Avila Star  was one of the new A-Class ships, designed  in Norway and apart from the her were built at Middlesbrough. Designed as refrigerated fruit carriers, primarily for bananas being fitted with side (banana) doors  and air change fans, for loading in Central American ports. Initially most had long term five year charters to the Standard Fruit Corporation, carrying bananas from Costa Rica, Honduras,  and Columbia to US East Coast and European ports. This they did very successfully. In later years they carried a multitude of refrigerated cargoes from deciduous & citrus fruits, as well as frozen meat.

The Avila Star was unfortunately relatively short-lived in Blue Star Line. By far the best of her class, having been built in Denmark & engined in Norway, she suffered none of the problems experienced by her sisters. Such as excessive liner wear experienced with the Kincaid built engines. Due to currency fluctuations, her mortgage was such that payments were not economic and she was disposed of in 1979.
To confuse the issue, the original Almeria Star, was eventually renamed in 1990 Avila Star, after this vessel had been sold and appeared under various names.