Page 25 - Insurance Times January 2024

Thus, the Company built and sold the last 32 ships on their inspected by the USSB representatives and officially
own for the Transmarine shipping line. After the war in 1920, accepted by them on 29 November 1919. Upon acceptance
Submarine Boat built 30 206-ton barges for Transmarine. the freighter was allocated by the Shipping Board to C. H.
With no more contracts, the shipyard closed in 1922 and the Sprague & Son to serve on their newly established trade
company went into receivership in 1929. For World War II the route to Scandinavia.
shipyard was reopened by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock
Company. Federal Shipbuilding operated its main shipyard 2.8 Kenwood Bridge first proceeded to Philadelphia where she
miles (4.5 km) north of the Submarine Boat Company shipyard, arrived on December 1. After partial loading the vessel
where Uncommon Carrier Inc. in Kearny, New Jersey is now continued on to Boston several days later, where she
located. The location of the former Submarine Boat Company embarked the rest of her cargo. Kenwood Bridge sailed on
shipyard was at the Toyota Logistics Services Inc. automobile her maiden voyage from Boston on 12 December 1919
terminal, 390 E. Port Street, Newark, just south of Interstate carrying cargo consisting of steel, food, machinery and other
78. Some of the notable ships were SS Mopang, SS Admiral general cargo bound for Kristiania, Gothenburg and
Halstead, SS Coast Trader and SS Coast Farmer. While Copenhagen. After an uneventful journey the vessel reached
Submarine Boat Company ended shipbuilding in 1922, due to Kristiania on 3 January 1920 and then continued on to the
its good working with steel, in 1923 it received a construction remaining destinations. Subsequently, Kenwood Bridge
contract from the Newton Amusement Corporation to build stayed in the Baltic Sea area through the winter making
a 1,000-seat stadium theatre. The company supplied 50 tons several trips between Gothenburg and United Kingdom
of steel columns. This was the last project before closing. transporting lumber and wood pulp.

SS Kenwood Bridge was part of the second optional order In late March 1920, the freighter arrived in London where
for 68 additional vessels placed by USSB with Submarine she was slated to pick up a cargo of block chalk for delivery
Boat Corp. on 16 November 1917. The ship was laid down to Boston. However, the freighter was unexpectedly sold in
at the shipbuilder's yard on 2 June 1919 (yard number 79) early April to a Spanish shipping company Jose Luie de
and launched on 25 September 1919, with Miss Marion H. Ansoliaga y Campania Limitada for $1,015,000. The vessel
Willis, daughter of Paul Willis, President of Kenwood Bridge then left Southampton for New York on April 18 via Bilbao
Company of Chicago, being the sponsor. The vessel was where she was officially transferred to her new owners and
named after the company, one of many providers of embarked Spanish crew. The vessel was also renamed
fabricated steel for the shipyard. Leonita. After an uneventful voyage the ship reached New
York on May 6. On 21 February 1921 Leonita loaded 4,075
Similar to all vessels of this class, the ship had three islands tons of coal at Hampton Roads and departed Norfolk three
and one main deck, had machinery situated amidships and days later on her last trip bound for Castelvecchio in Italy
had four main holds, both fore and aft, which allowed for via Gibraltar.
the carriage of variety of goods and merchandise. The
vessel also possessed all the modern machinery for quick The voyage was eventful until the night of March 12.13
0
0
loading and unloading of cargo from five large hatches, when the ship was in approximate position 36 40'N 7 40'W
including ten winches and ten booms. She was also equipped just west off Gibraltar. The freighter suddenly developed a
with wireless apparatus and had electrical lights installed leak, and a S.O.S. call was dispatched while an entire crew
along the deck. As built, the ship was 324.0 feet (98.8 m) of 34 and the captain hastily abandoned the vessel. The call
long (between perpendiculars) and 46.2 feet (14.1 m) was received by a nearby steamer, SS Haworth, who quickly
abeam and had a depth of 25.0 feet (7.6 m). It was originally came to the rescue saving the crew while Leonita went
assessed at 3,545 GRT and 2,174 NRT and had deadweight down to the bottom.
of approximately 5,300. The vessel had a steel hull with
double bottom throughout and a single turbine rated at At the time of her loss Leonita was valued at approximately
1,500 shp, double reduction geared to a single screw £55,000 while her hull and machinery were insured for
propeller, that moved the ship at up to 10+ . knots (12.1 £12,000 and the vessel carried additional insurance totalling
mph; 19.4 km/h). The steam for the engine was supplied by altogether £245,000.
two Babcock & Wilcox Water Tube boilers fitted for oil fuel.
As there was large disparity between the actual value and
The sea trials were held on November 5 during which the the amount of insurance coverage, a foul play was suspected
vessel performed satisfactorily. Subsequently the vessel was by the insurance company and loss payments were denied to

The Insurance Times January 2024 23