Built as the New Zealand Star as one of a class of two self-discharging container ships built for the Australia - New Zealand - Persian Gulf service. It was unfortunate that the year they entered service the Iran - Iraq War broke out, effectively halving their intended market in the Gulf. Operation however continued throughout this period, with calls at Muscat, Dubai, Bahrain, Dammăm in Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The passage to Kuwait being undertaken as night, showing no lights and at full speed ! At Kuwait one could hear the rumble of the guns firing between Iran & Iraq, which needless to say made the Kuwaitis a little nervous!

She was extended and transferred to Lamport & Holts Lines for their South America operations and renamed the Churchill , before once more returning to Blue Star Line, as the re-incarnated Argentina Star 2.

With the sale of Blue Star Line to P&O Nedlloyd in 1998, she has remained under Blue Star colours, and operated from the West Coast of North America to Australia and New Zealand until Jan. 2002.