MV London Statesman

History
Name: MV London Statesman (1963–79)
Port of registry: United Kingdom London (1963–79)
Builder: Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla[1]
Cost: £1,310,000[2]
Yard number: 191[1]
Launched: 30 January 1963[1]
Renamed:
  • Agia Marina (1979–81)
  • Olympiakos (1981–83)
  • Skaros (1983–84)[1]
Identification: UK official number 304576[1]
Fate: Damaged by Exocet missile in 1984[1]
Status: Scrapped[1]
General characteristics
Tonnage:
Installed power: 10,000 bhp[1]
Propulsion:
Speed: 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)[1]
Notes:

MV London Statesman was a dry cargo ship built by Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla in Sweden for London & Overseas Freighters (LOF).[1] She was launched on 30 January 1963, completed on 26 June of that year[1] and cost just over £1.3 million.[2] LOF employed her on the tramp trade.

On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War the London Statesman was unloading a cargo of rice at Nha Trang in South Vietnam when her engine room flooded and she sank by the stern.[1] Sabotage by the Viet Cong was suspected.[1] On 31 July she was refloated and towed to Singapore for repairs.[1] She continued to trade with LOF until 1979.[1]

On 5 January 1979 LOF sold her to Diana Shipping Agencies who renamed her Agia Marina.[1] In 1981 Diana Shipping sold her to new owners who renamed her Olympiakos.[1] In 1983 she was sold again to OBI Island Maritime who renamed her Skaros.[1]

On 1 February 1984 during the Iran–Iraq War Skaros was one of four merchant ships in a convoy outward bound in the Bandar Imam Khomeini Channel.[5] Iraqi aircraft attacked the convoy with Exocet missiles, hitting all four ships.[5] Skaros was hit in the engine room and set on fire.[1] She was towed back to Bandar Imam Khomeini that same day, where her insurers declared her a total loss.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 76
  2. 1 2 Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 41.
  3. ↑ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 77.
  4. ↑ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 78.
  5. 1 2 Grimord 1986

Sources and further reading

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