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Tankers by Northwest Bridge & Iron Co.: Notes & Illustrations

Tankers by Northwest Bridge & Iron Co.: Capacity Plan

Capacity plan by the Northwest Bridge & Iron Co. dated 15 January 1920 and also showing the launch date of 15 December 1920 for the first of the seven ships of the class, Swiftsure. The measurements on the plan are length 481'2" oa, 465'7" pp, molded beam 60'0", and load draft just under 26'7", at which her capacity was just over 11,900 deadweight tons. She had six hatches for the cargo that she carried in the 'tween deck over the tank tops and in a forward hold and nine cargo tanks and five summer tanks for her oil cargo. (hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/archive-library/documents/lrf-pun-w1146-0110-p)

Click here for a larger copy of this plan: Sheet 1

Click on the photographs below to prompt larger views of the same images.

Notes: On 14 August 1918 the EFC contracted with the Northwest Steel Co. of Portland, Ore., for ten Design 1013 cargo ships (EFC hulls 2368-2377). It suspended these on 25 January 1919, reinstated four of them on 26 February 1919, and cancelled the remaining six on 15 September 1919 (three later being completed privately). At around this time Swiftsure Oil Transport Inc. stated that they wanted to purchase seven 12,000-ton tankers if the EFC would finance their construction. Northwest Steel and the Northwest Bridge & Iron Co., which was taking over Northwest Steel's business, wanted to procure for the shipyard the contract for the seven tankers and agreed to accept the cancellation of the six cargo ships. The EFC agreed to finance the seven tankers contingent on Swiftsure accepting some financial obligations. The contract and the associated financial arrangements were concluded on 12 April 1920 and provided that Northwest Steel would build in accordance with plans by Cox & Stevens, naval architects of New York, tank vessels of about 12,000 dwt, 26'6" draft, and 10.5 knots speed at deep load draft, the first to be delivered ten months after the contract took effect and the others at 30-day intervals. The length of the ships was 465'7" between perpendiculars on the plans which are now in the Cox & Stevens collection (item 34.147) at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Measurements as registered were 8207 tons gross, 464.6' pp x 60.2' max x 27.7' depth with a triple expansion engine of 3050 to 3500 ihp. Neither the ships nor the contract received EFC numbers despite the EFC participation in their funding, and this was the only such arrangement concluded by the EFC. (NARA: RG-32, contract files)

S.S. Swiftsure (Yard no. 40). The date of 15 May 1921 in pencil on the back may either be the date of the photo or the date on which it was prepared for publication in a Sunday newspaper. The photo was originally identified as Swiftscout but the name Swiftsure can be made out on the bow. She was completed in January 1921. (Shipscribe) (Click photo to enlarge)

S.S. Malay, ex Swiftwind (Yard No. 46) In port after being torpedoed and shelled by U-123 off North Carolina on 19 January 1942. She was one of seven tankers built with EFC financial assistance in place of six cargo ships cancelled by the EFC.. Photo No. NH 46603, not online Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
S.S. Malay, ex Swiftwind (Yard No. 46) In a U.S. port circa 1942. Probably a Coast Guard photo. Photo No. Malay_9646_015 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9646
S.S. Malay, ex Swiftwind (Yard No. 46) Departing a U.S. port on 6 July 1943, Coast Guard photo. Photo No. Malay_9646_010 Source: vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov/ShipHistory/Detail/9646