MV London Statesman

History
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
Class and type:|

* 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]

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 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]

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 76
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 41.
3. ↑ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 77.
4. ↑ Sedgwick, Kinnaird & O'Donoghue 1993, p. 78.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 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). 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. http://www.lof-news.co.uk/History & Headers 1-2-3/lof1.htm.

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