This steam ship was built in the shipyard American International Ship Building Corp. Hog Island, Philadelphia, USA under the hull number 1515 for EFC, United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, Philadelphia. The EFC was a Government organisation to provide shipping tonnage for the supply of the United States during times of crisis. First intended name was COMISKEY. On 23.12.1919 the vessel was launched and baptised AMERICAN PRESS by Miss Elizabeth Stone, granddaughter of Melville Stone, manager of Associated Press. The freighter probably belonged to the first class of vessels, constructed in series, a so-called "Hog Island Type A", of which about 110 units were built. On 01.03.1920 put into service under the American flag, home port Philadelphia (call sign: KUDN, BRT: 5'620, NRT: 3'452).
In 1931 Lykes Lines, New Orleans took over the management and in 1936 the steamer became also their property and the home port changed to New Orleans.
In 1947 purchased by Compagnia Genovese di Navigazione a Vapore SA, Genoa, apparently a company controlled by Fratelli Cosulich, Trieste, Italy. The vessel received a new name CAPO ARMA and was registered in Genoa under the Italian flag (BRT: 4'992, NRT: 3'034). Call sign: IBKT.
On 27.10.1951 the Lepontia Società di Navigazione Marittima, Chur, Switzerland purchased the steam freighter and registered her under the name LEPONTIA I under the Swiss flag (official no. 038, call sign: HBDZ). The management was allocated to G.E.N. Gestione Esercizio Navigazione, Chiasso, Switzerland, a subsidiary company of G.E.N. in Genua. Although all Swiss vessels in the early days were steamers, the S/S LEPONTIA I remained the only steam turbine ship under Swiss flag, all others were equipped with steam reciprocating engines.
On 05.02.1955 sold to Greek interests, who registered the ship in the name of the owner company Stenies Naviera Compania S.A. Panama as DEMETRIOS under the flag of Costa Rica, home port Puerto Limon (call sign: TIBY).
In 1957 sold again to Nolido Compania de Navegación S.A., Puerto Limon and renamed ANNA MARIA.
On 21.11.1957, while in the port of Naples, Italy an explosion occurred in the engine room, causing considerable damage. We do not know, if the steamer was repaired after this incident and put into service again or if she remained laid-up in Naples and subsequently was sold for scrap to G. Ricardi in Savona. On 20.06.1959 she arrived in Savona for demolition.
SwissShips, MB, HPS, July 2015