The Malaita built by Barclay, Curie at Glasgow in 1933, for Burns, Philp, was a motorship of 3,310 gross tons, 1833 net 3530 deadweight. Her dimensions were: length 828 ft.; beam 47 ft. 2in.; draft 21 ft.11/4 in.; depth 23 ft 5 in. Her engines of 1740 h.h.p. were built by J G. Kincaid and Company, Greenock. She carried 86 passengers. Her first service was between Australia and the Solomon Islands, going over to the New Guinea service in 1942. Her war service ended on August 29 that same year when she was almost cut in half by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. The vessel was three miles from Port Moresby when hit but managed to limp back to port with the bow and stern held together by the decking. In Port Moresby railway lines were used to strengthen the link between the two sections and with her hull open to the sea she sailed slowly back to Sydney. She was repaired and returned to the run in 1947. Her service for Burns, Philp ended in 1965 when she was sold to John Manners and Company, Hong Kong. In 1966, she was on Djakarta Lloyd service from Australia to Indonesian ports, her name then being Filar Regidor. She was renamed Linda Jo in 1968, her owners being the San Fernando S.S Company SA. (Jaguar Shipping Corporation Ltd., managers). Panama. SG299