History
United Kingdom
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
Tonnage	10,892 GRT 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 aircraft 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]

• 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) [1992]. 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.

• "London & Overseas Freighters 1941–97". LOF–News.

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1972
Shipwrecks	9 Jan: Seawise University 11 Jan: Sian Yung 15 Jan: Kooroongaba 18 Jan: Delfini 1 Feb: V. A. Fogg 11 Feb: USS Hopewell, Lindblad Explorer 19 Feb: Marcello G 19 Mar: USS Gansevoort 23 Apr: USNS Cowanesque 24 Apr: Nicolo Martini 11 May: Royston Grange 12 May: USS Wilkes-Barre 14 May: USS Fred T. Berry 15 Jun: Lucette 4 July: Isabena 10 July: London Statesman 13 July: USS O'Brien 24 July: S. A. Vanguard 21 Aug: Texanita 19 Sep: HMSAS Natal 16 Oct: USS Stanton 27 Nov: Tor Hugo 24 Dec: Sea Star 31 Dec: St Ives Unknown date: Allah Mina, USS Bashaw
Other incidents	24 Jan: USS Seahorse 27 Jan: Queen Frederica 24 Feb: K-19 17 May: Queen Elizabeth 2 21 Aug: Oswego-Guardian 15 Nov: K-19 Unknown date: K-64
1971 1973

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1984
Shipwrecks	1 Feb: Skaros 29 Mar: Eldia 11 Apr: No 5 dumb hopper barge 3 Jun: Marques 17 Jul: HMS Devonshire 29 Jul: Columbus C. 21 Aug: Zingara 12 Sep: Hilma Hooker 20 Oct: Sonia, Lady Odiel 21 Nov: Topeka 23 Nov: Mercedes I 29 Nov: USCGC Campbell 23 Dec: Mercury Unknown date: Machitis
Other incidents	21 Mar: K-314, USS Kitty Hawk 23 Apr: USS Bergall, USS Kittiwake 13 Jun: HMS Jupiter 7 Sep: C23 21 Sep: USS Jacksonville September (unknown date): Doris
1983 1985