Port of registry London (1963–79) Yard number 191 | Cost £1,310,000 Launched 30 January 1963 | |
Name MV London Statesman (1963–79) Builder Uddevallavarvet AB, Uddevalla Renamed Agia Marina (1979–81)
Olympiakos (1981–83)
Skaros (1983–84) | ||
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, completed on 26 June of that year and cost just over £1.3 million. LOF employed her on the tramp trade.
On 10 July 1972 during the Vietnam War the London Statesman was unloading a cargo 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.