West Saginaw was a 5,758 GRT Design 1013 cargo ship that was built in 1919 by Northwest Steel Company, Portland, Oregon, United States.

In 1941, she was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Cougar.

The ship was built in 1919 by Northwest Steel Company, Portland, Oregon.

West Saginaw was built for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).

The United States Official Number 218964 and Code Letters LTBN were allocated.

[3] On 11 June 1925, West Saginaw struck a submerged object off Nantucket, Massachusetts and was beached.

West Saginaw was undamaged, whilst damage to the lightship was slight.

[17] She left the convoy at Belfast Lough,[16] joining Convoy BB 82, which departed Belfast Lough on 30 September and arrived at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire on 1 October.

[18] Empire Cougar then sailed to Newport, Monmouthshire, arriving on 2 October.

Empire Cougar was bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[19] arriving on 8 November.

She is recorded as carrying a cargo of steel and being bound for Hull, Yorkshire.

She was carrying steel and general cargo, bound for Manchester, Lancashire.

[30] She departed the Hampton Roads the next day for New York, arriving on 5 July.

[16] Empire Cougar departed Barry on 27 August for Milford Haven, arriving the next day.

[39] She then joined Convoy EN 174, which departed Methil that day and arrived at Loch Ewe on 18 December.

[42] She departed Guantanamo Bay that day as a member of Convoy GAT 40, which arrived at Trinidad on 1 February.

She is next recorded as arriving at Milford Haven on 2 May and returning to Barry that day.

[16] She was destined for Dakar, French West Africa with a cargo of coal.

She then sailed to Bathurst, South Africa, arriving on 10 June and departing the same day for Dakar.

[64] She departed Guantanamo Bay that day for San Juan, Puerto Rico, arriving on 25 February.

She was carrying a cargo of phosphates, and put into Halifax on 9 July requiring repairs to her turbines.

[75] She departed Guantanamo Bay that day with Convoy GAT 164, which arrived at Trinidad on 11 October.

[76] Empire Cougar was bound for San Pedro de Macorís, arriving on 7 October.

She was carrying a cargo of sugar destined for Greenock, Renfrewshire,[79] arriving on 16 November.

[81] She left the convoy at Cape Cod Canal and sailed to New York, arriving on 5 January.

[82] She then joined Convoy GAT 186, which departed Guantanamo Bay that day and arrived at Trinidad on 29 January.

[88] She then joined Convoy MH 99, which departed Milford Haven that day and arrived at the Clyde on 2 May.

[90] She left the convoy and sailed to Quebec City, Canada, arriving on 19 May.

In 1948, Aurora was sold to the Compagnia Maritima del Este, Panama and renamed Cougar.

In 1951, she was sold to Trama Trasporti Marittimi SpA, Italy and renamed Favola.