SS Empire Energy Empire Energy was a cargo ship that was built in 1923 as Grete by Neptun AG , Rostock , Germany . She was sold to an Italian firm in 1932 and renamed Gabbiano . She was seized by the United Kingdom in 1940 , passed to the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) and renamed " Empire Energy " . She served until 5 November 1941 when she ran aground off Cape Norman , Newfoundland and was wrecked . Description . The ship was built in 1923 by Neptun AG , Rostock . The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of , and a draught of . She was assessed at 6 , 570 GRT , 4 , 005 NRT . The ship was propelled by a 720 nhp triple expansion steam engine , which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke . The engine was built by Neptun AG , Rostock . A low pressure steam turbine drove a single screw propeller through double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling . It could propel the ship at . History . " Grete " was launched in 1923 , she was completed in July that year . She was built for C Mohlenberg Reederei GmbH . The Code Letters RDMP were allocated and her port of registry was Hamburg . In 1934 , " Grete " was sold to Achille Lauro & Co , Naples , Italy and was renamed " Gabbiano " . The Italian Official Number 428 and Code Letters IBOP were allocated . Her port of registry was Naples . She was assessed at 6 , 584 GRT , 3 , 951 NRT . On 10 June 1940 , " Gabbiano " was in port at Liverpool , Lancashire when against the United Kingdom . She was captured by crew from , which was then under repair at Liverpool and berthed near " Gabbiano " . Her captain and crew were caught off guard by the boarding party and offered no resistance . They were allowed to collect their belongings before leaving the ship and being interned as enemy aliens . The ship was seized as a prize of war . She was passed to the MoWT and renamed " Empire Energy " . The United Kingdom Official Number 167601 and Code Letters GLWY were allocated . She was placed under the management of the E R Management Co Ltd . Her port of registry was London . She was assessed at 6 , 589 GRT , 3 , 954 NRT . " Empire Energy " was a member of Convoy OB 192 , which departed from Liverpool on 31 July 1940 and dispersed at on 4 August . Her destination was Durban , South Africa , where she arrived on 8 September . She departed eight days later for Bombay , India , where she arrivied on 6 October . " Empire Energy " departed on 3 November for Durban , arriving on 27 November . She sailed on 13 December for Cape Town , arriving five days later and departing on 20 December for Luanda , Portuguese West Africa , where she arrived on 1 January 1941 . " Empire Energy " sailed on 12 January for Pointe - Noire , Belgian Congo , arriving that day and sailing immediately for Freetown , Sierra Leone , where she arrived on 23 January . She joined Convoy SL 64S , which departed on 30 January and dispersed at sea on 12 February . She was carrying a cargo of oilseed which was bound for Avonmouth , Somerset , where she arrived on 28 February . She sailed on 8 March for Newport , Monmouthshire , arriving that day . " Empire Energy " sailed on 23 May for Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire , arriving the next day . She sailed on 27 May to join Convoy OB 327 , which departed from Liverpool on 28 May and dispersed at . Her destination was Reykjavík , Iceland , where she arrived on 2 June . She sailed on 15 June to join Convoy OB 336 , which departed from Liverpool that day and dispersed at sea on 25 June . She sailed to Boston , Massachusetts , United States , arriving on 28 June and departing on 10 July for Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada , where she arrived on 12 July . " Empire Energy " was a member of Convoy HX 139 , which departed on 16 July and arrived at Liverpool on 31 July . She was carrying a cargo of pig iron and scrap iron , and some special cargo , bound for Middlesbrough , Yorkshire , United Kingdom . She put into Reykjavík on 28 July , sailing on 1 August to join Convoy HX 140 , which had departed from Halifax on 22 July and arrived at Liverpool on 6 August . She left the convoy at the Clyde , departing on 8 August for Oban , Argyllshire , from where she departed on 9 August as a member of Convoy WN 165 , which arrived at Methil , Fife on 11 August . She then joined Convoy FS 566 , which departed on 12 August and arrived at Southend , Essex two days later . She arrived at Middlesbrough on 13 August . " Empire Energy " departed on 9 September to join Convoy FN 515 , which had departed from Southend on 7 September and arrived at Methil on 9 September . She sailed on 13 September to join Convoy EC 72 , which had departed from Southend on 11 September and arrived at the Clyde on 16 September . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 15 September and sailed to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States , arriving on 10 October . She sailed that day for New York , where she arrived two days later . " Empire Energy " sailed on 21 October for Sydney , Cape Breton , Nova Scotia , arriving on 20 October . Laden with a cargo of maize , she was a member of Convoy SC 52 , which departed on 29 October and returned to Sydney on 5 November after being attacked by U - boat s . On 5 November , " Empire Energy " ran aground at Big Brook , Newfoundland and was wrecked . She was declared a total loss , but there were no casualties amongst her crew . As of 2009 , the wreck of " Empire Energy " is " in situ " at .