Subsequent name:                              Varkiza,  Zeus

Official Number:                                  166438

Laid Down:

Builder:                                               Rowhedge Iron Works Co Ltd, Rowhedge

Launched:                                          17 March 1938

Into Service:                                       October 1942

Out of service:                                    1947

Fate:                                                   1982 broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:   One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA.

17 March 1938 launched by Rowhedge Iron Works Co Ltd, Rowhedge as Yard Nr 561 named BEN JOHNSON for National Benzole Co Ltd, London

April 1938 completed

29 July 1938 arrived at Falmouth from Plymouth

20 December 1938 arrived at Falmouth from Southampton

18 April 1939 arrived at Falmouth from Southampton

21 June 1939 arrived at Southampton from Falmouth

October 1942 requisitioned by the Admiralty as a Water Carrier

29 January 1946 arrived at Avonmouth from Cardiff in ballast

12 February 1946 arrived at Hayle arrived at Swansea

13 March 1946 arrived  Avonmouth from Cardiff

10 June 1946 arrived at Poole when on passage from Plymouth to Southampton

28 June 1946 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

17 October 1946 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

1947 returned to owners

29 December 1947 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

17 March 1948 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

28 March 1949 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

11 May 1950 arrived at Shoreham from Exeter

13 June 1950 arrived at Plymouth from Southampton

27 November 1950 arrived at Southampton from Exeter

1958 owners became Shell-Mex & B.P. Ltd, London – name unchanged

1964 purchased by John P. Katsoulakos, Piraeus and renamed VARKIZA

November 1966 LR Class withdrawn

1966 purchased by Arapeglou & Malengovich, Piraeus who re-engined her with 1 x 6 cyl 180 x 300m oil engine by Schwermasch. Karl Liebkneckt, Magdeburg. 280 bhp.  Speed 10 knots

1971 purchased by Dimitrios Raviolas, John & Angeliki Daifas, Piraeus name unchanged.

1972 sold to J Daifas, Piraeus – name still unchanged

1976 sold to Aristos Kaisis, Limassol, Cyprus and name changed to Zeus

May 1982 owners reported as now Konitas Nav Co and awaiting breaking up at Limassol