[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.
Empire Kamal was a 7,862 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bremer Vulkan Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Vegesack.
[2] Empire Kangaroo was a 6,219 GRT (9,600 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny, New Jersey.
[4] Empire Keats was a 7,035 GRT cargo ship which was built by Short Brothers Ltd, Sunderland.
[5] Empire Kedah was a 7,311 GRT cargo ship which was built by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd, Sunderland.
[9] Empire Kennet was a 2,319 GRT cargo ship which was built by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg.
[9] Empire Kestrel was a 2,674 GRT (5,050 DWT) cargo ship which was built by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan.
[10] Empire Kew was a 1,052 GRT cargo ship which was built by John Lewis & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
She sank in the Tyrrhenian Sea 56 nautical miles (104 km) southwest of Cape Miseno.
[11] Empire Kingfisher was a 6,038 GRT cargo ship which was built by the G. M. Standifer Construction Company, Vancouver, Washington.
On 18 January 1942 she struck a submerged object 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia and was holed.
The German U-boat U-109 has long been credited with the sinking, as the Empire Kingfisher believed she was hit by a torpedo rather than had struck a rock.
Launched on 27 July 1945 as Empire Kingsway and completed in 1946 as The Emperor for J Hay & Sons Ltd, Glasgow.
[15] Empire Kinsman was a 6,640 GRT cargo ship which was built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
[16] Empire Kitchener was a 9,881 GRT cargo liner which was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee.
[17] Empire Kite was a 7,965 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation, Chester, Pennsylvania.
Empire Kittiwake was a 5,674 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Ames Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Seattle.
[18] Empire Kittiwake was a 4,820 GRT LST (3) which was built by Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon, Quebec.
[19] Empire Knight was a 7,244 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.
On 11 February 1944 she ran aground in a blizzard at Boon Island Ledge, 12 nautical miles (22 km) from York, Maine (43°08′N 70°24′W / 43.133°N 70.400°W / 43.133; -70.400).
[20] Empire Knoll was a 2,824 GRT collier which was built by William Gray & Co Ltd, West Harlepool.
On 17 February 1941, she came ashore in a gale and struck the foundations of the North Pier, Tynemouth, broke in two and declared a total loss.
[21] Empire Kohinoor was a 5,225 GRT cargo ship which was built by W Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow.
[2] Empire Kudu was a 6,262 GRT cargo ship which was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearney, New Jersey.
On 26 September 1941 she came ashore 6 nautical miles (11 km) west of Point Amour, Belle Isle Strait and was declared a total loss.
The foggy weather saved our lives because the submarines were waiting for the convoy to sail into the Atlantic Ocean when it came out of the straight, off the Labrador Coast.
In peace-time, we would have sailed from the convoy area via the Atlantic Ocean but we went the other way to dodge the submarines, but they were waiting for us to come out anyway" (Carter, pp. 28–29).
Empire Kumari was a 6,288 GRT cargo ship which was built by AG Weser, Bremen.
On 14 December 1951, the Turkish cargo ship SS Gucum Erman grounded on the wreck of Empire Kumari and sank.
[2] Empire Kumasi was a 7,021 GRT cargo ship which was built by William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow.