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"Esso Newark", launch
Source : Shipyard Bulletin, Volume XIV, May 1952.
 The Esso Newark is shown in Building Dock 10 the day before chrstening.
Esso Newark Christening
At 11:30 A.M. on April 18, 1951 the Esso Newark was launched from Shipway Number 10. The vessel, first of six being built for the Esso Shipping Company, was christened by Mrs. David A. Shepard, wife of a Director of the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey). Mrs. Shepard, to insure the job's being well done, made three crashes against the ships bow with the traditional bottle of champagne.
The Esso Newark, which is scheduled for delivery in July 1952, will bring to eleven the number of supertankers that we have built for the Esso Shipping Company. The last series of ten tankers was completed on March 22, 1950, with the launching of the Esso Santos.
The launching partry, headed by Eugene Holman, President of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, arrived at Patrick Henry airport at 10 on the morning of the christening, in three private planes. After the launching, the party was entertained at a luncheon at the James River Country Club. Highlights of the luncheon were talks by B. Woodward. Jr., President of our company, Eugene Holman, Standard Oil's President, and the sponsor, Mrs. Shepard.
As has been usual with Esso launchings the weather cooperated to the fullest. The day was warm and balmy, in marked contrast to the weather witnessed by the party earlier in the day in New York.
Included in the Sponsor's party were: Mr. Eugene Holman, Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Gamble, Mrs. Jean S. Martin, David A. Shepard, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd G. Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Garland H. B. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. William Haley, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Freyenmuth, Mr. and Mrs. Will Walter White, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Meloy, Mr. and Mrs. John Pershing, Miss
Blanche Kinnersley, Mrs. Charles Soubry, Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Lanning, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Coleman, Mrs. Emile E. Soubry, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Stewart, W. Z. Gamer, A. Warncr Melvin, and Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Andrews.
 Mrs. David A. Shepard, wife of a director the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), is shown christening the Esso Newark on Friday, April 18. On the right is the maid of honor, Mrs. K. Ann Berney Shepard, daughter of the sponsor, J. B. Woodward, Jr. is on the left.
 Mrs. Shepard proved to be the most enthusiastic sponsor ever in christen a ship in our yard. She is shawn here making one of the two additional crashes of the bottle agianst the hull of the Esso Newark.
 Shown at the launching af the Esso Newark are the fallowlng members of the launching party: Left to right are: M. G. Gamble, president of Esso Shipping Company; Eugene Holman, president Standard Oil Company (New Jersey); Mrs. Frank E. Shepard, matron of honar; Miss K. Ann Berney Shepard, maid of honor; Mrs. David A. Shapard, the sponsor; Mrs. J. B. Woodward, Jr., David A. Shepard; and J. B. Woodward, Jr., Yard president.
Data on the Esso Newark :
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