Builder in 1950. She had been completed by the Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd. in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1942 as Empire Mandarin. Another Dorset Steamships' vessel, Charmouth Hill, which became LOF's London Mariner in 1950, had been completed in Hartlepool in 1943 as Empire Peak. Tower Steamships' Tower Grange, which became LOF's London Trader, had been completed by the Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd. in 1945 as Empire Morley. Another Putney Hill Steamships vessel, the Putney Hill (II) had been built in 1943 as . She was transferred to LOF in 1949 and at first renamed Forest Hill. In 1950 LOF renamed her again as London Statesman. In 1951 LOF sold her to Panamanian owners who renamed her Morella. CSM had seven Liberty ships, three of which were transferred to LOF. had been built in 1943 and CSM renamed her Primrose Hill in 1947. LOF renamed her London Vendor in 1949 and sold her in 1951. had been built in 1943 and CSM renamed her Mill Hill in 1947. She too was transferred to LOF in 1949 and sold in 1951. had been built in 1944 and CSM renamed her Bisham Hill in 1947. She was transferred to LOF in October 1951 and sold in January 1952 to Liberian owners wno renamed her Nausica. Livery and personnel LOF ships' hulls were red below the waterline and black above. The ships had white superstructures and carried the coat of arms of the City of London facing forward just below the bridge. The LOF funnel livery was buff, ringed by a white band above a blue band, with a five-pointed red star on the two bands. It was a variant of a livery that some CSM ships had used since the 1930s. The house flag was a pennant of white above blue bearing a red star. The white and blue referred to the Greek origins of the Kulukundis, Rethymnis and Mavroleon families. The red star made the funnel livery suggest that of a Soviet merchant fleet, which sometimes caused some confusion. LOF ships always worked under charter. Under the terms of some charters, the ship's funnel would be repainted from LOF colours to those of the charterer. LOF employed UK officers on salaries but used crew from India hired on contracts for limited periods. This allowed it to pay crew wages lower than those agreed between the General Council of British Shipping and the National Union of