The vessel North Bend is notable as it was the first steamship completed for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), taking 120 days to complete. News of the completion made its way to the East Coast, and soon thereafter, the competitiveness of the coastal communities took hold. Efforts to produce vessels faster and make record times helped to build pride in the mission. The Emergency Fleet Corporation contracted building efforts on the East Coast, West Coast, and the Great Lakes, all in an effort to quickly build a massive cargo fleet aimed at helping the war effort.