List of Empire ships (Si–Sy)

[1] They were acquired from a number of sources: many were built for the government; others obtained from the United States; still others were captured or seized from enemy powers.

[6] Empire Simon was a 275 GRT tug which was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby, Launched on 11 July 1945 and completed in July 1946 as Simonia for Overseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd. Sold in 1951 to Les Abeilles Remorquage et Sauvetage, Le Havre and renamed Abeille No 8.

The problem was not spotted until daybreak about halfway through the trip when the tow rope started to "sing" indicating it was under considerable stress and tension.

Before it could be cut loose, it snapped and the ship-half of the tow wrapped itself around the accommodation block, before it disappeared to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, a sequence of photographs were taken as proof that the ferry had sunk.

She was used as a trading vessel in the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) carrying general cargo from Port Vila and collecting copra for export from plantations and co-operative groups.

[16] Empire Snowdrop was a 339 GRT coaster which was built by Van Diepen Scheepswerf Gebroeders NV, Waterhuizen, Netherlands.

Struck an Italian mine on 9 May 1941 in the Strait of Sicily and sank at the position 37°9′12″N 11°1′24″E / 37.15333°N 11.02333°E / 37.15333; 11.02333 while member of Convoy WS 58 as part of Operation Tiger.

Sold in 1946 to Entreprise Générale de Transport Maritimes SA, France and renamed Tamise II.

Operated under the management of A Weir & Co Ltd. Sold in 1953 to Halcyon Lijn NV, Netherlands and renamed Stad Rotterdam.

[27] Empire Spearhead was a 7,177 GRT (11,600 tons displacement) Type C1-S-AY-1 cargo ship which was built by Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, California.

[35] Empire Springbuck was a 5,591 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Ames Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Seattle.

Napalmed by CIA "Liberation Air Force" on 27 June 1954 at Puerto San José, Guatemala during the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état, burned and sunk.

[38] Empire Squire was a 7,044 GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields.

[40] Empire Standard was a 7,050 GRT cargo ship which was built by Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.

During the day of the 12th the convoy was under air attack with Empire Star being hit with numerous casualties and fourteen military and two civilian refugees killed.

[46] Empire Star , official number 181546, was an 11,000 GRT, 521.4' × 70.5' × 30.9', refrigerated cargo ship that was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast.

Sailed from Nagoya, Japan on 12 October 1979 bound for Nakhodka, USSR, reported to have been converted to a storage barge.

Empire Statesman was a 5,306 GRT cargo ship which was built by Societ per Azioni Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente, Italy.

[31] The Empire Stevedore was reputed to be haunted, supposedly by the spirit of her last German captain, who—it was said—shot himself when the ship was captured towards the end of WWII.

Those brave enough to go aboard the ship after midnight could hear the captains footsteps as he climbed the step ladder to the bridge inside the accommodation.

Empire Stevenson was a 6,209 GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields.

Torpedoed on 13 September 1942 and sunk by German aircraft north of Bear Island (76°10′N 10°05′E / 76.167°N 10.083°E / 76.167; 10.083) while a member of Convoy PQ 18.

[30] Empire Storm was a 7,290 GRT cargo ship which was built by John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields.

[58] Empire Strength was a 7,355 GRT refrigerated cargo ship that was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast in 1942, being launched on 28 May and completed in December.

[59] Empire Stronghold was a 7,050 GRT cargo ship which was built by Sir W G Armstrong-Whitworth (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.

It was part of convoy ON-55 en route from Manchester to Jacksonville, Florida, without cargo and Albert Sandham was the Master of the ship, at the time of the sinking.

[65] Empire Swale was a 5,452 GRT cargo ship which was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG, Wesermünde.

In 1948 caught fire and sank at Copenhagen, was re-floated after temporary repairs then sailed to Bremen for a complete overhaul.

[31] Empire Swan was a 7,965 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation, Chester, Pennsylvania.

Operated under the management of Maclay & McIntyre Ltd. Sold in 1960 to Trico Corp SA, Lebanon and renamed Tertric.