After the VLCC boom and bust in the early seventies, many shipowners sought for a way to get rid of surplus VLCC contracts. One way was to replace the order with a different shiptype, and this Panamax bulker, built by Hitachi in 1977 (#4571) could be one of those replacements. It was built for the Overseas Shipholding Group, one of Hitachi's main customers for tanker tonnage. She was delivered in 1977, and carried this name proudly for 16 years, after which she became first the REX FRIENDSHIP, and the dropped the Rex six years later, under the ownership of Eletson.
In 2006 she became ELEFTHERIA D, again under Greek ownership and 5 yeras later, and 34 years old, she made one last voyage as RIA, with final destination Chittagong.

This photo is from the mid eighties, when she came in empty, possibly for R&M work.