| Name: | EMPIRE BESS |
| Launched: | 17/10/1944 |
| Completed: | 03/01/1945 |
| Builder: | Clelands (Successors) Ltd, Willington Quay |
| Yard Number: | 74 |
| Dimensions: | 593grt, 137.1 x 33.1 x 15.1ft |
| Engines: | T3cyl (16.5, 28.5 & 47 x 30ins), 200nhp |
| Engines by: | George Clark (1938) Ltd, Sunderland |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Screw |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Reg Number: | 169199 |
| History: | |
| 20/07/1945 | Ministry of War Transport (United Towing Co Ltd, managers); registered at Newcastle |
| 1946 | United Towing Co Ltd; registered at Hull; renamed MERCHANTMAN |
| 1962 | Societa Rimorchiatori Napoletani, Italy; renamed TARENTUM |
| 1982 | Broken up |
| Comments: | Member of the Modified Englishman/Larch Class of Empire tugs |
| 1982: Sold to Palermo Salvatore e Cia SNC for breaking up | |
| 28/05/1982: Breaking up commenced at Naples |
Above photo as MERCHANTMAN is courtesy of TugTalk
Above photo as MERCHANTMAN is courtesy of Alan Hughes
Above photo as MERCHANTMAN is courtesy of Alfred Turner
Above photo as MERCHANTMAN is courtesy of Alan Hughes
Above photo as TARENTUM is courtesy of TugTalk
Above photo as TARENTUM is courtesy of Alfred Turner
Above profile plan of sistership EMPIRE SUSAN is copyright of PN Thomas. CLICK to enlarge/BACK to return
Above deck plan of sistership EMPIRE SUSAN is copyright of PN Thomas. CLICK to enlarge/BACK to return