The MV Chama was a substantial tanker vessel originally built in 1942 by Harland & Wolff Ltd in Belfast, United Kingdom. She measured 483 feet in overall length, with a beam of approximately 59 feet 5 inches, and a depth of 27 feet 9 inches. Her design allowed her to carry a gross tonnage of 8,194 GRT, with a net tonnage of 4,777 NRT, and a deadweight of 11,860 DWT. The vessel was powered by a four-stroke, single-cycle, single-action diesel engine with six cylinders, each 29.5 inches in diameter and a 59.75-inch stroke, built by Harland & Wolff in Glasgow. This engine generated 490 nhp, enabling the ship to reach speeds of up to 11.5 knots. Launched on 4 April 1942 and completed by July of the same year, she was initially named Empire Fletcher and served under the UK Ministry of War Transport during World War II. Her early service involved extensive convoy operations across the Atlantic and Mediterranean, carrying vital cargo such as petrol, avgas, and paraffin. Notable convoy routes included passages from Belfast Lough to New York, Halifax, and across the Atlantic to North Africa and Europe, participating in numerous wartime convoy operations until 1943. In March 1943, she was transferred to the Dutch government and renamed Backhuysen, with her port of registry moved to The Hague. As Backhuysen, she continued her convoy duties through the remainder of the war, supporting Allied logistics in the European and North African theaters. Her service included voyages to Gibraltar, Casablanca, Oran, and Mediterranean ports, often laden with petrol, benzole, and polymers. Post-war, in 1947, she was sold to NV Petroleum Maatschappij and renamed Chama, operating under the Dutch flag with the Code Letters PDJZ. Later, in 1955, she was sold to Derna Compagnia de Navegacion SA in Liberia and renamed Anastasia. During her rebuilding in Rotterdam, she was converted into a bulk carrier. Her maritime career concluded when she was scrapped in 1959 in Savona, Italy, marking the end of her service. The MV Chama's history reflects her significant role during World War II and her subsequent adaptation to post-war maritime commerce.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.