MV London Statesman
Encyclopedia
MV London Statesman was a dry cargo ship
built by Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla
in Sweden for London & Overseas Freighters
(LOF). She was launched on 30 January 1963 and completed on 26 June of that year. 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. Sabotage by the Viet Cong was suspected. On 31 July she was refloated and towed to Singapore
for repairs. She continued to trade with LOF until 1979.
On 5 January 1979 LOF sold her to Diana Shipping Agencies who renamed her Agia Marina
. In 1981 Diana Shipping sold her to new owners who renamed her Olympiakos. In 1983 she was sold again to OBI Island Maritime who renamed her Skaros.
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. Iraqi aircraft
attacked the convoy with Exocet
missiles, hitting all four ships. Skaros was hit in the engine room
and set on fire. She was towed back to Bandar Imam Khomeini that same day, where her insurers declared her a total loss.
Bulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
built by Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla
Uddevalla
Uddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak...
in Sweden for London & Overseas Freighters
London & Overseas Freighters
London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. was an ocean-going merchant shipping company that for most of its history was based in the United Kingdom.-Counties Ship Management:...
(LOF). She was launched on 30 January 1963 and completed on 26 June of that year. LOF employed her on the tramp trade.
On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
the London Statesman was unloading a cargon of rice at Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
when her engine room
Engine room
On a ship, the engine room, or ER, commonly refers to the machinery spaces of a vessel. To increase the safety and damage survivability of a vessel, the machinery necessary for operations may be segregated into various spaces, the engine room is one of these spaces, and is generally the largest...
flooded and she sank by the stern. Sabotage by the Viet Cong was suspected. On 31 July she was refloated and towed to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
for repairs. She continued to trade with LOF until 1979.
On 5 January 1979 LOF sold her to Diana Shipping Agencies who renamed her Agia Marina
Margaret the Virgin
Margaret the Virgin, also known as Margaret of Antioch , virgin and martyr, is celebrated as a saint by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches on July 20; and on July 17 in the Orthodox Church. Her historical existence has been questioned; she was declared apocryphal by Pope Gelasius I in 494,...
. In 1981 Diana Shipping sold her to new owners who renamed her Olympiakos. In 1983 she was sold again to OBI Island Maritime who renamed her Skaros.
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. Iraqi aircraft
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
attacked the convoy with Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
missiles, hitting all four ships. Skaros was hit in the engine room
Engine room
On a ship, the engine room, or ER, commonly refers to the machinery spaces of a vessel. To increase the safety and damage survivability of a vessel, the machinery necessary for operations may be segregated into various spaces, the engine room is one of these spaces, and is generally the largest...
and set on fire. She was towed back to Bandar Imam Khomeini that same day, where her insurers declared her a total loss.