Thanks to all for the input, I will revise the details and also post a second similar shot which confirms some of the input. Thanks.

And there was me thinking I was looking at a boffin working on a secret weapon.
You can get a better - well almost better - view of one on the stbd side of the mast house.

Michael, makes sense, perspective=photo taken from bridge

No Victory Ship for sure.

I had to look twice but the two "things" must be cowl vents. The vents on the forecastle are covered in the same way and if you look closely at the picture under the link (https://www.benjidog.co.uk/allen/Images/ImagesS/SILVER19.jpg) you can see them there, too.
Painted white at the outside and dark (probably red) at the inside.
In the picture above you can also see the upper part of one of the vents on the starboard side just behind the canvas cover of the truck.

But I can't remember to have seen cowl vents in that position before ...

Best regards,
Michael.

1927 Silvermaple photo here https://www.benjidog.co.uk/allen/Images/ImagesS/SILVER19.jpg
The awning spars on the focsle are a match as is the stove pipe.

She isn't a Victory ship - no foremast at the break of the focsle - so not ex Colorado Springs Victory.
There was a previous Silvermaple built 1927 and sunk 1944
https://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/silver.shtml

What are those two 'things' that the chap in the sola topee is standing next to?
They look like satellite dishes or the things you see on microwave communication towers.

Are those AA guns part of the ship or cargo?