SS West Saginaw West Saginaw was a 5 , 758 GRT Design 1013 cargo ship that was built in 1919 by Northwest Steel Company , Portland , Oregon , United States . She was built for the United States Shipping Board , passing to the United States Maritime Commission in 1936 . In 1941 , she was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Cougar . She spent the war sailing between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean , mostly sailing via the United States with some voyages made via Africa . She carried coal or fertilizer outbound , and returned with sugar . " Empire Cougar " was sold post - war and renamed Aurora . In 1948 , she was sold to Panama and renamed Cougar , In 1951 , she was sold to Italy and renamed Favola , serving until she was scrapped in 1961 . Description . The ship was built in 1919 by Northwest Steel Company , Portland , Oregon . She was yard number 35 . The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of and a draught of . She was assessed at 6 , 187 GRT , 3 , 827 NRT . Her DWT was 8 , 800 . The ship was propelled by two steam turbines of 605 nhp , double reduction geared , driving a single screw propeller . The turbines were manufactured by Mid West Engineering Co , Indianapolis , Indiana . They could propel her at . History . Pre - war . " West Saginaw " was built for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) . She was launched in October 1919 . The United States Official Number 218964 and Code Letters LTBN were allocated . Her port of registry was Portland , Oregon . On 11 June 1925 , " West Saginaw " struck a submerged object off Nantucket , Massachusetts and was beached . She was refloated the next day . On 14 February 1930 , " West Saginaw " was on a voyage from the United Kingdom to Houston , Texas when she was in collision with the " South Goodwin Lightship " in dense fog . " West Saginaw " was undamaged , whilst damage to the lightship was slight . Following the changes to Code Letters in 1934 , " West Saginaw " was allocated the Code Letters KLDA . The USSB became the United States Maritime Commission in 1937 . Second World War . In February 1941 , " West Saginaw " was transferred to the Ministry of War Transport . The Official Number 160899 was allocated . Her Code Letters were GPDP . She was operated under the management of G Heyn & Son Ltd , Belfast . She was a member of Convoy SC 32 , which departed Halifax , Nova Scotia on 19 May 1941 and arrived at Liverpool , Lancashire on 7 June . " West Saginaw " was carrying a cargo of phosphate s . She then joined Convoy WN 139 , which departed Oban , Argyllshire on 10 June and arrived at Methil , Fife on 14 June . " West Saginaw " was renamed " Empire Cougar " . She was assessed as 5 , 578 GRT , 3 , 598 NRT She joined Convoy EC 46 , which departed Southend - on - Sea on 15 July and arrived at the River Clyde on 20 July . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy ON 1 , which departed Liverpool , Lancashire on 26 July 1941 and dispersed at sea on 19 August . She then sailed to New York , United States , arriving on 14 August . She departed New York on 6 September and arrived at Sydney , Nova Scotia on 10 September . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy SC 44 , which departed Sydney on 11 September and arrived at Liverpool on 30 September . She was carrying a cargo of steel . She left the convoy at Belfast Lough , joining Convoy BB 82 , which departed Belfast Lough on 30 September and arrived at Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire on 1 October . " Empire Cougar " then sailed to Newport , Monmouthshire , arriving on 2 October . She departed Newport on 12 October and arrived at Milford Haven on 13 October . She departed Milford Haven on 15 October , and joined Convoy ON 27 , which departed Liverpool on 16 October and dispersed at sea on 2 November . " Empire Cougar " was bound for Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , arriving on 8 November . She departed Philadelphia on 21 November for Sydney , arriving on 26 November . " Empire Cougar " was due to sail in Convoy SC 57 , which departed Sydney on 28 November and arrived at Liverpool on 15 December . She is recorded as carrying a cargo of steel and being bound for Hull , Yorkshire . She joined Convoy SC 58 , which departed Sydney on 4 December and arrived at Liverpool on 21 December . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 18 December , joining Convoy WN 220 , which departed Oban , Argyllshire on 18 December and arrived at Methil , Fife on 21 December . " Empire Cougar " then joined Convoy FS 679 , which departed Methil on 21 December and arrived at Southend , Essex on 23 December . She left the convoy at Hull . " Empire Cougar " joined Convoy FN 603 , which had departed Southend on 12 January 1942 and arrived at Methil on 14 January . She then joined Convoy EN 32 , which departed Methil on 14 January and arrived at Oban on 17 January . She then joined Convoy ON 57 , which had departed from Liverpool on 13 January and dispersed at sea at on 7 February . " Empire Cougar " was listed as being bound for Baltimore , Maryland . She arrived at Halifax on 6 February and sailed the next day for Baltimore , arriving on 12 February . " Empire Cougar " departed Baltimore on 19 March and arrived at Halifax on 24 March . She was due to join Convoy SC 76 , which departed Halifax on 24 March and arrived at Liverpool on 11 April . She joined Convoy SC 77 , which departed Halifax on 30 March and arrived at Liverpool on 16 April . She was carrying steel and general cargo , bound for Manchester , Lancashire . " Empire Cougar " joined Convoy OS 27 , which departed Liverpool on 2 May and arrived at Freetown , Sierra Leone on 19 May . She then sailed to Kingston , Jamaica , arriving on 25 May . " Empire Cougar " departed Kingston on 20 June and arrived at Key West , Florida on 23 June . She then joined Convoy KN 114 , which departed Key West on 27 June and arrived at the Hampton Roads , Virginia on 2 July . She departed the Hampton Roads the next day for New York , arriving on 5 July . From New York , she sailed to Cape Cod Bay , Massachusetts . On 9 July , " Empire Cougar " joined Convoy BX 28 , which departed Boston , Massachusetts that day and arrived at Halifax on 11 July . She then joined Convoy HS 28 , which departed Halifax on 14 July and arrived at Sydney on 16 July . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy SC 92 , which departed Sydney on 17 July and arrived at Liverpool on 31 July . She was carrying a cargo of sugar and 200 tons of mail . She departed from Liverpool on 15 August , sailing to Holyhead , Anglesey , from where she joined Convoy BB 210 , which had departed from Belfast Lough on 15 August and arrived at Milford Haven on 16 August . Her destination was Barry , South Glamorgan , where she arrived on 17 August . " Empire Cougar " departed Barry on 27 August for Milford Haven , arriving the next day . She then joined Convoy OS 39 , which departed from Liverpool on 30 August and arrived at Freetown on 18 September . She was carrying a cargo of coal . She departed Freetown on 16 October as a member of Convoy SL 125 . The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 9 November . " Empire Cougar " was reported as arriving with engine defects . She departed Loch Ewe on 12 November as a member of Convoy WN360 , which arrived at Methil on 14 November . She then joined Convoy FS 961 , which departed Methil on 15 November and arrived as Southend on 17 November . " Empire Cougar " departed Southend on 14 December as a member of Convoy FS 891 , which arrived at Methil on 16 December . She then joined Convoy EN 174 , which departed Methil that day and arrived at Loch Ewe on 18 December . " Empire Cougar " the joined Convoy ON 154 , which departed Liverpool on 18 December and arrived at New York on 12 January 1943 . Her destination was Halifax , where she arrived on 7 January . She then sailed to New York . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy NG 338 , which departed New York on 19 January and arrived at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba on 26 January . She departed Guantanamo Bay that day as a member of Convoy GAT 40 , which arrived at Trinidad on 1 February . " Empire Cougar " was bound for Kingston , arriving on 27 January . She sailed from Kingston on 11 February for San Pedro de Macorís , Dominican Republic , arriving on 14 February . On 25 February , " Empire Cougar " departed San Pedro de Macorís for Guantanamo Bay , arriving on 26 February . She then joined Convoy GN 44 , which departed Guantanamo Bay on 28 February and arrived at New York on 7 March . She then joined Convoy SC 123 , which departed New York on 14 March and arrived at Liverpool on 3 April . " Empire Cougar " was carrying a cargo of sugar . She departed Liverpool on 22 April for Barry , arriving on 24 April . She is next recorded as arriving at Milford Haven on 2 May and returning to Barry that day . On 4 May , " Empire Cougar " departed Milford Haven to join Convoy OS 47KM , which departed Liverpool on 5 May and split at sea on 16 May . " Empire Cougar " was in the part of the convoy which became Convoy OS 47 . She was destined for Dakar , French West Africa with a cargo of coal . She arrived at Dakar on 23 May . She then sailed to Bathurst , South Africa , arriving on 10 June and departing the same day for Dakar . She then returned to Bathurst , joining Convoy OS 49 , which departed on 20 June , and arrived at Freetown on 23 June . On 23 July , " Empire Cougar " departed Freetown as a member of Convoy SL 133 , which joined Convoy MKS 18 at sea on 26 July , and arrived at Loch Ewe on 4 August . She then joined Convoy WN 463 , which departed Loch Ewe on 5 August and arrived at Methil on 6 August . She departed Methil on 7 August as a member of Convoy FS 1188 , which arrived at Southend on 9 August . She left the convoy for a destination on the Tyne , arriving on 8 August . " Empire Cougar " departed the Tyne on 28 August , joining Convoy FS 1206 , which departed Methil that day and arrived at Southend on 30 August . She then joined Convoy CW 204 , which departed Southend on 31 August and arrived at St Helens Roads on 1 September . She then joined Convoy PW 398 , which departed Portsmouth , Hampshire on 11 September and arrived at Milford Haven on 13 September . She was bound for Penarth , South Glamorgan , arriving on 14 September . The movements of " Empire Cougar " during the next few weeks are unclear , but she departed Barry on 5 October and arrived at Milford Haven the following day , joining Convoy OS 56KM , which departed Liverpool on 7 October and split at sea on 18 October . She was carrying a cargo of coal and was bound for Freetown . Arrival at Freetown was on 29 October . " Empire Cougar " departed Freetown on 12 November as a member of Convoy SL 140 , which joined Convoy MKS 31 and arrived at Liverpool on 7 December . She arrived at Loch Ewe on 6 December , joining Convoy WN 515 , which departed Loch Ewe on 8 December and arrived at Methil on 9 December . She then joined Convoy FS 1296 , which departed Methil on 10 December and arrived at Southend on 12 December . " Empire Cougar " was destined for the Tyne , arriving on 11 December . On 7 January 1944 , " Empire Cougar " departed the Tyne , joining Convoy FN 1228 , which had departed Southend on 6 January and arrived at Methil on 8 January . She then joined Convoy EN 330 , which departed Methil on 10 January and arrived at Loch Ewe on 12 January . She was bound for Oban , arriving on 13 January . " Empire Cougar " departed Oban on 14 January , joining Convoy ONS 27 , which departed Liverpool on 13 January and arrived at Halifax on 31 January . She then joined Convoy XB 94 , which departed Halifax on 31 January and arrived at the Cape Cod Canal , Massachusetts on 2 February . She then sailed to New York , arriving on 3 February . " Empire Cougar " departed New York on 16 February as a member of Convoy NG 417 , arriving at Guantanamo Bay on 23 February . She departed Guantanamo Bay that day for San Juan , Puerto Rico , arriving on 25 February . She departed San Juan on 1 March for San Pedro de Macorís , Puerto Rico , arriving the next day . " Empire Cougar " departed San Pedro de Macorís on 12 March for Guantanamo Bay , arriving on 14 March . She then joined Convoy GN 121 , which departed Guantanamo Bay on 19 March and arrived at New York on 26 March . She departed New York on 28 March for Boston , from where she departed on 2 April , joining Convoy BX 102 , which arrived at Halifax on 4 April . She then joined Convoy SC 157 , which departed Halifax on 17 April and arrived at Liverpool on 1 May . " Empire Cougar " was carrying a cargo of sugar . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 1 May , joining Convoy WN 577 , which departed the next day and arrived at Methil on 3 May . She the joined Convoy FS 1442 , which departed Methil on 4 May and arrived at Southend on 6 May . " Empire Cougar " departed Southend on 5 June 1944 as a member of Convoy FN 1379 , which arrived at Methil on 7 June . She was bound for Middlesbrough , arriving on 7 June . She departed Middlesbrough on 9 June , joining Convoy FN 1382 , which departed Southend on 8 June and arrived at Methil on 10 June . She then joined Convoy EN 396 , which departed Methil on 12 June and arrived at Loch Ewe on 14 June . " Empire Cougar " then joined Convoy ON 242 , which departed Liverpool on 25 June and arrived at New York on 11 July . She was carrying a cargo of phosphates , and put into Halifax on 9 July requiring repairs to her turbines . She departed Halifax on 12 July , joining Convoy XB 125 , which arrived at Boston on 14 July . She then sailed for New York , arriving the next day . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy NG 462 , which departed New York on 28 September and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 5 October . She departed Guantanamo Bay that day with Convoy GAT 164 , which arrived at Trinidad on 11 October . " Empire Cougar " was bound for San Pedro de Macorís , arriving on 7 October . She departed San Pedro de Macorís on 16 October for Guantanamo Bay , arriving on 18 October . She then joined Convoy GN 164 , which departed Guantanamo Bay on 20 October and arrived at New York on 28 October . She then sailed to Boston , joining Convoy BX 132 , which departed Boston on 29 October and arrived at Halifax on 31 October . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy SC 160 , which departed Halifax on 2 November and arrived at Liverpool on 17 November . She was carrying a cargo of sugar destined for Greenock , Renfrewshire , arriving on 16 November . " Empire Cougar " departed from the Clyde on 14 December , < ref name = Port / . joining Convoy ONS 38 , which departed Liverpool on 13 December and arrived at Halifax on 2 January 1945 . She then joined Convoy XB 140 , which had departed Halifax on 1 January and arrived at Boston on 4 January . She left the convoy at Cape Cod Canal and sailed to New York , arriving on 5 January . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy NG 484 , which departed New York on 17 January and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 23 January . She then joined Convoy GAT 186 , which departed Guantanamo Bay that day and arrived at Trinidad on 29 January . She left the convoy at Cape Trujullo on 25 January , departing on 28 January for Guantanamo Bay , arriving on 30 January and departing the same day for Boca Grande , Venezuela , arriving on 2 February . " Empire Cougar " departed Boca Grande on 12 February and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 16 February . She then joined Convoy GN 188 , which departed Guantanamo Bay on 17 February and arrived at New York on 24 February . She departed New York on 27 February for Boston , from where she joined Convoy BX 150 , which departed on 13 March and arrived at Halifax on 15 March . She then joined Convoy SC 170 , which departed Halifax on 17 March and arrived at Liverpool on 31 March . " Empire Cougar " was carrying a cargo of sugar . She then sailed to The Mumbles , from where she joined Convoy BTC 116 on 2 April , < ref name = Port / . This convoy had departed Milford Haven that day and arrived at Southend on 5 April . " Empire Cougar " was a member of Convoy TBC 141 , which departed Southend on 27 April and arrived at Milford Haven on 30 April . She then joined Convoy MH 99 , which departed Milford Haven that day and arrived at the Clyde on 2 May . She left the convoy and sailed to Belfast , arriving on 1 May . On 3 May , " Empire Cougar " departed Belfast Lough as a member of Convoy ONS 49 , which arrived at Halifax on 18 May . She left the convoy and sailed to Quebec City , Canada , arriving on 19 May . Post - war . " Empire Cougar " departed Quebec City on 2 June 1945 for London , arriving on 18 June . She departed London on 27 August for Falmouth , Cornwall , arriving on 30 August and departing that day for Santiago de Cuba , Cuba , from where she departed on 22 September for Cienfuegos , arriving on 24 September . She then sailed to Júcaro , arriving on 28 September . " Empire Cougar " departed Júcaro on 4 October for Trinidad , arriving on 10 October and departing two days later for London , where she arrived on 6 November . In 1946 , " Empire Cougar " was sold to the Aurora Shipping Co Ltd , London . In May 1947 , Aurora Shipping applied to change her name to " Grancape " . Whether she was renamed " Grancape " is unknown , but she was renamed " Aurora " , operating under the management of Goulandris Bros , London . In 1948 , " Aurora " was sold to the Compagnia Maritima del Este , Panama and renamed " Cougar " . In 1951 , she was sold to Trama Trasporti Marittimi SpA , Italy and renamed " Favola " . In 1959 , " Favola " was sold to the Compagnia Comercial y Financiera Sudamericana , Panama . She was operated under the management of Compagnia Armatoriale Italiana , Italy . " Favola " was scrapped at La Spezia , Italy in March 1960 .