Built as a tanker under yard No. 204 by Kaldnes M/V A/S, Tønsberg for A/S D/S Svendborg & D/S af 1912 (A.P. Møller) Denmark.
Launched under the name JESSIE MÆRSK.
Tonnage 33.081 grt, 19.868 net, 59.837 dwt., dim. 211.94 x 32.24 x 13.23m.
Powered by one 6 cyl. B&W oil 2SA engine, 20.500bhp., speed 17 knots.
1976 Completed.
After the Falkland War the U.K. Ministry of Defence chartered her as an aviation fuel storage vessel at Ascension Island.
Renamed in MÆRSK ASCENSION and transferred to Maersk Co. Ltd., Island of Man. Registered at Peel.
Took on board on 07 December 1992 at Falmouth bunkers after a 71-day long dry-dock period in that port.
Sailed 08 December bound for Ascension Island.
1999 Renamed by Oxgate Security Co. Ltd., Isle of Man in ASCENSION.
1999 Sold to Vyzantio Shipping Ltd. Greece and managed by Aegean Shipping Management S.A. Greece.
Renamed BYZANTIO. IMO No. 7383413, call sign 9HJP6.
Since September 2001 chartered by the Russian/Swiss company Crown Resources, the same company who chartered also the tanker PRESTIGE.
December 2002 at Rotterdam was by Greenpeace activists a warning sign painted on the hull of the single hulled tanker BYZANTIO, and some activist chained themselves to the mooring lines of the tanker for 28 hours.
2004 Was she sold for $4.82 million for scrapping at Chittagong, Bangladesh, and she was boarded off Chittagong 09 June 2004.
22 June 2004 work of scrapping commenced.
On Ascension 1997 12p sg 709
Source. Register of merchant ships completed in 1976. Watercraft Philately Vol 44 page 6.
http://www.equasis.org Marine News 1999/157,166. Marine News 2004/504,570. Some websites.