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| General characteristics | |
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| Class and type: | |
| Installed power: | 10,000 bhp[1] |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)[1] |
| Notes: |
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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.[4] LOF employed her on the tramp trade.
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 Air Force 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]
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