M O P 223-C was a suction hopper dredger that was built in 1946 by William Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew, United Kingdom as Empire Forager for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). She was sold in 1949 to the Argentinian Government and renamed M O P 229-C. She was renamed La Descanisada later that year and then renamed M O P 223-C in 1958, serving until she was scrapped in 1976.
The ship was 287feet between perpendiculars (295feet overall), with a beam of 52feet. She had a depth of 20feet and a draught of 21feet. She was assessed at, .[1]
The ship was propelled by two triple expansion steam engines, which each had cylinders of 18inches, 28inches and 40inches diameter by 27inches stroke. The engines were built by William Simons & Co. Ltd. Each engine drove a single screw propeller.[2]
The ship was built in 1941 by William Simons & Co. Ltd., Renfrew, United Kingdom.[3] She was yard number 767. She was launched on 19 March 1946 and completed in April.[2] Her port of registry was Greenock. The Code Letters GKLN and United Kingdom Official Number 169468 were allocated. Empire Forager was operated under the management of H. Abram Ltd.[1]
In 1949, Empire Forager was sold to the Argentinian Government and was renamed M O P 229-C.[3] Her port of registry was Buenos Aires. She was operated by the Ministry of Public Works.[2] Later that year, she was renamed La Descanisada. She was renamed M O P 223-C in 1958.[3] With the introduction of IMO Numbers in the 1960s, M O P 223-C was allocated the number 5215818.[4] She served until 1976 when she was scrapped.[3]