The ship, originally designated a "patrol gunboat," PG-196, was ordered by the United States Maritime Commission under a United States Navy contract as USS Pearl. She was reclassified as a "patrol frigate," PF-88, on 15 April 1943 and laid down by the Walsh-Kaiser Company at Providence, Rhode Island, on, according to different sources, either 28 September 1943 or 30 October 1943 Intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, the ship was renamed Seychelles by the British prior to launching and was launched on either 30 October 1943 or 12 February 1944, according to different sources.