Arietta was a 7,460 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1941 as Empire Cranmer by J L Thompson & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom.

On 17 March 1960, she ran aground at Novorossiysk, Soviet Union.

[3] Empire Cranmer made her maiden voyage on 12 November 1941 when she departed the Tyne to join Convoy FN 549,[4] which had departed Southend, Essex the previous day and arrived at Methil, Fife the following day.

[7] Empire Cranmer sailed to Baltimore, Ohio, United States, arriving on 10 December.

[11] She then joined Convoy EN 58, which departed Methil that day and arrived at Loch Ewe on 16 March.

[4] After discharging her cargo, Empire Cranmer departed on 3 May for Swansea, Glamorgan, arriving the same day.

She was carrying a cargo of coal and was bound for Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

[22] Empire Cranmer left the convoy at Loch Ewe on 20 September.

[4] She then joined Convoy WN 339, which departed the next day and arrived at Methil on 23 September.

[23] She then joined Convoy FS 915, which departed Methil that day and arrived at Southend on 25 September.

[26] Thraki departed Avonmouth on 1 January 1943 for Swansea, arriving the next day.

She departed Swansea on 9 January for the Belfast Lough, arriving the next day.

Thraki was bound for Saint John,[35] She left the convoy on 2 February at Halifax.

[38] Thraki left the convoy on 13 March at Belfast Lough, joining Convoy BB 268, which departed that day and arrived at Milford Haven on 15 March,[39] the day that Thraki arrived at Avonmouth.

[26] Thraki departed Swansea on 30 June, arriving the next day at Milford Haven.

The next day, she joined Convoy SQ 59,[26] which arrived at Father Point, Quebec on 21 July.

[26] Thraki departed Cardiff on 22 September, arriving the next day at Milford Haven.

[48] She then joined Convoy KMS 28, which departed from Gibraltar that day and arrived at Port Said, Egypt on 19 October.

[52] She departed Gibraltar the next day for Casablanca, Morocco, arriving on 25 November.

Two days later, she joined Convoy OS 59,[26] which had departed from Gibraltar and arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 8 December.

[53] Two days later, Thraki departed Freetown as a member of Convoy ST 77,[26] which arrived at Takoradi, Gold Coast on 15 December.

[54] She then sailed to Cape Town, South Africa, arriving on 26 December.

She departed Durban four days later for Lourenço Marques, Mozambique, arriving on 20 January.

[26] Thraki departed from Massawa on 22 March for Aden, arriving three days later.

She then sailed to Port Said, from where she departed on 29 July for Alexandria, Egypt, arriving the next day.

She departed Alexandria on 10 August, arriving back at Port Said the next day.

Thraki departed from Alexandria on 3 August, arriving at Port Said the next day.

Arietta was refloated on 1 April, but was declared to be a constructive total loss.