High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Empire Endurance was a 8,514 GRT cargo liner that was built in 1928 as Alster by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany for the shipping company Norddeutscher Lloyd. In the years leading up to the Second World War Alster carried cargo and passengers between Germany and Australia. After the outbreak of war she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a supply ship.