EFC Design 1118: Notes & Illustrations

Notes: In its effort to relieve the scarcity of tonnage the Shipping Board concluded various agreements providing for the acquisition of ships from neutral and allied countries. On 4 April 1918 the Japanese outlined terms according to which Japanese shipbuilders would agree to build for the United States approximately one half of the estimated total output of Japanese yards during the first six months of 1919. Contracts signed between 16 and 21 May 1918 provided for the construction in Japanese yards of 30 vessels of 245,850 deadweight tons, to be delivered between March and August 1919. The price to be paid for the vessels was fixed at $175 per deadweight ton, and the U.S. War Trade Board agreed to license the exportation of approximately 1 ton of new steel for every 2 tons of vessels delivered. The contracts were awarded to 13 Japanese yards, building from 1 to 5 ships each. (Source: Annual Report of the USSB, 1918, page 53.)

Following the negotiations of March and April 1918, the EFC contracted on 20 May 1918 with the Asahi Shipyard Co., Asahi, Japan, for one 5500-ton Design 1118 ship, EFC Hull 2008 and Yard No. 6. She was completed by the Uraga Dock Co. as their Yard no. 166, the EFC contract being changed accordingly in September 1919.

Specifications: Design 1118 (S.S. Eastern Sword, EFC Hull 2008): Steel Cargo. Deadweight tons: 5500 designed, 5532 actual. Dimensions: 330' length pp x 46' beam mld. x 30' depth mld., 23.2' draft loaded. Propulsion: 1 screw, 1 triple expansion engine, 3 Scotch boilers, 2500 IHP, -- kts. Configuration: Shelter (awning) deck with 3 islands, 2 decks, 3 holds, 5 hatches.