SS Norvarg Norvarg was a Design 1014 refrigerated cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Rotarian by Todd Drydock & Construction Corp , Tacoma , Washington , United States for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) . She was sold to the Grace Steamship Co Inc , New York in 1923 and renamed Condor . In 1940 , she was sold to the British Ministry of Shipping ( MoS ) , which became the Ministry of War Transport ( MoWT ) in 1941 , and was renamed Empire Elk . In 1942 , she was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed " Norvarg " . She was sold to a Hong Kong company in 1946 and renamed Nan Chiang . A further sale in 1950 saw her renamed Northern Glow . In 1959 , she was sold to the Chinese Government and renamed Hoping 46 ( Hoping Ssu Shi Liu ) . She was removed from the shipping registers in 1971 . Description . The ship was a Design 1014 cargo ship . She was built in 1920 by Todd Drydock & Construction Corp , Tacoma , Washington . The ship was long , with a beam of . She had a depth of . She was assessed at 4 , 748 GRT , 2 , 986 NRT . 7 , 500 DWT . She was fitted with refrigeration equipment . The ship was propelled by a 339 nhp triple expansion steam engine , which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke . The engine was built by Todd Drydock & Construction Corp . It drove a single screw propeller and could propel the ship at . History . Pre - WWII . " Rotarian " was launched in 1920 . She was built for the USSB , Tacoma , Washington . She was in service by January 1921 , as she arrived at Buenos Aires , Argentina on 4 February from Tacoma . In 1924 , she was transferred to the Grace Steamship Co Inc , New York . She was sold to them and renamed " Condor " in 1927 . WWII . Condor . In June 1940 , " Condor " was sold to the MoS . She departed from Seattle , Washington on 27 June for Portland , arriving the next day . On 16 July , she departed for New Westminster , British Columbia , Canada , where she arrived on 18 July , departing two days later for San Francisco , California , arriving on 23 July . She sailed on 26 July for Los Angeles , California arriving on 30 July and sailing that day for Balboa , Panama , arriving on 14 August . She then sailed to Cristóbal , from where she departed on 15 August for Bermuda , arriving on 23 August . " Condor " was a member of Convoy BHX 69 , which departed from Bermuda on 27 August and joined Convoy HX 69 on 1 September . She was carrying general cargo and was bound for Liverpool , Lancashire . Convoy HX 69 had departed from Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada on 28 August and arrived at Liverpool on 12 September . On 4 September , " Condor " straggled behind the convoy due to engine trouble , but was able to rejoin the convoy the next morning . Empire Elk . " Condor " was renamed " Empire Elk " . The United Kingdom Official Number 168206 and Code Letters GLTL were allocated . She was placed under the management of the Larrinaga Line and her port of registry was London . The MoS became the MoWT in 1941 . " Empire Elk " was a member of Convoy OB 231 , which departed from Liverpool on 19 October and dispersed at sea on 23 October . She was in ballast and bound for New York , which was reached on 8 November . She departed on 19 November for Halifax , arriving on 23 November . She was due to join Convoy HX 90 , which departed on 21 November and arrived at Liverpool on 5 December , but arrived at Halifax too late and joined the next convoy , HX 91 . That convoy departed on 25 November and arrived at Liverpool on 11 December . " Empire Elk " was carrying a cargo of steel and scrap iron . During the voyage , her engine broke down , and she had to be towed into Liverpool , arriving on 18 December . " Empire Elk " was a member of Convoy OB 311 , which departed from Liverpool on 16 April and dispersed at on 25 April . She was bound for New York , which was reached on 10 May . She departed on 24 May for Halifax , arriving on 28 May . She was a member of Convoy HX 130 , which departed on 1 June and arrived at Liverpool on 20 June . " Empire Elk " was carrying a cargo of scrap steel . On 4 June , she straggled behind the convoy , leaving the convoy at due to fog and a storm . She sailed to Loch Ewe , arriving on 18 June and then sailing to the Clyde , where she arrived on 21 June . " Empire Elk " departed from the Clyde on 28 August to join Convoy ON 10 , which had departed from Liverpool the previous day and dispersed at sea on 11 September . She was bound for Galveston , Texas , United States , where she arrived on 25 September . She departed on 4 October for Sydney , Cape Breton , Nova Scotia , Canada , arriving on 17 October . " Empire Elk " was a member of Convoy SC 51 , which departed on 23 October and arrived at Liverpool on 9 November . She was carrying a cargo of sulphur . " Empire Elk " was a member of Convoy ON 47 , which departed from Liverpool on 15 December and dispersed at on 23 December . She was bound for Saint John , New Brunswick , Canada , where she arrived on 4 January 1942 . She departed the next day for Boston , Massachusetts , United States , arriving on 7 January and sailing a week later for Halifax , where she arrived on 16 January . " Empire Elk " was due to join Convoy SC 68 , but she missed this convoy and the following convoy , SC 69 . She joined Convoy SC 70 , which departed on 16 February and arrived at Liverpool on 7 March . She was carrying general cargo , bound for Derry , Co Londonderry , Northern Ireland , where she arrived on 6 March . She departed on 18 March for the Clyde , arriving the next day . Norvarg . On 27 March , " Empire Elk " was transferred to the Norwegian Government and renamed " Norvarg " . She was placed under the management of Nortraship . The Code Letters LNAI were allocated and her port of registry was Oslo . " Norvarg " departed on 28 April to join Convoy ON 90 , which had departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Halifax on 15 May . She sailed on to New York , arriving on 18 May and departing two days later for Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , where she arrived on 21 May . " Norvarg " departed on 13 June for New York , arriving the next day . She then sailed to Boston , from where she sailed on 24 June as a member of Convoy BX 26 , which arrived at Halifax on 26 June . She then joined Convoy HS 19 , which departed on 30 June and arrived at Sydney on 2 July . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy SC 90 , which departed on 3 July and arrived at Liverpool on 16 July . She was carrying a cargo of steel bound for Newport , Monmouthshire . She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 15 July and joined Convoy BB 198 , which departed on 16 July and arrived at Milford Haven , Pembrokeshire the next day . She arrived at Newport later that day . " Norvarg " departed on 28 July for Milford Haven , arriving two days later . She sailed on 31 July to join Convoy ON 118 , which departed from Liverpool on 1 August and dispersed at sea on 20 August . She was bound for the Hampton Roads , Virginia , United States , and then New York , which was reached on 21 August . " Norvarg " sailed on 23 August for Norfolk , Virginia , arriving on 25 August and sailing on 6 September for New York , where she arrived on 8 September . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy SC 102 , which departed on 19 September and arrived at Liverpool on 6 October . She was carrying general cargo and steel , She left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 5 October , joining Convoy BB 227 , which departed the next day and arrived at Milford Haven on 7 October . She arrived at Cardiff , Glamorgan later that day . " Norvarg " departed from Cardiff on 27 October for Milford Haven , arriving the next day and departing the day after that to join Convoy ON 142 , which departed from Liverpool on 30 October and arrived at New York on 21 November . Laden with a cargo of stores , she departed with Convoy SC 113 on 12 December . That convoy arrived at Liverpool on 2 January 1943 . She left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 1 January , joining Convoy WN 379 , which departed on 2 January and arrived at Methil , Fife on 4 January . She then joined Convoy FS1005 , which departed on 6 January and arrived at Southend , Essex on 8 January . Her destination was Gravesend , Kent , where she arrived the next day . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy FN 938 , which departed from Southend on 7 February and arrived at Methil on 9 February . She then sailed to Loch Ewe , where she arrived on 13 February . She then joined Convoy ON 167 , which departed from Liverpool on 14 February and arrived at New York on 8 March . " Norvarg " was bound for Philadelphia , arriving on 10 March . She remained there for two months , departing on 11 May for New York , where she arrived the next day . " Norvarg " sailed on 13 May for Boston , where she joined Convoy BX 52 , which departed on 18 May and arrived at Halifax on 20 May . She then joined Convoy SC 132 , which departed on 26 May and arrived at Liverpool on 11 June . She was carrying general cargo and steel . " Norvarg " left the convoy at the Belfast Lough on 11 June , joining Convoy BB 299 , which departed that day and arrived at Milford Haven on 13 June . Her destination was Newport , where she arrived later that day . " Norvarg " departed on 29 June for Milford Haven , arriving on 1 July and departing the next day to join Convoy ONS 12 , which departed from Liverpool on 3 July and arrived at Halifax on 18 July . She was carrying a cargo of coal . Laden with general cargo , she returned to the United Kingdom with Convoy SC 140 , which departed on 21 August and arrived at Liverpool on 5 September . On 19 September , " Norvarg " sailed to Ellesmere Port , Cheshire , returning to Lierpool on 23 September . She was a member of Convoy KMS 28G , which departed on 26 September and arrived at Gibraltar on 7 October . She was carrying a cargo of coal and vehicles , bound for Algiers , Algeria . She joined Convoy KMS 28 , which departed from Gibraltar on 7 October and arrived at Port Said on 19 October . She left the convoy at Philippeville , Algeria on 11 October . " Norvarg " departed on 15 October , joining Convoy GUS 18 , which had departed from Alexandria , Egypt on 9 October and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 6 November . She left the convoy at Algiers , on 16 October . She sailed ten days later to join Convoy GUS 19 , which had departed from Alexandria on 19 October and arrived at the Hampton Roads on 15 November . " Norvarg " left the convoy at Casablanca , Morocco , on 29 October , departing on 3 November to join Convoy MKS 29G , which had departed from Gibraltar on that day and arrived at Liverpool on 18 November . She sailed on to Loch Ewe , arriving later that day and joining Convoy WN 507 , which departed on 19 November and arrived at Methil on 21 November . " Norvarg " then joined Convoy FS 1279 , which departed that day and arrived at Southend on 23 November . She left the convoy at Harwich , Essex on 23 November , and sailed to Ipswich , Suffolk , arriving on 25 November . " Norvarg " departed Ipswich on 10 December , joining Convoy FN 1201 , which had departed from Southend on that day and arrived at Methil on 12 December . She left the convoy at Hartlepool , Co Durham on 10 December and then rejoined it to sail to Hull , Yorkshire , where she arrived the next day . She departed on 21 December to join Convoy FN 1212 , which had departed from Southend that day and arrived at Methil on 23 December . Loch Ewe was reached on 25 December via Convoy EN 323 . " Norvarg " then joined Convoy KMS 37G , which departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Gibraltar on 7 January 1944 . Convoy OS 63 was combined with this convoy , separating on 7 January and reaching Freetown , Sierra Leone on 17 January . " Norvarg " was bound for Naples , Italy . She joined Convoy KMS 37 , which departed from Gibraltar on 9 January and arrived at Port Said on 20 January . She left the convoy at Philippeville , on 12 January , departing the next day to join Convoy UGS 28 , which had departed from the Hampton Roads on 25 December 1943 and arrived at Port Said on 21 January 1944 . " Norvarg " left the convoy at Augusta , Sicily , Italy , on 15 January . She was a member of Convoy AH 20 , which departed on 22 January and arrived at Bari on 24 January . She left the convoy at Taranto on 24 January , departing on 8 February to join Convoy HA 23 , which had departed from Bari that day and arrived at Augusta on 10 February . She departed on 24 February to join Convoy MKS 41 , which had departed from Port Said on 19 February and arrived at Gibraltar on 2 March . She the joined Convoy MKS 41G , which departed that day and rendezvoused at sea with Convoy SL 150 on 3 March . The combined convoys arrived at Liverpool on 14 March . " Norvarg " was carrying a cargo of lemons , scrap metal and sulphur . She sailed on to Loch Ewe , arriving later that day . She the joined Convoy WN 557 to Methil and Convoy FS 1394 to Southend , where she arrived on 19 March . Her destination was Gravesend , where she arrived that day . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy FN 1307 , which departed from Southend on 25 March and arrived at Methil on 27 March . She left the convoy at North Shields , Northumberland on 25 March . She sailed on 23 April for sea trials , returning to North Shields the next day . " Norvarg " then joined Convoy FN 1341 , which had departed from Southend on 28 April and arrived at Methil on 30 April . She then sailed to Loch Ewe with Convoy EN 378 , which departed on 2 May and arrived the next day . " Norvarg " the joined Convoy ON 236 , which departed from Liverpool on 11 May and arrived at New York on 27 May . She then joined Convoy NG 438 , which departed on 31 May and arrived at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba on 6 June . She then joined Convoy GAT 140 , which departed that day and arrived at Trinidad on 12 June . She left the convoy at San Pedro de Macorís , Dominican Republic , on 9 June . " Norvarg " sailed on 18 June for Guantanamo Bay , arriving two days later . She was a member of Convoy GN 140 , which departed on 22 June and arrived at New York on 29 June . She then joined Convoy HX 298 , which departed on 3 July and arrived at Liverpool on 18 July . She was carrying a cargo of sugar cane bound for the Clyde . where she arrived on 18 July . She departed from the Clyde on 20 July and sailed to Liverpool , arriving three days later . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy ON 248S , which departed from Liverpool on 10 August and arrived at New York on 27 August . She then joined Convoy NG 456 , which departed on 29 August and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 4 September . She then sailed to Santiago de Cuba , arriving the next day . " Norvarg " returned to Guanatanamo Bay , joining Convoy GN 157 , which departed on 15 September and arrived at New York on 22 September . She departed from New York on 27 September for Boston , from where she sailed on 29 September as a member of Convoy BX127 , which arrived at Halifax on 1 October . She then joined Convoy SC 158 , which departed on 4 October and arrived at Liverpool on 18 October . She was carrying a cargo of sugar cane . " Norvarg " sailed on 29 December for the Belfast Lough , arriving the next day . On 12 January 1945 , she joined Convoy ONS 40 , which had departed from Liverpool that day and arrived at Halifax on 30 January . She then joined Convoy XB 144 , which departed on 29 January and arrived at the Cape Cod Canal , Massachusetts , on 1 February . She arrived at New York on 2 February . She then joined Convoy NG 489 , which departed on 10 February and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 17 February . She left the convoy at Nuevitas , Cuba on 16 February . She then sailed to Santa María del Mar , from where she departed on 6 March for Guantanamo Bay , arriving the next day . " Norvarg " was one of three ships that formed Convoy GN 192 , which departed on 9 March and arrived at New York on 15 March . She sailed on 20 March for Boston , arriving three days later . " Norvarg " then joined Convoy BX 152 , which departed on 23 March and arrived at Halifax two days later . She the joined Convoy SC 171 , which departed on 27 March and arrived at Liverpool on 10 April . " Norvarg " was carrying a cargo of sugar cane . She the sailed to Milford Haven to join Convoy BTC 125 , which departed on 11 April and arrived at Southend on 14 April . Her destination was Gravesend , where she arrived on 15 April . Post - war . " Norvarg " was a member of Convoy ON 301 , which departed from Southend on 6 May and arrived at New York on 22 May . She sailed on 25 May for Puerto Tarafa , Cuba , where she arrived on 30 May , departing on 6 June for Falmouth , Cornwall , United Kingdom , arriving on 23 June . She sailed to The Downs , off the coast of Kent the next day , and then to Dundee , Angus , arriving on 27 June . She sailed on 13 July for Phildadelphia , arriving on 26 July and sailin on 3 August for Liverpool , where she arrived on 18 August . " Norvarg " sailed on 8 September for Norfolk , arriving on 24 September and sailing on 3 October for Montreal , Quebec , Canada , where she arrived on 13 November . She sailed on 22 November for Southampton , Hampshire , United Kingdom arriving on 5 December and sailing that day for Antwerp , Belgium , arriving the next day . She departed from Antwerp on 16 December , with a stated destination of New York . She arrived at Baltimore , Maryland on 18 January 1946 , sailing on 2 February for Kirkwall , Orkney Islands , United Kingdom and Trondheim , Norway . Kirkwall was reached on 18 February . " Norvarg " sailed for Trondheim that day . In 1946 , " Norvarg " was sold to Wallem & Co , Shanghai , China . She may have been operated under the Panamanian flag . She was operated by the Nan Way Steam Ship Co . In 1947 , she was renamed " Nan Chiang " . In 1950 , she was sold to the Great Northern Shipping Co Ltd , Hong Kong and renamed " Northern Glow " , under the British flag . In 1959 , she was sold to the Chinese Government and renamed " Hoping 46 " ( " Hoping Ssu Shi Liu " ) . She was removed from the shipping registers in 1971 .