until 2 August when she sailed from Sunderland, County Durham on a voyage that would take her to Freetown, Cape Town, Durban, Aden, Suez, Port Said, Alexandria, Beirut and Haifa, which was reached on 20 December. Hopestar returned to the United Kingdom via Port Said, Suez, Aden, Mauritius, Durban and Freetown. She arrived at Southend-on-Sea on 20 April 1942. She sailed a week later on a voyage that would take her to New York, Key West, Trinidad, Cape Town, Durban and Bombay, India, where she arrived on 28 October 1942. Hopestar departed from Bombay on 4 January 1943. She spent the next few months sailing the coast of Africa, arriving at Gibraltar on 20 July and sailing three days later for the River Tyne, which was reached on 8 August. She sailed on 28 September to make a round trip to Montreal, returning to Southend-on-Sea on 21 December. Hopestar sailed on 13 January 1944, remaining in British waters and arriving at the Clyde on 13 February. She sailed on 2 May for various ports in the Mediterranean, always in convoy at this time. She arrived back at Southend-on-Sea on 15 August. Hopestar departed on 25 August for a return trip across the Atlantic Ocean to Boston, Massachusetts, United States. She was in convoy throughout the voyage and returned to Liverpool on 31 December. Hopestar sailed on 14 February 1945 for Cardiff and Milford Haven, where she arrived on 3 March. She sailed the next day for Africa, in convoy for the last time. She was at Accra when the war in Europe ended. Hopestar returned to Liverpool on 12 June, sailing two weeks later for Charleston, South Carolina, United States, which is where she was when the war finally ended. She again sailed Mediterranean waters before arriving at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire on 14 November. Post-war In 1947, a third boiler was installed in Hopestar. It was later determined that this weakened the structure of the vessel and may have contributed to her loss. In June 1948, Hopestar underwent a routine survey, which she passed. On 14 November 1948, Hopestar was reported to be off St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. She reported her position by radio at 01:00. It was reported by the ship that she had been damaged by heavy weather, with a Force 9 gale blowing at the time. The last report from Hopestar was at 12:00 that day, when she