California Star was an 8,577 GRT refrigerated cargo liner that was built in 1945 as Empire Clarendon by Harland and Wolff Ltd, Belfast for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).

Harland and Wolff Ltd built the ship at Belfast as yard number 1231.

[4] The ship was propelled by a Burmeister & Wain-type[2] two-stroke single cycle double-acting marine Diesel engine that had eight cylinders of 21+1⁄2 inches (55 cm) diameter by 63 inches (160 cm) stroke.

[6] In March 1968 California Star was laid up in the River Blackwater, Essex.

Re-entering service by July 1968,[7] she served until 1969, when she was sold to Tsuan Yau Steel & Iron Works Co Ltd. She arrived on 21 April 1969 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan for scrapping, which was commenced on 20 May 1969.