destined to carry wheat and phosphate fertilizer, both ships sailed initially from new orleans for st john's in october 1941, to take on cargoes of wheat bound for ireland. since insurers such as lloyd's of london charged higher premiums for ships not in convoy, the "irish oak" and the "irish pine" were painted war-time camouflage in preparation for sailing in-convoy. "irish pine" joined convoy sc 56 and arrived in dublin on 11 december 1941. in contrast, "irish oak" experienced a number of serious mishaps and setbacks: chief engineer r. marsh, of dublin, suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised in new orleans; another engineer, o'keefe of dún laoghaire, was severely burned in a boiler room blow-back and hospitalised in st john; and a locally recruited greek replacement engineer caused difficulties, was reported to the canadian authorities by the captain, and jailed.