A consequence of the first World War and a shortage of steelship together with the lack of steel-making plants and shipyard on the American west coast, Leslie Comyn, a San Francisco businessman pointed out for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) that they have to build ship of concrete. He founded 1917 the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at Oakland California, convinced that a 5.000-ton concrete freighter could be operated at a profit and also convinced the USSB to order 5 reinforced concrete steamers at his new shipyard at Redwood City, California. In the end of January 1918 he started, on speculation, to build the first ship, the "FAITH". Alan MacDonald an Victor Poss designed the ship, a freighter, the first of her kind built in the United States, and, at the time, the largest concrete vessel with a sea-going capability in the world.

FAITH (s/s general cargo)
Build 1918, Launch: 18/3 1918, Delivered: 22/5 1918
3.950 dwt, 3.427 grt, 2.071 nrt.
Dim: 97,54 x 13,56 x 6,86 m.
Engine: 2 Triple expansion steam enginees, 1.700 ihp, speed 10 knots
Owners:
1918: Delivered to W. Leslie Comyn,
1919: Sold
Dec. 1921: Sold to on auction for $200,000 to A. Marx and Sons Co. The firm removed all of Faith's machinery. The hull was taken to Cuba and sunk as a breakwater.

Last update: 2003.01.22.