 The West ships were cargo ships of similar size and design built by several shipyards on the West Coast of the United States for the United States Shipping Board ( USSB ) for emergency use during World War I. All were given names that began with the word West , like West Cheswald , the one of some 40 West ships built by the Northwest Steel of Portland , Oregon . West Cheswald ( Northwest Steel yard number 32 , USSB hull number 1421 ) was completed in September 1919 . 
