Previous Name:

Subsequent name:                  Knossos

Official Number:                       184739

Class:                                         EDDY CLASS Fleet Attendant Oiler

Pennant No:                              A190

Laid down:                             
Builder:                                      Blythswood Shipbuilding, Scotstoun
Launched:                                25 August 1952

Into Service:                             16 February 1953
Out of service:                          1964 sold commercially

Fate

Items of historic interest involving this ship: -

Background Data: This Class were a part of the RFA’s first post-WW2 construction programme and the ships were Admiralty-designed to act as Fleet Attendant Oilers. Even as they were being built for world-wide service however, their designed functions had become obsolete due to the rapid and wide scale practice of refuelling at sea. This resulted in RFA EDDYCOVE, ordered on 23 January 1951 and RFA EDDYMULL, ordered on 27 March 1951 being cancelled in 1952 and the remaining 8 ships in the Class refocused on harbour and coastal service within a short time. With the exception of RFA EDDYFIRTH, the remainder of the Class had very short service lives with the RFA

9 December 1952 Mr H E Thirkell RFA appointed at Chief Engineer Officer

19 January 1953 Captain A Jackson OBE RFA appointed as Master

26 January 1953 commenced Builders’ Trials in the Firth of Clyde

29 January 1953 completed Builders’ Trials

10 February 1953 completed

13 February 1953 ran her Acceptance Trials in the Firth of Clyde

17 February 1953 assisted RFA Freshlake and RFA Rippledyke in the supply of fresh water to the area around Sheerness, Kent which had suffered severe flooding.

March 1953 time chartered to Shell in UK waters

24 October 1953 Mr D F Gorrie RFA appointed at Chief Engineer Officer

12 April 1954 Mr J G Yuill RFA appointed at Chief Engineer Officer

1 June 1954 Captain George Baker RFA appointed as Master

1 February 1955 Mr C A Herbert RFA appointed at Chief Engineer Officer

17 July 1956 Captain Patty Colfer RFA appointed as Master

13 January 1958 Captain C Alexander DSC RFA appointed as Master

18 August 1958 Captain J Coull RFA appointed as Master

10 March 1959 in Grand Harbour, Malta alongside HMS CENTAUR refuelling her

15 June 1959 sailed Malta

8 August 1959 Mr J G Yuill RFA appointed at Chief Engineer Officer

12 December 1959 Captain Walter Gibb MBE RFA appointed as Master

5 October 1960 3rd Engineer Officer William McGowan discharged dead from a heart attack. He died in the Royal Naval Hospital, Bighi and is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta

August 1963 after a period of lay-up at Devonport she was placed on the Disposal List

3 September 1963 offered for sale 'as lying' at H M Dockyard, Devonport in the Times of this date

1964 sold commercially and renamed Knossos owned by Greek Tanker Shipping Co, Piraeus. Her port of registry was changed to Piraeus.

1966 sold to Greek Atlantic Fishing Co Ltd, Piraeus (C. Diamantis, Manager) and converted into a Fish Factor Ship

1973 sold to Heleno Argentino SA. her port of registry was changed to Buenos Aires

1977 resold to Greek Atlantic Cod Fishing Co Ltd, Piraeus - name unchanged

1978 sold to Mar Claro SA - her port of registry did not change

30 April 1980 driven aground during severe weather after being struck by ANNA C and breaking her moorings

8 May 1980 was refloated

1982 resold to Helenoargentino SA, Buenos Aires - name unchanged

1986 sold to Pesquera Argentona del Sur SA - her port of registry did not change

2008/9 deleted from the Argentinian registry