 Daniel Stephens eventually became a Director, and then the Chairman of the company.In 1914 a cargo ship under construction was purchased by the Admiralty and converted into the Navy's first seaplane carrier .During the war the company completed nine tramps and colliers, along with ten X-lighter landing craft and six sloops for the Royal Navy; these were the "Arabis"-class minesweeper , the "Aubrietia"-class convoy escorts and , the "Anchusa"-class convoy escort and the 24-class fleet minesweepers and .