Empire Collins was a tanker which was built in 1942 by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). In 1945 she was sold into merchant service and renamed Southern Collins. She was sold in 1956 to Panama and renamed Cassian Sailor. In 1960 she was sold to Pakistan and renamed Mushtari. She was scrapped in 1964.
The ship was built by Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland as yard number 745.[1] She was launched on 29 June 1942 and completed in December 1942.[2]
The ship was 484feet long, with a beam of 68feet and a depth of 36feet. She had a GRT of 9,795 and a NRT of 5,784.[3] Her DWT was 14,766.[1]
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 27, diameter by 51inches stroke. The engine was built by North East Marine Engine Co (1938) Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.[3] The engine could propel her at 10kn empty, 9.5kn loaded.[1]
Empire Collins was built for the MoWT. She was placed under the management of Haldin & Phillips Ltd. Her port of registry was Sunderland. The Code Letters BFFM and United Kingdom Official Number 169106 were allocated.[3]
Empire Collins was a member of a number of convoys in the Second World War.
In 1945, Empire Collins was sold to The South Georgia Co Ltd. She was placed under the management of Christian Salvesen & Co Ltd and was renamed Southern Collins.[2] Her port of registry was changed to Leith.[1] In 1952, Southern Collins ran aground at the entrance to Leith Harbour and was holed, losing much of her cargo of whale oil.[1]
In May 1956,[1] Southern Collins was sold to San Felicia Compagnia Navigacion, Panama and was renamed Cassian Sailor.[2] In April 1960,[1] she was sold to the Gulf Steamship Co Ltd, Karachi, West Pakistan and was renamed Mushtari.[2] She was scrapped in 1964 at Karachi.[1]