Empire Bay was a collier.[1] She was built by W Gray & Co Ltd, Hartlepool in 1940. She was owned by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and managed by the Joseph Constantine Steamship Line Ltd. Empire Bay was sunk by German bombing off Middlesbrough on 15 January 1942.
Empire Bay was built by William Gray & Sons Ltd, Hartlepool, Co. Durham. She was launched on 20 August 1940 and completed in November that year. She was built for the MoWT and placed under the management of Joseph Constantine Steamship Line Ltd. Her port of registry was West Hartlepool.[2]
Empire Bay was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
On 15 January 1942, Empire Bay was bombed by Dornier Do 217 E-4 U5+HS of 8 Staffeln, Kampfgeschwader 2, based at Schiphol, the Netherlands. Empire Bay anti-aircraft guns damaged the Dornier, which later flew into the cable of a barrage balloon in Billingham and subsequently crashed at railway sidings in South Bank, Middlesbrough killing all four crew.[6] At the time Empire Bay was in Tees Bay, off Middlesbrough while on a voyage from Hartlepool to London. She sank at 54.6856°N -1.1433°W. The entire crew were rescued alive.[7] The wreck lies in 59feet of water and large sections of the ship can still be found.[8]
Official numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. Empire Bay had the UK Official Number 160786 and used the Code Letters GNFX.[2]
Empire Bay was powered by a triple-expansion steam engine manufactured by the Central Marine Engine Works, West Hartlepool. The cylinders were 20inches, 31inches and 55inches diameter by 39inches stroke. The engine developed 255hp.[2]