member of Convoy MKS 50G , which departed from Gibraltar on 30 May and rendezvoused at sea with Convoy SL 159 on 31 May . She was carrying a cargo of iron ore . The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 June . She left the convoy at Cardiff , arriving on 12 June . " Empire Derwent " departed from Cardiff on 10 July and sailed to the Belfast Lough , from where she departed on 13 July to join Convoy OS 83KM , which had departed from Liverpool on 12 July and split at sea on 23 July . She was carrying a cargo of coal . She reached Gibraltar via Convoy KMS 57G , arriving on 25 July and departing that day as a member of Convoy KMS 57 , which arrived at Port Said on 4 August . She left the convoy at Oran , Algeria , the next day . She then departed that day to join Convoy MKS 58 , which had departed from Port Said on 7 August and arrived at Gibraltar on 17 August . She arrived at Gibraltar on 18 August and departed two days later for Águilas , Spain , where she arrived on 21 August . She departed four days later and arrived back at Gibraltar on 25 August . Laden with a cargo of iron ore , " Empire Derwent " was a member of Convoy MKS 59G , which departed from Gibraltar on 29 August and rendezvoused at sea with Convoy SL 168 the next day . The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 30 August . She sailed on to the Clyde , arriving on 8 September . On 16 September , " Empire Derwent " departed from the Clyde to join Convoy ON 254 , which had departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at New York on 5 October . She left the convoy as Sydney , from where she departed on 1 October as a member of Convoy SQ 96 , which arrived at Father Point , Quebec , on 4 October . She then sailed to the Red Islet , from where she departed on 13 October with Convoy QS 97 , which arrived at Sydney four days later . Laden with grain destined for Manchester , Lancashire , she departed on 19 October to join Convoy SC 159 , which had departed from Halifax on 18 October and arrived at Liverpool on 2 November . " Empire Derwent " departed from Liverpool on 8 December for Cardiff , arriving two days later . She departed a week later and sailed to Milford Haven , arriving the same day and departing on 19 December to join Convoy OS 99KM , which had departed from Liverpool on 18 December and dispersed at sea on 21 December . She was carrying a cargo of coal bound for Gibraltar , which was reached on 26 December . " Empire Derwent " departed from Gibraltar on 9 January 1945 for Águilas , from where she departed on 17 January , returning to Gibraltar two days later . Laden with iron ore , she departed on 21 January as a member of Convoy MKS 78G , which arrived at Liverpool on 29 January . She sailed on to Workington , Cumberland , arriving on 29 January . She departed from Workington on 10 February and sailed to Barry , Glamorgan , arriving two days later . " Empire Derwent " departed from Barry on 14 April for Milford Haven , from where she departed on 18 April to join Convoy OS 123KM , which had departed from Liverpool on 17 April and split at sea on 23 April . She developed engine defects and returned to Milford Haven , arriving on 18 April . Defects rectified , she departed on 23 April to join Convoy OS 124KM , which had departed from the Clyde on 21 April and split at sea on 27 April . She was in the part of the convoy that formed Convoy KMS 98G and arrived at Gibraltar on 1 May . " Empire Derwent " arrived on 30 April , and departed three days later for Malta , where she arrived on 8 May . Post - war . " Empire Derwent " departed from Malta on 18 May for Gibraltar , arriving on 24 May and departing the next day for Águilas , where she arrived on 26 May . She departed on 30 May for Workington via Gibraltar , arriving on 10 June . She departed nine days later for Barry , arriving on 21 June . " Empire Derwent " departed from Barry on 31 July and sailed to Gibraltar , arriving on 5 August and departing the next day for Naples , where she arrived on 11 August . " Empire Derwent " departed from Naples on 1 September for Tunis , Tunisia where she arrived on 3 September . She left two days later and sailed to Gibraltar , from where she departed on 11 September for Falmouth , Cornwall , arriving on 18 September and departing the next day for Middlesbrough , Yorkshire , where she arrived on 23 September . " Empire Derwent " departed from Middlesbrough on 3 October for Hull , arriving the next day . She departed on 12 October for Lisbon , Portugal , where she arrived on 24 October , departing a week later for Gibraltar , arriving on 4 November . She departed from Gibraltar on 15 November to make a round trip to Melilla , returning five days later and departing on 22 November for London , where she arrived on 29 November . In 1946 , " Empire Derwent " was sold to the Cereal Trade & Shipping Co Ltd . She was renamed " Swan Point " and her port of registry was changed to London . She was operated under the management of J D McLaren & Co Ltd , London . On 31 July 1949 , " Swan Point " became stranded in the Karnaphuli River , Chittagong , India , and broke in two . She was declared a total loss .