In 1953 Johnstone returned with a different salvage ship and more modern equipment. "Foremost 17" had been built in 1911 as "Port of London Authority No. 9", a hopper barge for the Port of London Authority. In 1925 the PLA sold her and her new owner renamed her "Foremost 17". She passed through several private owners, until in 1940 the Admiralty bought her and had her converted into a salvage ship. In June 1944 she was at Gold Beach where Mulberry Harbour B was built to supply the Allied invasion of Normandy. In 1947 the Admiralty sold her to a British Company, Risdon Beazley, and by about 1952 she was in Australia.