ESSO LEXINGTON LAUNCHED Thirty-Seventh Ship Built in Yard For Esso The Esso Lexington, fourth and final Gettysburg Class supertanker for Esso Shipping Company, was launched from Shipway 9 on January 28. With bunting flying, the 38,000-ton supertanker goes down the ways into the James River. Like her sister ships of the Gettysburg Class, the GETTYSBURG, WASHINGTON and JAMESTOWN, the ESSO LEXINGTON is named for an historic American place, Lexington, Mass. The 38,000-ton vessel was sent down the ways at noon with a splash of champagne, the result of a perfect swing by the Sponsor, Mrs. Myron A. Wright, coached by President W. E. Blewett, Jr. The first to congratulate the Sponsor was her husband. Mr. Wright is Producing Coordinator for the Standard Oil Company (N.J.). Their 13-year-old daughter, Judith, served as Maid of Honor. Although snow flurries threatened in the morning, the weather was ideal — clear and crisp — at launching time. Among those in the Sponsor's immediate party included her mother, Mrs. A. J. Erdman. Others included Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Burrill, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Clune, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Damp, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Faris, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Kahle, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Knebel, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Mead, Mt. and Mrs. I. S. Salnikov and Mrs. N. Y. Ruth. Principals at the ESSO LEXINGTON launching. Left to right, the Sponsor's mother, Mrs. A. J. Erdrnan, Yard President W. E Blewett, Jr., Mrs. Blewett, the Sponsor, Esso Shipping Company President M. G. Gamble, the Sponsor's husband, Myron A. Wright and the Wright's daughter, Judith, Maid of Honor. The day of the launching, January 28, is a memorable one for the Company and its relationship with Esso. On that day 44 years ago, the John D. Archibald (Hull 261), the first tanker built at Newport News for Esso, was launched. The 715-foot Lexington is the 37th vessel built for Esso in that time. The day also marked the Company's 71st anniversary, as it was founded on January 28, 1886. As the Lexington was towed to her outfitting pier, the launching party of Shipyard officials and guests moved on to a luncheon at the James River Country Club, where a display of pictures told the story of earlier ships built for Esso by the Yard. The party included sponsors of three ofthose vessels: Mrs. M. G. Gamble, who sponsored the Em Lima (Hull 481) in 1949; Mrs. A. T. Proudfit, sponsor of the Esso Bermuda (Hull 482) also in 1949, and Mrs. John W. Brice, sponsor of the Esso New York (Hull 484) in 1950. They were accompanied by their husbands. Mr. Gamble is President of the Esso Shipping Company, Mr. Proudfit a director of Standard Oil Company (N. J.) and Mr. Brice is connected with Esso's Tulsa, Oklahoma, operations. Other Esso officials and guests included George M. Parker, President of Esso Export Company, and Mrs. Parker, J. O. Larson, Secretary, Standard Oil Company, and Mrs. Larson, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Brewer of Havana, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. McDaniel and L. H. Miles, of Richmond, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Koch, Mr. and Mrs. Kelleher of Norfolk, Mrs. H. G. Burks, A. Warner Melvin, W. E. Gardner, R. W. Mountrey, J, D. Rogers and S. Wire. Others from Tulsa, Oklahoma, were Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Herrington, Mr. and Mrs. Rainey Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Lindsay, Mrs. J. L. Seger and Mrs. Clyde L. Sears. Built as Hull 528, the Lexington is scheduled to follow her sister ships of the Gettysburg Class into coastal transport service for Esso. The first of the fleet for which the class was named was launched from Shipway 8 on October 11, 1956. Others in the 318,000-barrel class are the Em Washinglon (Hull 519), delivered in the Spring of 1957, and the Esso Jamestown (Hull 527), delivered in December, 1957. Delivery of the Lexington upon completion of her outfitting at Pier 9 will conclude the Gettysburg Class contract. Five supertankers of 46,000 DWT, to be built under another contract with Esso Shipping Company, have been designated Hulls 540 to 544. Construction is scheduled to begin in 1959. Supertankers of the Gettysburg Class are termed the most powerful single screw vessels afloat. Their Newport News-built turbines, rated at 26,500 horsepower, enable them to maintain a cruising speed of over 18 knots in normal service. The next ship to be built in Shipway 9 will be Hull 552, one of the three 60,000-ton tankers for Barracuda Tanker Corporation. The keel for the first of the 810-foot Barracudas, Hull 531, was laid on October 7, 1957, in the next Shipway, Number 8. The Sponsor of the 37th ship built by Newport News for Esso, Mrs. Myron A. Wright views pictures of previous Esso ship Iounchings, displayed of The James River Country Club. The determination with which the Sponsor, Mrs. Myron A. Wright, carried out her pre-christening wish "to splash Champagne all over" is shown in this unusual splash shot of the christening of the ESSO LEXINGTON. Source : NEWPORT NEWS SHIPYARD BULLETIN, February, 1958. ( Thanks to S. Dale Hargrave )