The s.s.'Sheaf Arrow' was built during WWII, about 1943, owned by the government, under the Ministry of War Transport, and handed over to the Sheaf Steam Shipping Co to manage. At this time she was named the ss "Empire Shepherd".

Companies who had lost ships in action were given ships to manage. The Sheaf Line lost quite a number. At the end of the war the companies had the option of keeping these ships, which they mostly did.

She had a triple expansion steam reciprocating engine, and was powered by coal-fired boilers. She was a 4 hatch vessel, and carried a crew of about 20.

I sailed on her from October 1954 till the spring of 1955 as Third Mate, I was 17½ years old. While I was there we sailed between Newcastle or Blyth to London, Russia, Poland, and Denmark. I was very happy there. She was old but had lots of character. By this time she had changed to Oil burning.

A lot of her derricks and rigging were removed, as she was always carrying bulk cargoes of coal, and pit-props, which were also a deck cargo. 1 derrick per hatch was left to lift out the beams, detachable girders supporting the wooden hatchboards, under the hatch covers.