Stakesby was a 4,026 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1930 by William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom.

Raised in 1943, she was repaired, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Derwent.

She was sold into merchant service in 1946 and renamed Swan Point, serving until she was wrecked in 1949.

[5] On 23 June 1939, Stakesby ran aground near Puerto Obligado, Argentina, whilst outward bound for Sharpness, Gloucestershire.

She was carrying a cargo of coal with a stated destination of Buenos Aires,[10] where she arrived on 20 December.

[9] Stakesby departed from Aberdeen on 16 March for the Tyne, arriving two days later.

[13] She detached from the convoy and put into Immingham, Lincolnshire, arriving on 18 April and leaving two days later to join Convoy FS 151[9] which departed from the Tyne that day and arrived at Southend on 22 April.

[16] Stakesby detached from the convoy and sailed to Saint John's, arriving on 10 May.

Five days later, she sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving on 19 May.

[18] Her destination was Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where she arrived on 2 August.

[19] At about 23:55 hrs (German time) on 25 August, Stakesby was hit by a torpedo fired by U-124, which was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg-Wilhelm Schulz.

Her cargo provided sufficient buoyancy to keep her afloat, although a fire developed at the forward end of the ship.

At the time, Stakesby was 23 nautical miles (43 km) north of the Butt of Lewis (58°52′N 6°34′W / 58.867°N 6.567°W / 58.867; -6.567).

They were rescued by the Norwegian merchant ship Cetus which took them to Stornoway, Outer Hebrides.

She was taken over by the MoWT, renamed Empire Derwent and placed under the management of Neill & Pandelis Ltd, London.

[22] She then joined Convoy XB 57A, which departed from Halifax that day and arrived at Boston, Massachusetts, on 11 June.

[23] Empire Derwent left the convoy at the Cape Cod Canal and sailed to New York, arriving on 14 June.

[21] She then joined Convoy FS 1178, which departed from Methil on 26 June and arrived at Southend two days later.

[25] Empire Derwent left the convoy at the Tyne, arriving on 27 July.

[26] She then joined Convoy CW 205, which departed the next day and arrived at the St Helens Roads on 1 September.

[21] Empire Derwent departed from Newport on 8 January for Milford Haven, arriving the next day.

[35] She then joined Convoy KMS 39, which departed that day and arrived at Port Said on 7 February.

She was carrying a cargo of iron ore.[44] The combined convoy arrived at Liverpool on 11 June.

[54] Empire Derwent departed from Liverpool on 8 December for Cardiff, arriving two days later.

She was carrying a cargo of coal bound for Gibraltar,[55] which was reached on 26 December.

She departed from Workington on 10 February and sailed to Barry, Glamorgan, arriving two days later.

She developed engine defects and returned to Milford Haven,[57] arriving on 18 April.

[21] Empire Derwent departed from Middlesbrough on 3 October for Hull, arriving the next day.

[21] In 1946, Empire Derwent was sold to the Cereal Trade & Shipping Co Ltd. She was renamed Swan Point and her port of registry was changed to London.

On 31 July 1949, Swan Point became stranded in the Karnaphuli River, Chittagong, India, and broke in two.