“ESSO COLUMBIA (1)” LAUNCHED Mrs. Holman, Sponsor On Wednesday morning, September 18, at 10 :30 A. M., the ESSO COLUMBIA, our Hull No. 372, was launched from Shipway No. 6. She was the last of three oil tankers to go overboard which we contracted to build for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. The ESSO RICHMOND and the ESSO RALEIGH are already in service. The vessel was christened by Mrs. Eugene Holman, wife of one of the directors of the Standard Oil Company. Her young daughter, Catherine, was the Maid of Honor. The upper, righthand picture, below shows, the launching group, which includes Captain B. B. Howard, head of the Marine Department of the Owners. In conformity with the present policy the launching was not open to the public. THE SPONSOR DOES A GOOD JOB At the luncheon held at the James River Country Club afterward the Sponsor received a wrist watch from our Company and also a ship’s clock from the Standard Oil Company. In her response Mrs. Holman remarked that she had not only launched the ESSO COLUMBIA but had also apparently given Roger Williams a champagne shower bath. It was presumed, however, that the two gifts were only for the main event. After the luncheon, the party, which included the son of Mr. and Mrs. Holman, visited the Mariners’ Museum and Williamsburg. The Standard Oil Company will have 12 such vessels when their building program is completed. Each will have a length of 553 feet; beam of 75 feet, displacement of 25,000 tons, and a contract speed of 18 knots. ESSO COLIIMBIA ON HER WAY ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT : EUGENE HOLMAN, ROGER WILLIAMS, MRS. HOLMAN, MISS CATHERINE HOLMAN, AND CAPTAIN B. B. HOWARD PICTURE ABOVE SHOWS TUGS MOVING TANKER T0 OUTFITTING PIER IMMEDIATELY AFTER LAUNCHING