Shipbuilding History

Shipbuilding History
> U.S. Builders of Large Ships Since WWII

AmShip Superior

Superior WI

The AmShip yard in Superior WI began life as the American Steel Barge Company, an entity organized in 1888 for the construction of the unique whaleback design of freighter developed by Alexander McDougall, an immigrant from Scotland. McDougall sold it to The American Ship Building Company in 1900 and it was renamed Superior Shipbuilding, but later became known as AmShip Superior. Shipbuilding ceased after World War One but repair work continued intermittently until AmShip sold the site in 1945. Known for a while as Knudsen Bros. Shipbuilding, it became Fraser Shipyards in 1955 and continues under that name today, despite several changes in ownership.

O/N Name Customer Type GT LOA Delivered Notes
Built by American Steel Barge in Duluth
101 53249 101 A. McDougall & Co. whaleback barge 428 178 June 1888 sank 1908
102 53255 102/Sir Joseph Wentworth American Steel barge whaleback barge 1,192 253 July 1889 later Bath, sank 1905
103 53256 103/John Scott Russell American Steel barge whaleback barge 1,192 253 Oct 1889 later Berkshire, sank 1905
104 53257 104 American Steel barge whaleback barge 1,295 276 Apr 1890 sank 1898
105 53258 105/Baroness American Steel barge whaleback barge 1,295 276 May 1890 sank 1910
106 126642 Colgate Hoyt American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,252 265 July 1890 later Bay City 1907, Thurmond 1909, wrecked 1909
Built by American Steel Barge in Superior
107 53260 107/Bombay whaleback barge 1,295 276 Aug 1890 sank 1913
108 76933 Joseph L. Colby American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,245 265 May 1891 later Bay State 1906, scrapped 1933
109 53265 109/Baravia Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,227 265 May 1891 sank 1914
110 53266 110/Badger Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,227 265 May 1891 burned 1932
111 53267 111/Ivie Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,227 265 May 1891 sank 1916
112 126475 Charles W. Wetmore American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,399 265 June 1891 wrecked 1892
113 136205 E. B. Bartlett American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,399 265 Aug 1891 later Bay Port 1905, wrecked 1916
114 106834 A. D. Thompson American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,399 265 Aug 1891 later Bay View 1905, scrapped 1936
1 116493 S. O. Co. No. 55 Standard Oil Co. tank barge 323 125 Aug 1891
115 53268 115 American Steel barge whaleback barge 1,169 256 Aug 1891 sank 1899
116 53269 116/Britannia Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,169 256 Sep 1891 scrapped 1946
117 53271 117/Providence Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 Nov 1891 to Trinidad 1932 as Supplier
118 53272 118/Boston Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 Apr 1891 scrapped 1946
119 145616 Thomas Wilson American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,713 308 May 1892 sank in collision 1902
120 116484 Samuel Mather American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,713 308 June 1892 later Clifton 1923, foundered 1924
121 77019 James B. Colgate Standard Transit whaleback Steamer 1,713 308 Oct 1892 foundered 1916
122 57932 Sagamore Huron Barge Co. whaleback barge 1,601 308 Aug 1892 sank 1901
123 150598 Pathfinder Huron Barge Co. whaleback Steamer 2,424 340 Sep 1892 later Progress 1921, scrapped 1934
124 81373 Washburn Soo Line Railway Co. whaleback Steamer 2,234 340 Aug 1892 later James B. Neilson 1896, J. T. Reid 1927, scrapped 1936
203 100535 Islay American Steel barge Yacht-Tug 19 60 July 1892 later Bayfield 1947, Islay 1983, abandoned in Manitowoc WI
125 150587 Pillsbury Soo Line Railway Co. whaleback Steamer 2,234 340 Aug 1892 later Henry Cort 1896, sank in collision 1934
126 53273 126/Baden Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,128 264 May 1892 abandoned 1905
127 53274 127/Jennie Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,128 264 Nov 1892 later Dallas, scrapped 1936
128 126952 Christopher Columbus Goodrich Transit passenger steamer 1,511 362 May 1893 scrapped 1936
129 53276 129 Pittsburgh Steamship whaleback barge 1,310 261 May 1893 sank in collision 1902
130 53277 130/Lynn Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 May 1893 scrapped 1924
131 53278 131/Salem Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 July 1893 scrapped 1946
132 53279 132/Portsmouth Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 June 1893 sank 1927
133 53280 133/Searsport Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 June 1893 sank 1911
134 53281 134/Bangor Great Lakes Eng. Works whaleback barge 1,310 261 June 1893 abandoned 1912
135 77173 John B. Trevor American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 1,713 308 May 1895 later Atikokan 1912, scrapped 1925
2 116666 S. O. Co. No. 75 Standard Oil Co. tank barge 793 175 June 1895
3 116667 S. O. Co. No. 76 Standard Oil Co. tank barge 793 175 July 1895
136 121015 Frank Rockefeller American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 2,759 366 June 1896 later South Park 1927, Meteor 1943, museum in Superior 1972
137 53284 137 Upper Lakes whaleback barge 2,480 345 June 1896 scrapped 1965
138 77226 John Ericsson Upper Lakes whaleback Steamer 3,200 390 July 1896 scrapped 1968
139 107327 Alexander Holley Upper Lakes whaleback Steamer 2,721 361 June 1896 scrapped 1965
140 127175 Constitution Pringle barge barge 3,231 379 Apr 1897 scrapped 1966
141 107372 Alexander McDougall American Steel barge whaleback Steamer 3,686 413 June 1898 scrapped 1947
142 92844 Maida Pringle barge barge 3,474 375 Apr 1898 scrapped 1968
4 116879 S. O. Co. No. 86 Standard Oil Co. tank barge 1,102 209 Apr 1899
143 77358 John Smeaton Buckeye Steamship barge 4,726 458 July 1899 scrapped 1956
144 127426 Charles R. Van Hise Upper Lakes whaleback Steamer 5,117 542 June 1900 scrapped 1965
145 141697 Liberty International SS Co. barge 1,900 246 1900 later S. O. Co. of NY No. 90
146 141698 Loyalty International SS Co. barge 1,900 246 1900 later S. O. Co. of NY No. 91
Built by Superior Shipbuilding Company
500 86559 G. A. Flagg D.R.Hanna, Cleveland laker 3,062 332 Apr 1901 scrapped 1926
501 111338 Randolph S. Warner D.R.Hanna, Cleveland laker 3,062 332 Apr 1901 later Santa Teresa 1920, mined and lost 1921
502 127583 Christopher Milwaukee Tug Co laker 4,260 410 Oct 1901 later Thomas Britt 1923, J. E. Savage 1928, Robert J. Paisley 1932, scrapped 1969
503 117124 Sultana Zenith S.S.Co laker 3,914 418 Aug 1902 scrapped 1973
504 86610 G. J. Grammer Seither Transit Co laker 3,914 418 May 1902 later Adam E. Cornelius Jr. 1937, Troy H. Browning 1942, D. A. Maloney 1944, scrapped 1964
505 117158 Sonora Superior S.S.Co laker 3,914 418 July 1902 scrapped 1962
506 77541 James H. Hoyt Provident S.S.Co laker 3,934 418 July 1902 later Bricoldoc 1926, scrapped 1968
507 77587 John Sharples Great Lakes & St. L. Transportation laker 1,614 255 June 1903 later Cicoa 1916, Glenvegan 1923, Wharton 1925, Fleetwood 1934, scrapped 1947
508 96692 H. G. Dalton Great Lakes & St. L. Transportation laker 1,614 255 June 1903 later Courseulles 1916, Glendochart 1921, Chatsworth 1927, Bayleaf 1942, Mancox 1951, scrapped 1970
509 157096 D. G. Kerr Provident S.S. Co laker 5,531 580 June 1903 later Harry R. Jones 1916, scrapped 1961
510 157703 D. M. Clemson Provident S.S. Co laker 5,531 580 June 1903 missing 1908
417 200374 Henry S. Sill J.C. Gilchrist Transp. Co. laker 4,720 416 Oct 1903 built AmShip Cleveland, Cetus 1913, Samuel H. Squire 1924, Cetus 1928, scrapped 1947
511 200333 Wisconsin W.A.Hawgood laker 4,858 428 Nov 1903 later A. F. Harvey 1917, A. H. Ferbert 1927, Herman C. Strom 1942, scrapped 1947
512 202166 George W. Perkins Pittsburgh S.S.Co laker 6,406 558 July 1905 later Westdale 1964, H. C. Heimbecker 1977, scrapped 1981
513 202876 Abraham Stearn Commonwealth S.S.Co laker 6,657 535 Apr 1906 later Edward N. Saunders Jr. 1917, John C. Williams, Michael K. Tewkesbury, Outarde 1963, scrapped 1974
514 203108 E. J. Earling Franklin S.S.Co laker 6,657 535 May 1906 later Robert B. Wallace 1924, Peter Robertson 1957, wrecked 1969
515 203449 Edward Y. Townsend Cambria S.S.Co laker 7,438 586 Sep 1906 broke in two in tow and sank 1967
516 203927 Sheldon Parks Cuyahoga S.S.Co laker 6,611 540 Mar 1907 later Edward A. Uhrig 1915, David M. Weir 1931, Norman W. Foy 1955, scrapped 1964
517 204225 George F. Baker Pittsburgh S.S.Co laker 7,395 586 June 1907 later Henry Steinbrenner 1965, scrapped 1979
518 204499 Ward Ames Acme S.S.Co laker 5,750 540 Sep 1907 later C. H. McCullough Jr. 1916, scrapped 1980
519 204664 H. P. Hope Standard S.S.Co laker 5,750 540 Oct 1907 later E. A. S. Clarke 1916, Kinsman Voyager 1970, scrapped 1978
520 205088 Rufus P. Ranney Triton S.S.Co laker 4,797 425 Apr 1908 scrapped 1961
521 205160 J. P. Durston Wilkinson Tptn Co laker 4,791 425 May 1908 scrapped 1961
522 207471 Peter Reiss North American S.S.Co laker 5,923 512 May 1910 scrapped 1973
523 208798 C. W. Cadwell Cadwell Transit dredge 593 164 June 1911 Crane barge 1979
211231 Robert J. Close American Ship Building crane barge 187 May 1913
524 214499 Sir Trevor Dawson Canada SS Line laker 7,215 Nov 1916 Construction of a 400' forebody and joining to stern of William C. Moreland (ON 207851)
525 214709 Cleveland Nieuwejaar & Hansen freighter 2,045 251 Mar 1917 to Norway, Ange Schiaffno 1923, Gungner 1927, Else-Marie 1933, bombed and lost 1942
526 France Poitiers Cie. Fr. des Chemins de Fer freighter 2,045 251 July 1917 to France, torpedoed and lost 1918
527 France Toulouse Cie. Fr. des Chemins de Fer freighter 2,045 251 June 1917 to France, Aquila 1928, Ufa 1934, torpedoed and lost 1943
528 215642 War Chant/Lake Champlain UK Admiralty freighter 2,875 251 Sep 1917 later Nipponier 1920, Fruithandel 1925, Meisei Maru 1927, torpedoed and lost 1945
529 215715 War Signal/Lakeside UK Admiralty freighter 2,875 251 Oct 1917 later Sicilier 1920, Koffiehandel 1925, Cap Fedala 1925, Virginia 1932, wrecked 1952
530 216066 War Valour/Lake Tulare UK Admiralty freighter 2,875 251 Apr 1918 later Bestik 1923, Hai Hsiang 1934, bombed and lost 1941
531 216295 War Otter/Lake Capens UK Admiralty freighter 2,875 251 May 1918 scrapped 1957
532 216522 Lake Ledan USSB freighter 3,600 251 June 1918 scrapped 1927
533 216678 Lake Lesa USSB freighter 3,600 251 July 1918 scrapped 1927
534 216808 Lake Dymer USSB freighter 3,600 251 Aug 1918 scrapped 1926
535 216981 Lake Dancey USSB freighter 3,600 251 Oct 1918 scrapped 1927
536 217095 Lake Agomak USSB freighter 3,600 251 Oct 1918 later Betty Weems 1924, Betty 1931, torpedoed and lost 1940
537 216866 Lake Aurice USSB freighter 3,600 251 Sep 1918 scrapped 1927
538 217235 Lake Fostoria USSB freighter 4,155 251 Nov 1918 scrapped 1926
539 217301 Lake Fouche USSB freighter 4,155 251 Nov 1918 scrapped 1928
540 217437 Lake Foxboro USSB freighter 4,155 251 Apr 1919 scrapped 1926
541 217669 Lake Foxcraft USSB freighter 4,155 251 Apr 1919 scrapped 1926
542 217820 Lake Fraichur USSB freighter 4,155 251 Apr 1919 scrapped 1927
543 217821 Lake Fraley USSB freighter 4,155 251 May 1919 scrapped 1927
544 218116 Lake Farlin USSB freighter 4,155 251 June 1919 scrapped 1927
545 218171 Lake Farmingdale USSB freighter 4,155 251 July 1919 later Florence D 1924, bombed and lost 1942
546 218559 Lake Farragut USSB freighter 4,155 251 Aug 1919 scrapped 1930
547 218692 Lake Farrar USSB freighter 4,155 251 Sep 1919 later Nissho Maru 1926, hit a mine and lost 1945
548 218693 Lake Stobi USSB freighter 4,155 251 Sep 1919 wrecked 1920
549 218694 Lake Falama USSB freighter 4,155 251 Oct 1919 later Annie Murphy 1926, Fairisle 1932, Herisle 1938, in collision and sank 1946

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net