MV London Statesman
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | MV London Statesman |
| Builder: | Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla[1] |
| Yard number: | 191[1] |
| Launched: | 30 January 1963[1] |
| Renamed: | Agia Marina (1979-81), Olympiakos (1981-83), Skaros (1983-84)[1] |
| Homeport: | London (with LOF) |
| Fate: | Damaged by Exocet missile in 1984[1] |
| Status: | Scrapped[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: |
10,892 long tons (12,199 ST; 11,067 t) gross 6,196 long tons (6,940 ST; 6,295 t) net 15,100 long tons (16,912 ST; 15,342 t) deadweight[1] |
| Installed power: | 10,000 bhp[1] |
| Propulsion: | 8-cylinder Götaverken diesel[1] |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h)[1] |
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 and completed on 26 June of that year.[1] LOF employed her on the tramp trade.
On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War the London Statesman was unloading a cargon 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.[2] Iraqi aircraft attacked the convoy with Exocet missiles, hitting all four ships.[2] 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
Sources and further reading
- Grimord, David Leslie (30 September 1986). "Appendix I" 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, 98. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- Sedgwick, Stanley (1993) [1992]. Kinnaird, Mark; O'Donoghue, K.J.. eds. London & Overseas Freighters, 1948-92: A Short History. World Ship Society. ISBN 0905617681.
- Sedgwick, Stanley; Sprake, R.F. (1977). London & Overseas Freighters Limited 1949-1977. World Ship Society. ISBN 0905617010.
