Padova Star, ex-Parthenon, and Barcelona Star, ex-Piraeus, were built in 1955-56 for the West African fruit trade to Germany. They were small ships (4000 tons) to negotiate small African ports and Parthenon had been fitted with variable-pitch propellors, the better to navigate African rivers. When they were transferred to Blue Star Line, they were only given temporary British Registration because of their ammonia-based refrigeration plant. After 2-3 years, the pair were moved to an Italian company because the Italians were short of reefers at that time.