In August 1944 she was scuttled off the coast of Normandy to form part of a breakwater for a mulberry harbour for Operation Overlord.

Because of enemy submarine activity the Admiralty ordered Verdala to proceed via Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she could join an eastbound transatlantic convoy.

[9] In 1928 Atlantska Plovidba Ivo Racić bought Mongolian Prince, renamed her Istok and registered her in Dubrovnik.

[11] In 1940 the Crest Shipping Co bought Istok, renamed her Maycrest, registered her in London and appointed Ivanović & Co to manage her.

She made ten round trips between UK ports and the East Coast of the United States.

She made each eastbound crossing with an SC convoy from Halifax, Nova Scotia or St John's, Newfoundland.

[22] In January 1944 Maycrest sailed from Scotland to Gibraltar carrying coal and coke with Convy OS 65 km.

She visited Lisbon, Oran and Melilla[13] before returning in April with a cargo of iron ore via Gibraltar and Convoy XK15.