MV London Statesman

This article is about the 1963-built cargo ship. For the 1943-built Empire ship renamed "London Statesman", see SS Empire Celia.

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.

History
United Kingdom
Name	MV London Statesman (1963–79)
Port of registry	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 and scrapped [1]
General characteristics
Tonnage	10,892 GRT 6,196 net 15,100 DWT[1]
Installed power	10,000 bhp[1]
Propulsion	8-cylinder Götaverken single-acting two-stroke diesel engine.[1]
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)[1]
Notes	sister ships: London Craftsman[3] London Tradesman[4]

On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War the London Statesman was unloading a cargo of rice in 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. Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 76
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. Grimord 1986

Sources and further reading

• Grimord, David Leslie (30 September 1986). "Appendix I" (PDF). The Iran-Iraq War: A Juridical Analysis of the Attacks on Neutral Ships and Visit and Search Operations in the Persian Gulf (Master of Laws thesis). George Washington University. p. 98. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
• Sedgwick, Stanley; Kinnaird, Mark; O'Donoghue, K.J. (1993) [1992]. London & Overseas Freighters, 1948–92: A Short History. World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-68-1.
• Sedgwick, Stanley; Sprake, R.F. (1977). London & Overseas Freighters Limited 1949–1977. World Ship Society. ISBN 0905617037.

External links

• "London & Overseas Freighters 1941–97". LOF–News.