SS Empire Baffin Empire Baffin was a 6 , 978 ton cargo ship which was built by Lithgows Ltd , Port Glasgow in 1941 for the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) . She was commissioned in 1943 as HMS " Sancroft , being converted into a cable laying ship for Operation Pluto . She was returned to the MoWT in 1946 and subsequently sold and renamed Clintonia . A final change of ownership in 1960 saw her renamed Aspis " and she was scrapped in 1963 . History . " Empire Baffin " was built by Lithgows Ltd , Port Glasgow as yard number 958 . She was launched on 28 August 1941 and completed in October 1941 . She was operated under the management of J Robinson & Sons , North Shields . War service . " Empire Baffin " was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War . Convoy PQ 2 sailed from Liverpool on 13 October 1941 and arrived at Archangel on 30 October . " Empire Baffin " joined from Scapa Flow on 17 October . Convoy QP 3 sailed from Archangel on 27 November 1941 and dispersed on 3 December . " Empire Baffin " was carrying a cargo of magnasite bound for the Tees . Convoy PQ 11 sailed from Kirkness on 14 February 1942 and arrived at Murmansk on 22 February . Convoy QP 9 sailed from the Kola Inlet on 21 March 1942 and arrived at Reykjavík on 3 April . " Empire Baffin " was carrying a cargo of Chloride of Potassium bound for Middlesbrough . Convoy UR 23 sailed from Loch Ewe on 8 May 1942 and arrived at Reykjavík on 12 May . Convoy PQ 16 sailed from Reykjavík on 21 May 1942 and arrived at Murmansk on 30 May . " Empire Baffin " was attacked by German aircraft , which bombed her scoring several near misses . Her propeller , driveshaft and bearings were damaged and she developed a leak in her stern gland . The Chief Engineer had to spend three days and nights in the shaft tunnel tending to the bearings . " Empire Baffin " was repaired and returned to service . Convoy QP 13U sailed from Archangel on 26 June 1942 and arrived at Reykjavík on 7 July . " Empire Baffin " was bound for the Tyne . Convoy PQ 18 sailed from Loch Ewe on 2 September 1942 and arrived at Archangel on 21 September . Convoy QP 15 sailed from the Kola Inlet on 17 November 1942 and arrived at Loch Ewe on 30 November . Convoy JW 52 sailed from Liverpool on 17 January 1943 and arrived at the Kola Inlet on 27 January . Convoy JW 33 sailed from Loch Ewe on 15 February 1943 and arrived at the Kola Inlet on or about the 27 February . " Empire Baffin " had to return to Loch Ewe due to being damaged in severe weather . Convoy SC 151 sailed from Halifax Nova Scotia on 3 September 1943 and arrived at Liverpool on 17 September . " Empire Baffin " was carrying a general cargo bound for London . " Empire Baffin " was taken over by the Admiralty and converted by Green & Silley Weir Ltd , London to a cable laying ship for Operation Pluto , and commissioned as HMS " Sancroft " . She was used in the support of Operation Overlord . Those killed whilst serving on " Empire Baffin " during the war are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial , London . Postwar . In 1946 , HMS " Sancroft " reverted to the MoWT and regained her " Empire Baffin " name . Later that year , she was sold to Stag Line Ltd , North Shields still under the management of J Robinson & Sons . She was the fifth Stag Line ship to bear the name " Clintonia " . She was purchased at a cost of £30 , 000 and converted back to a cargo ship and also from coal to oil fuel at a cost of £137 , 911 . On 10 December 1959 , " Clintonia " was sold to Alcestis Shipping Co . SA , Greece for £62 , 500 . She was renamed " Apsis " She was operated under the management of Faros Shipping Co Ltd , London . . " Apsis " served until 1963 when she was sold for scrap . She arrived at Yokosuka , Japan in December 1963 for scrapping . Official number and code letters . Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers . " Empire Baffin " had the UK Official Number 168968 and used the Code Letters BCQR .