On 24th August, 1949, the MV Bloemfontein Castle was launched at Harland & Wolff's yard at Belfast by Mrs Leif Egeland, wife of the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa in London. She was completed on 25th March 1950. Built for Union-Castle Line's Intermediate service to South and East Africa, she was their first one-class ship. She took her name after the town of Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free State.

The Bloemfontein Castle was given the familiar Union-Castle profile of well-raked rounded stem, cruiser stern, a low streamlined funnel and a single mast abaft the bridge, giving a well-balanced appearance. There were two hatches forward and three aft, served by six 10-ton and four 5-ton capacity derricks. Cargo 'tweendeck spaces were insulated for the carriage of fruit, with certain compartments for chilled and frozen produce.

The Bloemfontein Castle was the first intermediate liner to be built since the war had ended, and the institution of a single class-tourist was an innovation for Union-Castle. She was built to cater for an expected emigrant boom and to alleviate the still considerable pressure at the time for accommodation at lower range fares. The main public rooms were on the promenade deck, a large lounge forward being extended the whole width of the ship so there were no passageways either side. Aft of this was a combined library and writing room, connected by a long gallery to a commodious smoking room. On the upper deck a dining room for 386 also extended the width of the ship. Accommodation for 739 passengers was spread through seven decks.

Some 250 of Union-Castle's staff were invited for the shakedown cruise made from London in March, 1950. She left London on her maiden voyage on 6th April 1950 - sailing a London - Rotterdam - Las Palmas - Ascension - St. Helena - Walvis Bay - Cape Town - Port Elizabeth - East London - Durban - Lourenço Marques - Beira route that she alone served. She sometimes called at Southampton homewards during the busy fruit season.

On 8th January, 1953 she rescued 234 passengers and crew from the Holland Afrika liner Klipfontein which was sinking after hitting submerged rocks off Mozambique. Captain J. A. Fergurson and Senior Officers later received commemorative gifts from the Holland Afrika Line.

When the expected flow of European emigrants to South Africa did not materialize, she was sold to the Greek Chandris Lines in 1959.