MV Imperial Transport was an oil tanker built in the early 1930s for the Houlder Line.

During World War II, the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine in early 1940 and broke in half.

The stern section was saved and a new forward half was built and mated to the ship, which returned to service in 1941.

Two more tugs were needed before the stern section could be towed to the Firth of Clyde and beached on the Isle of Bute on 26 February.

[2] The stern section was later moved to Barclay Curle's dockyard at Elderslie where the damaged portions of the hull were trimmed away.

A new forward half was built at Port Glasgow by William Hamilton and Company and mated to the stern section in 1941.