Kowloon No.1 was a 2,942 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 as Empire Dirk by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon, Ayrshire, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

[2] Empire Dirk made her maiden voyage on 28 November 1943, when she departed from the Clyde for Preston, Lancashire, arriving five days later.

[10] Empire Dirk spend the next six months sailing the east coast of the United Kingdom, mostly in convoys between Methil Fife and Southend, with calls at Blyth, Northumberland, Hull, Yorkshire, and the Tyne.

She departed from Southend on 21 July as a member of Convoy ETC 44, which was bound for the Seine Bay, in Upper Normandy, France.

She departed from Barry on 22 August as a member of Convoy EBC 86, which arrived at the Seine Bay two days later.

Empire Dirk's movements are not recorded for the next three months, but she departed from the Solent on 25 November as a member of Convoy EBF 47,[5] which arrived at Milford Haven two days later.

[5] Empire Dirk was a member of Convoy BTC 38, which departed from Milford Haven on 14 January 1945 and arrived at Southend three days later.

[15] She was carrying a cargo of 3,500 long tons (3,556 t) of rubber destined for China in contravention of an export ban.

On 18 April 1957, Troon Breeze rescued the 25 crew of the Italian steamship Nica, which had caught fire in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Burma.

[20] In March 1958, the owners of Troon Breeze were fined Rp200,000 (then £6,451) for a violation of maritime flag law.

[22] On 19 January 1964, Troon Breeze was seized at Samarinda, East Borneo, where she had arrived to load a cargo of lumber.

[23] Troon Breeze was sold in 1964 to the San Fernando Shipping Co SA, Panama and was renamed Cachupin.

[3] In 1966, she was sold to the Shiu Cheung Shipping & Trading Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed Kowloon No.1.