She was chartered by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company Ltd on 13 September 1946,[2] and then converted to a ferry by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Tilbury.

Empire Cedric entered service on 21 May 1948 on the Preston - Larne route, becoming the first commercial ro-ro ferry.

[5] On 18 November 1949, Empire Cedric was involved in a collision with the coaster Topaz in fog in the Ribble Estuary.

[6] Empire Cedric appeared in a film made by Pathé News in 1949 about the delivery of prefabs from Gloucester to Northern Ireland.

[2] She was used to transport member of 35 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers to Famagusta, Cyprus and also bring vehicles back to the United Kingdom from Egypt.