Empire Dorado was a design 1019 cargo ship that was built in 1920 as Tolosa by Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), passing to the United States Maritime Commission (USMC) in 1937. She was sold to the United Kingdom in 1940, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Dominica. She served until November 1941, when she was in collision with another ship. Although taken in tow, she subsequently sank. Description The ship was built in 1920 by Atlantic Corporation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was yard number 8. The ship was long, with a beam of . She had a depth of . As built, she was assessed at . The ship was propelled by a 359 nhp triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of , and diameter by stroke. The engine was built by Atlantic Corporation. It drove a single screw propeller. History Tolosa was launched in 1920 and completed in September of that year. She was built for the USSB. The United States Official Number 220353 and Code Letters MBCN were allocated. Her port of registry was Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On 20 March 1923, the Italian steamship requested assistance when she was off Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Tolosa responded from away. In 1937, ownership passed to the USMC. In 1940, Tolosa was sold to the MoWT and was renamed Empire Dorado. She was operated under the management of Runciman (London) Ltd. The United Kingdom Official Number 168017 and Code Letters GLZX were allocated. Her port of registry was London. She was assessed at , . Empire Dorado was due to have been a member of Convoy HX 59, which departed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 19 July and arrived at Liverpool, Lancashire on 3 August. She did not sail with the convoy, nor with HX 60, She sailed with Convoy HX 61, which departed on 27 July and arrived at Liverpool on 11 August. She was carrying a cargo of pig iron bound for Glasgow, but was ordered to return to Halifax. Although due to sail with convoys HX 63, HX 64, HX 65 and HX 66, she eventually joined Convoy HX 67, which departed on 20 August and arrived at Liverpool on 4 September. Empire Dorado was a member of Convoy OB 239, which departed from Liverpool on 4 November 1940. The convoy returned