Lot Essay
Designed as a specialist offshore tug and supply ship, London Service was built by Goole Shipbuilders Ltd. at Goole, Humberside, in 1982. Owned by John Townsend & Co. and initially leased to Zapata Off-Shore Services Ltd., she was registered at 985 tons gross (401 net and 1,035 deadweight) and was engined by Mirrlees Blackstone (Stockport) Ltd. to give a service speed of 12½ knots. Renamed British Valiant in 1986 but reverting to her original name in 1988, she is currently owned by Tidewater Marine (Northsea) Ltd. and registered in Port Vila under Vanuatuan colours.