Emergency Shipbuilders of WWI

Most recent update: July 21, 2021.

In World War I, 19 emergency shipbuilders built 137 cargo ships and 15 trawler/minesweepers. Some of these yards were purpose-built, others were repair yards that were converted to construction yards; seven were in BC, nine were in Ontario and Quebec, and three were in the Maritimes.

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O/N Name Customer Type GT Delivered Notes
British American Shipbuilding, Welland ON
British American Shipbuilding was located at the west end of West Main Street. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 143349 War Weasel The Shipping Controller freighter 2,139 May 1918 Orne 1919, Huo Fong 1947, An Hsing 1948, deleted 1956
2 War Badger The Shipping Controller freighter 2,243 Aug 1919 Ribeauville 1919, Zalla 1930, scrapped 1936
3 143939 War Raccoon The Shipping Controller freighter 1,986 Oct 1919 Shouragallus 1919, Prairial 1924, Sara 1929, Kamsa 1931, Mount Delphi 1957, wrecked off Mormugao 1958
4 141760 Canadian Otter Govt. of Canada freighter 3,097 Aug 1920 Chomedy 1929, Canadian Otter 1932, Otter 1934, Foo King 1935, Fukoku Maru 1938, bombed and sunk 1944
5 141853 Canadian Squatter Govt. of Canada freighter 3,091 Nov 1920 Boreas 1934, scrapped 1970
Cameron Genoa Mills Shipbuilders, Victoria BC
Cameron Genoa Mills Shipbuilders, Ltd., was formed by Cameron Lumber Co. and Genoa Bay Lumber Co., with a facility just to the south of the Foundation Company's yard on what is now Harbour Road. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 138367 Laurel Whalen Canada West Coast Nav freighter 1,356 Mar 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, scuttled after 1923
2 138353 Margaret Haney Canada West Coast Nav freighter 1,372 Apr 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, burned 1920
3 Esquimalt Govt of France freighter June 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, Mecktoub 1922, wrecked off Haiti 1923
4 134655 Malahat Canada S.S. Lines Ltd freighter 1,550 Aug 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, wrecked in tow off Cape Beale 1944
5 134658 Jean Steedman Canada West Coast Nav freighter 1,577 Sep 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, deleted 1927
6 Beatrice Castle/Stasia Govt of France freighter 1,566 Nov 1917 aux. 5-mast schooner, scrapped 1925
7 142350 War Yukon The Shipping Controller freighter 2,324 Jan 1918 Ryckett 1919, Ragnhild Bryde 1923, Mexico 1925, Porvenir 1926, Coronado 1927, foundered off Point Firmon 1933
8 140940 War Haida The Shipping Controller freighter 2,345 Apr 1918 Rodosto 1919, wrecked Molara Is, Sardinia 1927
9 140942 War Skeena The Shipping Controller freighter 2,342 June 1918 Nipponier 1919, foundered 1920
10 140941 War Stikine The Shipping Controller freighter 2,335 July 1918 Scampolo 1919, scrapped 1925
Canadian Allis-Chalmers, Fort Erie ON
Canadian Allis-Chalmers was a subsidiary of Canadian General Electric Company and was primarily concerned with the manufacture of electrical machinery and equipment. Their Fort Erie plant was huge and faced the water, so they built an emergency shipyard there. It's impossible to find clear identification of the site: it seems to have been where Miller's Creek Marina was until recently. See it from the air on Google here.
300 144426 War Magic The Shipping Controller freighter 2,324 Jan 1920 Citta di Palermo 1920, Iside 1921, Siren 1929, Memphis 1935, missing 1941
301 War Vixen The Shipping Controller freighter 2,165 Sep 1919 Helengallus 1920, Fructidor 1927, Ioannis Lyras 1928, Thetis 1931, Agamemnon 1932, wrecked off Cape Shableh 1933
302 141841 War Wallaby/North American The Shipping Controller freighter 2,280 Aug 1920 Shuntai Maru 1924, torpedoed and sunk 1944
303 141857 War Wombat/South American The Shipping Controller freighter 2,272 Oct 1920 Chokyu Maru 1925, Hokusen Maru 1935, Shoryu Maru 1955, scrapped 1960
Canadian Car & Foundry, Fort William ON
Canadian Car & Foundry Co. was started in the 19th century and primarily built streetcars, buses and railcars. In World War One they started an emergency yard in Fort William (now Thunder Bay) to build trawler/minesweepers for the French. The yard was at 1001 Montreal Street. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 Navarin French Navy trawler 321 Sep 1918 Hohenlinden 1925, Patco 1926, Beth Tank Ship No. 1 195, deleted 1965
2 Mantoue French Navy trawler 321 Sep 1918 Gemma 1922, sold 1949
3 St. Georges French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 Loubyrne 1925, Dorothy Duke 1937, deleted 1952
4 Leoben French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 deleted 1933
5 Palestro French Navy trawler 321 Oct 1918 Pepe Caragol 1923, Bermec 1923, deleted 1936
6 Lutzen French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 wrecked Nauset Beach, Chatham, Cape Cod 1939
7 Bautzen French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 Rowena 1923, Peary 1925, foundered 60nm NW St Pierre 1961
8 Inkerman French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 lost in Lake Superior
9 Cerisoles French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 lost in Lake Superior
10 142985 Sebastopol French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 wrecked on the Brandies, Cape St Francis 1933
11 142995 Malakoff French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 Arctica 1951, Illex 1964, foundered Bay Roberts 1974
12 142980 Seneff French Navy trawler 321 Nov 1918 Neptus 1929, Seneff 1929, wrecked near Canso 1955
13 141544 E. D. Kingsley freighter 1,029 Nov 1919 Southholm 1930, barge Bulk Carrier No. 1 1951, scrapped 1957
Foundation Company, Victoria BC
The Foundation Company's West Coast shipyard was located at Point Hope, on the western shore of Victoria's upper harbour, on a site that had been a shipyard, off and on, since 1873. Originally known as Colling and Cook's Ways, it became Clark and Turpel's Shipyard in 1888 and had several names thereafter. It was leased to the Foundation Company in 1917 and produced the 25 wooden cargo ships listed below. In 1928, the yard was sold to Captain W. E. Gardner and in 1938 it was taken over by Island Tug & Barge and Victoria Tug, which re-named it Point Hope Shipyards. It is now a repair yard called Point Hope Marine and belongs to Seaspan. You can see it from the air on Google here.
1 143089 War Songhee The Shipping Controller freighter 2,325 1917 Zenson 1920, scrapped 1924
2 138788 War Masset The Shipping Controller freighter 2,273 1918 Gallacier 1919, foundered 1920
3 140936 War Babine The Shipping Controller freighter 2,342 1918 Volupia 1919, Tullia 1920, scrapped 19'23
4 140939 War Camchin The Shipping Controller freighter 2,339 1918 President Mithouard 1919, scrapped 1924
5 140949 War Nanoose The Shipping Controller freighter 2,227 1918 Roumanier 1919, burned and scrapped 1923
Erie Govt of France freighter 2,708 1919 scrapped 1925
Trois Rivieres Govt of France freighter 2,704 1919 scrapped 1925
Hudson Govt of France freighter 2,708 1919 Calgary 1921, deleted 1933
Alberta Govt of France freighter 2,706 1919 Ismir 1926, Izmir 1929, Trabzon 1939, bombed and lost at Laurium 1941
Quebec Govt of France freighter 2,699 1919 scrapped 1923
Frontenac Govt of France freighter 2,624 1919 deleted 1927
Champlain Govt of France freighter 2,575 1919 Caribou 1920, scrapped 1926
Vancouver Govt of France freighter 2,701 1919 wrecked in tow near Paymezo, Peniche 1925
Ontario Govt of France freighter 2,624 1919 Manitoba 1921, scrapped 1926
La Salle Govt of France freighter 2,697 1919 deleted 1929
Victoria Govt of France freighter 2,701 1919 Toronto 1920, scrapped 1925
Montcalm Govt of France freighter 2,701 1919 deleted 1927
Montmagny Govt of France freighter 2,704 1919 deleted 1927
Montreal Govt of France freighter 2,699 1919 scrapped 1925
Ottawa Govt of France freighter 2,700 1919 scrapped 1922
Acadie Govt of France freighter 2,706 1919 scrapped 1925
Canada Govt of France freighter 2,687 1919 Athabaska 1922, barge 1924
Wilfrid Laurier Govt of France freighter 2,701 1919 deleted 1929
Nouvelle Ecosse Govt of France freighter 2,707 1919 deleted 1927
Winnipeg Govt of France freighter 2,624 1919 scrapped 1925
Fraser, Brace & Co., Montreal QC
Fraser, Brace & Company was an engineering and construction company formed in 1908. It started an emergency shipyard in 1917, on the south side of the Lachine Canal, at 4000 Rue St. Patrick: the yard was later used by the Canadian Power Boat Company. The main building is still there. See it from the air on Google here.
8 War Huron The Shipping Controller freighter 2,284 July 1918 Dina Accame 1920, burned Genoa 1923
9 143052 War Erie The Shipping Controller freighter 2,292 July 1918 Sicilier 1919, Bacicin Serra 1920, foundered 25nm from Gozo LH 1925
10 143362 War Ottawa The Shipping Controller freighter 2,306 July 1918 Vibilia 1920, scrapped 1924
11 War Niagara The Shipping Controller freighter 2,319 Sep 1918 Haussmann 1920, scrapped 1923
Colmar Govt of France freighter 1,149 Nov 1919 foundered off Sable Is 1919
Chateau Salins Govt of France freighter 1,137 Nov 1919 deleted 1924
Fenestrange Govt of France freighter 1,158 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Dieuze Govt of France freighter 1,128 Nov 1919 burned at Pictou NS 1925
Delme Govt of France freighter 1,141 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Forbach Govt of France freighter 1,155 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Ferrette Govt of France freighter 1,157 Nov 1919 deleted 1926
Faulquemont Govt of France freighter 1,157 Nov 1919 Cartage 1923, scrapped 1923
18 N. H. Botsford freighter 2,068 Aug 1922 Knowlton 1926, scrapped 1951
19 Frank A. Augsbury freighter 2,051 Oct 1922 Granby 1926, Parita II 1948, Valbruna 1951, Lawrencecliffe Hall 1952, Federal Explorer 1955, Ithaka 1960, wrecked 1960
20 John C. Howard freighter 2,053 May 1923 Magog 1927, torpedoed and sunk 1940
21 Edward L. Strong freighter 2,052 Dec 1922 Sherbrooke 1926, Arosa 1946, Ida O. 1951, Wellandoc 1952, scrapped 1963
Grant & Horne, East Saint John NB
Grant & Horne was a general contractor, headquartered in Saint John, which developed a shipyard on Courtenay Bay, in East Saint John. It closed in 1920, about the time that Saint John Shipbuilding, which was also on Courtenay Bay, was getting started, so it is possible, logical even, that the two companies were on the same site.
1 143173 War Fundy The Shipping Controller freighter 2,268 1918 wrecked near Grundkallen 1920
2 144296 War Moncton The Shipping Controller freighter 2,320 1919 Vacuna 1920, scrapped 1924
3 Marsh Bridge freighter 1920
Great Lakes Dredging, Fort William ON
Great Lakes Dredging Company was owned by James Whalen, who was also involved in Western Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Company, which later became Port Arthur Shipbuilding. Great Lakes Dredging later became Dominion Towing & Salvage. The yard was on Water Street, but it is not clear exactly where.
25 143117 War Sioux The Shipping Controller freighter 2,312 May 1918 Antioco Accame 1919, scrapped 1923
26 143275 War Nipigon The Shipping Controller freighter 2,290 Sep 1918 Quentin-Bauchart 1920, scrapped 1923
Lyall Shipbuilding, North Vancouver BC
William Lyall Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. was located on the splendidly named "Fell Fill", at the foot of Fell Avenue, which puts it immediately to the east of where Vancouver Shipyards is today. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 141038 War Puget The Shipping Controller freighter 2,328 Feb 1918 Paris 1919, Albert Hauet 1920, scrapped 1925
2 141036 War Cariboo The Shipping Controller freighter 2,330 Apr 1918 Cabira 1920, scrapped 1924
3 141037 War Cayuse The Shipping Controller freighter 2,346 Apr 1918 Nemi 1919, scrapped 1925
4 141127 War Atlin The Shipping Controller freighter 2,338 May 1918 Cernay 1920, scrapped 1924
5 141125 War Nicola The Shipping Controller freighter 2,331 June 1918 Ilaria 1920, scrapped 1924
6 141195 War Suquash The Shipping Controller freighter 2,334 July 1918 Capo Sile 1920, scrapped 1923
141196 Cap Palos Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,468 Oct 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, wrecked Robin Hood's Bay 1919
141300 Cap Vincent Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,471 Dec 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, burned Alexandria 1922
141220 Cap Vert Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,472 Dec 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, Maria Brizollari 1922, Antinea 1926, I.S.A. 1928, Consoli V. 1928, scrapped 1929
141210 Cap Horn Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,469 Nov 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, Pietro Brizollari 1922, burned Alexandria 1923
141191 Cap Nord Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,468 Sep 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, Elemka 1935, Andromeda 1938, Kapitan Hilgendorf 1939, Cornelia 1945, scrapped 1951
141212 Cap Finisterre Lyall Shipbuilding Co Ltd freighter 1,471 Dec 1918 aux. 5-mast schooner, engines removed 1923
Saverne Govt. of France freighter 1,176 Oct 1919 scrapped 1924
Rouffach Govt. of France freighter 1,180 Sep 1919 deleted 1936
Saar-Union Govt. of France freighter 1,186 Sep 1919 scrapped 1924
Saint Avold Govt. of France freighter 1,174 Nov 1919 scrapped 1924
Saint Amarin Govt. of France freighter 1,076 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Phalsbourg Govt. of France freighter 1,082 July 1919 scrapped 1924
Ribeauville Govt. of France freighter 1,179 Aug 1919 Gros Tenquin 1921, scrapped 1924
Richecourt Govt. of France freighter 1,182 Aug 1919 scrapped 1923
New Westminster Shipbuilding, New Westminster BC
New Westminster Shipbuilding & Engineering was on Poplar Island, opposite Mercer's Shipyard and Dawes' Shipyard. See the site from the air on Google here: there are only trees on Poplar Island today.
1 140979 War Comox The Shipping Controller freighter 2,337 Apr 1918 Giuditta 1920, scrapped 1925
2 140987 War Edenshaw The Shipping Controller freighter 2,336 June 1918 burned 94nm E St Elmo Light 1919
3 141172 War Kitimat The Shipping Controller freighter 2,336 Aug 1918 Serbier 1919, foundered 1920
4 141174 War Ewen The Shipping Controller freighter 2,344 Sep 1918 Etienne Marcel 1920, scrapped 1924
Sierck Govt of France freighter 1,210 July 1919 scrapped 1924
Soultz Govt of France freighter 1,187 July 1919 scrapped 1923
Strasbourg Govt of France freighter 1,178 Aug 1919 Vic 1921, scrapped 1923
Wasselonne Govt of France freighter 1,172 Sep 1919 scrapped 1924
Thionville Govt of France freighter 1,171 Sep 1919 scrapped 1924
Northern Construction, Vancouver BC. See Western Canada Shipyards
Nova Scotia Steel & Coal, New Glasgow NS
The Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company was a major mining and foundry business which started an emergency yard for the war effort, located in Trenton, just south of the locks where the Trenton Connector crosses the East River. See it from the air on Google here.
1
2 War Wasp Wasis SS Co/Shipping Controller freighter 1,422 Nov 1917 Capitaine Coulon 1919, scrapped 1936
3 142631 War Bee Wasis SS Co/Shipping Controller freighter 1,730 July 1918 Mecanicien Moutte 1920, Cesena 1943, Mecanicien Moutte 1945, Lamone 1949, Paoletto 1960, scrapped 1963
4 138653 Watuka Wasis SS Co freighter 1,621 Dec 1918 torpedoed and lost off Dartmouth NS 22-Mar-44
5 141581 Canadian Sealer Govt. of Canada freighter 1,766 Dec 1919 Bauta 1924, scrapped 1962
6 141598 Canadian Miner Govt. of Canada freighter 1,766 May 1920 Thyra 1924, in collision and lost 1941
7 Volunda freighter 1,789 Sep 1920 wrecked Neils Harbour Ledges 1921
8 141859 Canadian Sapper Govt. of Canada freighter 1,763 Dec 1920 Connector 1929, Hwang Hai 1946, La Carmela 1950, last seen in China 1958
9 Sea King Baron Bliss yacht
Pacific Construction, Coquitlam BC
Pacific Construction took over Coquitlam Shipbuilding's yard and expanded its capabilities. It is not clear exactly where this shipyard was located.
5 140981 War Tyee The Shipping Controller freighter 2,302 Apr 1918 Cadmea 1920, scrapped 1924
6 140982 War Sumas The Shipping Controller freighter 2,305 July 1918 Casperia 1920, scrapped 1924
Quinlan & Robertson, Montreal QC
Quinlan & Robertson were general contractors and bridge builders who started an emergency yard on the north side of the St. Charles river, at the foot of First Street, near the Samson bridge. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 143191 War Mohawk The Shipping Controller freighter 2,266 May 1918 Idra 1919, scrapped 1923
2 143319 War Seneca The Shipping Controller freighter 2,284 June 1918 Asiago 1920, scrapped 1924
3 143143 War Gaspe The Shipping Controller freighter 2,269 July 1918 Issoria 1919, Giulio 1922, burned Venice 1922
4 143387 War Matane The Shipping Controller freighter 2,259 Sep 1918 Itonia 1920, scrapped 1924
Southern Salvage, Liverpool NS (formerly Barrington Salvage)
Southern Salvage was an existing shipyard, previously operated by Barrington Salvage.
Deliverance Southern Salvage salvage Vessel 280 1914 to RCN as a minesweeper, in collision and sank in Halifax Harbour 1917
143288 War Halifax The Shipping Controller freighter 2,335 1918 burned off Cardiff 1919 and hulked
Three Rivers Shipyard Co., Three Rivers QC (later National Shipbuilding Company)
Three Rivers Shipyard Company was established in 1917 but failed in 1919 and was taken over by New York investors and renamed National Shipbuilding Company. This company, which also had a yard in Violet, Louisiana, failed in early 1922 and was taken over by Fraser, Brace & Co. The yard was located on Rue Notre-Dame.
Built by Three Rivers Shipyard Company
1 War Mingan The Shipping Controller freighter 2,217 Oct 1918 Candiope 1919, scrapped 1924
2 War Radnor The Shipping Controller freighter 2,318 Nov 1918 Adele Accame 1920, scrapped 1923
Bouxwiller Govt of France freighter 1,138 1919 barge Andron L 1922., scrapped 1935
Bouzonville Govt of France freighter 1,135 1919 barge Bernon L. 1922, scrapped 1936
cattenon Govt of France freighter 1,131 1919 barge Laureon L. 1922, wrecked near Morrisburg 1926
Brumath Govt of France freighter 1,141 1919 burned Port Daniel QC 1922
Built by National Shipbuilding Company
Altkirch Govt of France freighter 1,143 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Bischwiller Govt of France freighter 1,139 Nov 1919 scrapped 1923
Bitche Govt of France freighter 1,139 Nov 1919 burned off Cape Tinoso 1920
Boulay Govt of France freighter 1,134 Nov 1919 Angeliki 1924, deleted 1931
Barr Govt of France freighter 1,143 Nov 1919 scrapped 1924
Cernay Govt of France freighter 1,083 1919 La Poutroye 1921, barge Fredon L. 1922, deleted 1936
15 Capitaine Damiani tanker 4,818 Nov 1921 torpedoed and scuttled Marseilles 1944
Tidewater Shipbuilding, Three Rivers QC
Tidewater Shipbuilding Company was a subsidiary of Canada Steamship Lines. The yard was located at the Cap-de-la-Madeleine end of the Pont Duplessis: you can see the site from the air on Google here but there's no sign of a shipyard there today.
1 TR-58 Royal Navy trawler 274 Nov 1918 wrecked Barra Sound 1920
2 TR-59 Royal Navy trawler 274 Nov 1918 Gironde I 1920, captured 1940, designated FB-07, then V-1517, then M-3854, surrendered 1945, re-sold
3 TR-60 Royal Navy trawler 274 Nov 1918 David Haigh 1919
4 140953 T. P. Phelan Canada S.S. Lines freighter 1,320 Aug 1918 Howard S. Gerken 1925, foundered off Erie PA 1926
5 141488 Canadian Settler Govt. of Canada freighter 3,388 Dec 1919 Portmore 1923, Canadian Settler 1925, Yendai Maru 1927, wrecked 1942
6 141489 Canadian Rancher Govt. of Canada freighter 3,551 May 1920 Santurce 1930, Widestone 1937, torpedoed and sunk 1942
7 150346 Canadian Fisher Govt. of Canada freighter 3,687 Jan 1921 Manu 1929, Marion 1937, Manu 1938, scrapped 1976
8 150347 Canadian Forester Govt. of Canada freighter 3,673 Feb 1921 Josina 1929, Parayas 1973, scrapped 1980
Toronto Dry Dock, Toronto ON
Toronto Dry Dock Company was a repair yard on the Keating Channel, in operation from 1917 through 1964. It was located on Villiers Street. See the site from the air on Google here.
1 143035 War Ontario The Shipping Controller freighter 2,293 June 1918 Trasimeno 1919, scrapped 1925
2 143388 War Toronto The Shipping Controller freighter 2,328 Oct 1918 wrecked off Agger, W Jutland 1919
Helsea tugboat 1927
Atacas tugboat 1928
Ned Hanlon City of Toronto tugboat 1932
J. G. Langton recreational 15 1934 later Arctic Blue
6 Sam McBride City of Toronto ferry 412 1939
7 T. D. D. No. 7 Toronto Dry Dock barge 65 1941
8 Thomas Rennie City of Toronto ferry 424 1951
9 T. D. D. No. 9 Toronto Dry Dock tugboat 10 1954 later The Barney Drake
10 T. D. D. No. 10 Toronto Dry Dock barge suspended 2008
Big Chief III tugboat 12 1958 later Patricia D I
Alison Lake Norman F. Rogers recreational 189
Western Canada Shipyards, Vancouver BC
Western Canada Shipyards was a subsidiary of Northern Construction, best known for building railroads. It was located on False Creek, at the southern end of Carrall Street. See the site from the air on Google here.
143053 War Nootka The Shipping Controller freighter 2,332 Jan 1918 Monfenera 1920, scrapped 1924
141028 War Selkirk The Shipping Controller freighter 2,318 Mar 1918 Georges Clemenceau 1919, scrapped 1925
141113 War Tatler The Shipping Controller freighter 2,334 May 1918 Le Poilu 1919, scrapped 1925
141118 War Casco The Shipping Controller freighter 2,319 July 1918 burned 1920
141205 War Chilkat The Shipping Controller freighter 2,331 Aug 1918 Charles Fillion 1920, scrapped 1924
141208 War Tanoo The Shipping Controller freighter 2,326 Aug 1918 Bailly 1920, scrapped 1923
Sarralbe Govt of France freighter 1,076 July 1919 hulked 1922, sank Santander 1935
Sarreguemines Govt of France freighter 1,076 Aug 1919 scrapped 1924
Schirmeck Govt of France freighter 1,167 Sep 1919 scrapped 1928
Sarrebourg Govt of France freighter 1,156 Sep 1919 Benfeld 1921, scrapped 1924
Schlestadt Govt of France freighter 1,076 Oct 1919 burned River Elorn 1922

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net