the "chester a. congdon" (official number 204526) was constructed in 1907 by the chicago ship building co. of south chicago illinois under the name "salt lake city" for holmes steamship company of cleveland, ohio. the ship was 552 feet long, having a 56-foot beam and 26 foot draft, with a gross tonnage of 6530 tons and a net tonnage of 4843 tons. the ship was powered by a 1,765hp triple expansion steam engine with two scotch boilers.