Launched on 24.09.1930 as BORINQUEN, and delivered 00.02.1930 to Coamo Steam Ship Co., New York (Management: New York & Porto Rico Steam Ship Co., New York). Call sign: KGWQ. Official No.: 230447. GRT: 7114, NRT: 4249, DWT: 4090.
1949 sold to A. H. Bull Steam Ship Co. Inc. (Management: A. H. Bull & Co. Inc., New York), New York, and renamed PUERTO RICO.
1954: Purchased by Compañia Internacional Transportadora S.A., Panama (Management: Arosa Line Inc. (Nicolò Rizzi), Genéve) and renamed AROSA STAR. Official No.: n.a. Call sign: HPGZ. GRT: 7114, NRT: 3789, DWT: 3290.
1957: The ownership allocated to Arosa Line Inc., Panama.
Arrested at Nassau, Bahamas in late 1958.
A Genéve judge declared Arosa Line Inc., Panama on April 10th., 1959, bankrupt.
Sold at public auction for approximately 510,000.-$ to McCormick Shipping Corporation, Panama, and renamed BAHAMA STAR.
1961: Registered for Evangeline Steamship Corp., Panama. Not renamed.
Ownership of Eastern changed hands in 1962 when W.R Lovett of Jacksonvilie, Florida, purchased the company. This accounted for the white ‘ L ’ on the blue diamond which appeared on the funnels during Lovett’s ownership.
In the years 1959 -1969, she operated for Eastern Steamship Lines, sailing primarily between Florida and the Bahamas. On 13. November 1965, she managed under the command of Captain Carl Brown to rescue 489 people from the burning S/S "Yarmouth Castle", another cruise ship on the same voyage. 90 people perished in the blaze. In a bizarre twist of fate, this accident led to changes to the maritime regulations pertaining to such ships at the Geneva Convention of 1964, outlawing the operation of passenger vessels with wooden superstructures. The cost of complying with the new regulations proved too expensive for her and she put up for sale.
1970: Sold to Western Steamship Co., Panama, and renamed LA JENELLE.
While laid up at Port Hueneme, California, broke her moorings in heavy weather and was driven ashore west of the jetty on April 1970. The two men on board were taken off by helicopter. The wreck, lying on her side, broke up due the continuing heavy swell. The lower hull now makes part of the breakwater at Port Hueneme, California.