Imperial Star
Ship Number
933
Vessel Type
Refrigerated Cargo Ship
Built
Belfast
Yard
East Yard
Slip Number
10
Launch Date
October 9, 1934
Launched By
Lady Vestey
Delivered
December 29, 1934
Owner
Blue Star Line Ltd
Weight
10733 grt
BP Length
515 feet
Breadth
70 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
16 knots
Propulsion
Two Single Acting (S.A.) 10 cylinder crosshead type 10/740/1500 A.I.P.I. - Constructed at Belfast
Official No.
163212
Registered
Belfast
Fate
Torpedoed
Imperial Star

[at Wellington, NZ - WHB Maritime Museum]
The first  of the Class that was to become known as the Imperial Star Class to be delivered in the 1930's  from Harland & Wolffs yard at Belfast, powered by two 10-Cylinder Burmeister & Wain engines they must have been somewhat of an engineering challenge. The vessels varied considerably with their choice of power plants and other structural changes. The build dates extended over some 13 years, some of those being lost and replaced during WWII.  
 
Transferred in 1941 to Frederick Leyland & Co. Ltd., (Blue Star Line Managers)
 
Damaged on 12 Mach 1941 in Brocklebank Dock, Liverpool by a German bombing raid.
 
Torpedoed on 27 September 1941 and badly damaged by Italian aircraft, N.E. of Tunis.
 
She was taken in tow by the destroyer HMS Oribi, but the tow was not successful and she was slipped early on the 28 September 1941. Depth charges were placed on board and she exploded and sank. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to Malta with 8,000 tons of war supplies. There were no casualties.