SS Stanbell

Stanbell was a tanker which was built by Sir J Laing & Sons, Sunderland in 1943 as Empire Beresford for the Ministry of War Transport. Postwar she was sold into merchant service and renamed "Stanbell". She was converted to a bulk carrier and later sold to new owners and renamed Kelantan, serving until scrapped in 1965.
Description.
"Empire Beresford" was built by Sir J Laing & Sons, Sunderland. She was yard number 753 and was launched on 15 September 1943 with completion in December. She was long, with a beam of and a depth of . Her GRT was 9,804, with a NRT of 5,793.
Career.
"Empire Beresford" was placed under the management of J A Billmeir & Co Ltd, who traded as the Stanhope Steamship Co Ltd. Her port of registry was Sunderland. "Empire Beresford" was a member of a number of convoys during the Second World War.
Convoy HX 313 departed New York on 10 October 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 24 October. "Empire Beresford" was listed as a member of this convoy but did not sail in it, she joined the following convoy, HX 314.
Convoy HX 314 departed New York on 15 October 1944 and arrived at Liverpool on 29 October. "Empire Beresford" was bound for Killingholme.
In 1945, Billmeir's purchased "Empire Beresford" from the MoWT and renamed her "Stanbell". On 13 December 1953, "Stanbell" was in collision with SS "Marine Courier" off Cape Henry, Virginia. The master of "Marine Courier" was found to have been at fault and his licence was suspended for a month.
In 1955, "Stanbell" was converted to a bulk carrier. She was now , and 14,810 DWT. In 1960, "Stanbell" was sold to the Malaya Shipping Co Ltd, Hong Kong and renamed "Kelantan". She was initially placed under the management of United Shipping & Investment Co Ltd, Hong Kong but management was later transferred to Gibson Shipping Co Inc, Macao. "Kelantan" was scrapped in March 1965 at Hirao, Japan.
Official Numbers and Code Letters.
Official Numbers were a forerunner to IMO Numbers. "Empire Beresford" had the UK Official number 180053 and the Code Letters GFMY.
Propulsion.
The ship was propelled by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of , and bore by stroke. It was built by North East Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.