Veragua was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) in March 1942 for wartime operation under bareboat charter.

After decommissioning of Merak in June 1946 Veragua was reconverted to commercial operations and then returned to the company for resumption of service on a similar route as before the war.

[5][6] United Fruit's primary business was transport of bananas from Central and South America with passengers, mail and general cargo as important components.

[8][9] Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation of Quincy, Massachusetts built the ship as yard hull 1446 with launch on 23 April 1932 and delivery in August 1932.

[10] Design was based on Antigua, the first of the ships from Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, with slight variance from the Newport News implementation.

Displacement tonnage to the designed waterline was 10,928, gross 7,035.12 and net 3,523 with cargo capacities of 240,070 cubic feet refrigerated space in two holds forward, two aft and two special low temperature holds aft with 5,370 cubic feet of mail and baggage storage.

[13] On 20 March 1942 United Fruit delivered Veragua to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) at New Orleans under bareboat charter.

[3] The ship was converted to naval use by Todd Pacific Shipyards of Galveston, Texas and commissioned Merak, designated AF-21, on 8 May 1942, commanded by Cmdr L.E.

She then made two short deliveries to Cuba before making her first transatlantic crossing in July, delivering men, mail, and stores in Algeria, North Africa.

[4] She continued Caribbean sailings and transatlantic voyages until February 1945, including four crossings from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Italian ports.

Veragua was then operated by United Fruit as WSA's agent under a General Agency Agreement to be converted back to commercial service and then returned to the company on 8 January 1948.