 El Occidente was handed over to the War Shipping Administration at Galveston on 7 July and assigned to United States Lines , Inc . , for operation . The cargo ship was placed under Panamanian registry by U.S. Lines . Little is known of El Occidente 's movements over the six months , but on 30 January 1942 , she left Boston for Halifax loaded with a general cargo . Arriving at Halifax on 1 February , she joined Convoy HX 174 and headed for Liverpool on 7 February , arriving at her destination on 21 February . 
