Manganese was a 964 GRT coaster that was built in 1925 by Norderwerft AG, Hamburg, Germany as Wiedau for German owners.

She was seized by the Allies in May 1945, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and was renamed Empire Contract.

The engine was built by Dresdner Maschinenbau & Schiffs Uegibau AG, Dresden.

The Code Letters GJDY and United Kingdom Official Number 180593 were allocated.

She was placed under the management of G Gibson & Son Ltd.[5] Later that year, she was transferred to the Greek Government and was renamed Herakleion.