Fort Abitibi was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., of Montreal. It was given Registry No.168825, and was delivered in May 1942 to the U.S. War Shipping Administration. The vessel was operated by Smith Hogg & Co., West Hartlepool, and was part of the merchant navy fleet supplying Britain during World War II.[4] It was used by the U.S. Maritime Commission; in 1947 and was later transferred to Sir R Ropner & Co. Ltd., of West Hartlepool for the Ministry of War Transport. Fort Abitibi was broken up in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1958.[5]
It sailed to Australia on several occasions.[citation needed]