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History
United Kingdom
Name	Empire Earl (1943–45); Cressington Court (1945–58); East Wales (1958–66); Universal Skipper (1966–70);
Owner	Ministry of War Transport (1943–45); United British Steamship Co Ltd (1945–53); Court Line Ltd (1953–58); West Wales Steamship Co. Ltd(1958–66); Dalkeith Shipping Co Ltd (1966–70);
Operator	Dodd, Thompson & Co. Ltd (1943–45); Haldin & Co Ltd (1945–58); Gibbs & Co Ltd (1958–66); International Steamship Co Ltd (1966-70);
Port of registry	Sunderland (1944–45); London (1945–58); Newport (1958–66); Dalkeith (1966–70);
Builder	William Doxford & Sons Ltd
Yard number	713
Launched	8 December 1943
Completed	May 1944
Out of service	November 1970
Identification	UK Official Number 180132; call sign GBWQ; ;
Fate	Scrapped
General characteristics
Tonnage	7,359 GRT, 5,008 NRT
Length	431 ft 0 in (131.37 m)
Beam	56 ft 5 in (17.20 m)
Draught	27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m)
Depth	35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Installed power	516 nhp
Propulsion	2SCSA diesel engine

Cressington Court was a 7,359 GRT cargo ship that was built in 1943 as Empire Earl by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham, United Kingdom for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1945, she was sold into merchant service and renamed Cressington Court. A further sale in 1958 saw her renamed East Wales. She was sold again in 1966 and renamed Universal Skipper, serving until she was scrapped in November 1970.

Description

William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland, Co Durham built the ship in 1943^[1] as yard number 713.^[2]

She was 431 feet 0 inches (131.37 m) long, with a beam of 56 feet 5 inches (17.20 m). She had a depth of 35 feet 5 inches (10.80 m), and a draught of 27 feet 4+3⁄4 inches (8.350 m). She was assessed at 7,359 GRT, 5,008 NRT.^[3]

The ship was propelled by a 516 nhp two-stroke single cycle, single action diesel engine, which had three cylinders of 23+5⁄8 inches (60 cm) diameter by 91+5⁄16 inches (231.9 cm) stroke driving a single screw propeller. The engine was built by Doxfords.^[3]

History

World War II

Empire Earl was launched on 8 December 1943 and completed in May 1944.^[1] She was placed under the management of Dodd, Thompson & Co Ltd. She was allocated the United Kingdom official number 180132 and call sign GBWQ. Her port of registry was Sunderland.^[3] Her captain was Arthur Hawkins, who had been in command of Empire Sunrise when she was torpedoed and sunk in 1942 and had subsequently been master of the Fort ship Fort Carillon.^[4]

On 8 June 1944, Empire Earl made the first of many round trips from Southend, Essex to the Seine Bay, Seine-Maritime, France. These voyages were mostly as a member of various ETM and FTM convoys, and lasted until 30 August. No voyages are recorded until 30 October, when Empire Earl made a round trip to Methil, Fife via convoys FN 1526 and FS 1646, arriving back at Southend on 26 November. From 6 December until the end of the war, she made a number of round trips from Southend to Antwerp, Belgium as a member of various TAM and ATM convoys.^[5]

Post-war

After VE Day, Empire Earl made more round trips between Southend and Antwerp, the first four in convoy and then sailing independently. A final voyage in convoy was made in August when she sailed from Southend to the Seine Bay as a member of Convoy ETM 52, before sailing to Antwerp and resuming her previous schedule. She departed from London on 29 August 1945 for Newcastle upon Tyne, where she arrived two days later. She departed on 11 October for Antwerp, arriving two days later and departing on 25 October for Hamburg, Germany, where she arrived on 29 October. She departed on 19 November for the Tyne, where she arrived two days later.^[5]

In 1945 Empire Earl was sold to Sir Philip Haldin's United British Steamship Co Ltd, London, who renamed her Cressington Court and placed her under the management of Haldin & Co Ltd.^[1] In 1953, United British Steamship Co Ltd became Court Line Ltd.^[2] On 27 July 1954, Cressington Court was in collision with the Argentine cargo ship Marinero in the River Plate near Buenos Aires.^[6]

In 1958, Cressington Court was sold to West Wales Steamship Co. Ltd, Newport, Monmouthshire and was renamed East Wales. She was placed under the management of Gibbs & Co Ltd.^[1]

In 1966, East Wales was sold to Dalkeith Shipping Co Ltd, Dalkeith, Midlothian and was renamed Universal Skipper. She was operated under the management of International Steamship Co Ltd, Hong Kong. Universal Skipper was scrapped in November 1970 at Whampoa, Hong Kong.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.^{[page needed]}
^ ^a ^b "Empire Earl". Wear Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Steamers & Motorships". LLoyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. I. Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1945. Retrieved 24 May 2021 – via Southampton City Council.
^ "Fort Carillon". Fort ships. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
^ ^a ^b Hague, Arnold. "Ship Movements". Port Arrivals / Departures. Don Kindell, Convoyweb. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
^ "British Ships in Mishaps at Buenos Aires". The Times. No. 52995. London. 28 July 1954. col D, p. 8.