AmShip Superior, Superior Shipbuilding, American Steel Barge

AmShip Superior, Superior Shipbuilding, American Steel Barge – 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. See the yard from the air on Google here. Comments or queries, please email info@navalmarinearchive.com.

Most recent update: 24 October 2021.

Hull#	O.N.	Original Name	Original Owner	Vessel Type	GT	Ft.	Delivered	Disposition
Built by American Steel Barge in Duluth
101	53249	101	A. McDougall & Co.	Whaleback Barge	428	178	Jun-88	Sank 1908
102	53255	102/Sir Joseph Wentworth	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Barge	1,192	253	Jul-89	Later Bath, sank 1905
103	53256	103/John Scott Russell	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Barge	1,192	253	Oct-89	Later Berkshire, sank 1905
104	53257	104	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Barge	1,295	276	Apr-90	Sank 1898
105	53258	105/Baroness	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Barge	1,295	276	May-90	Sank 1910
106	126642	Colgate Hoyt	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,252	265	Jul-90	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-90	Sank 1913
108	76933	Joseph L. Colby	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,245	265	May-91	Later Bay State 1906, scrapped 1933
109	53265	109/Baravia	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,227	265	May-91	Sank 1914
110	53266	110/Badger	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,227	265	May-91	Burned 1932
111	53267	111/Ivie	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,227	265	May-91	Sank 1916
112	126475	Charles W. Wetmore	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,399	265	Jun-91	Wrecked 1892
113	136205	E. B. Bartlett	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,399	265	Aug-91	Later Bay Port 1905, wrecked 1916
114	106834	A. D. Thompson	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,399	265	Aug-91	Later Bay View 1905, scrapped 1936
1	116493	S. O. Co. No. 55	Standard Oil Co.	Tank Barge	323	125	Aug-91
115	53268	115	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Barge	1,169	256	Aug-91	Sank 1899
116	53269	116/Britannia	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,169	256	Sep-91	Scrapped 1946
117	53271	117/Providence	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Nov-91	To Trinidad 1932 as Supplier
118	53272	118/Boston	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Apr-91	Scrapped 1946
119	145616	Thomas Wilson	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,713	308	May-92	Sank in collision 1902
120	116484	Samuel Mather	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,713	308	Jun-92	Later Clifton 1923, foundered 1924
121	77019	James B. Colgate	Standard Transit	Whaleback Steamer	1,713	308	Oct-92	Foundered 1916
122	57932	Sagamore	Huron Barge Co.	Whaleback Barge	1,601	308	Aug-92	Sank 1901
123	150598	Pathfinder	Huron Barge Co.	Whaleback Steamer	2,424	340	Sep-92	Later Progress 1921, scrapped 1934
124	81373	Washburn	Soo Line Railway Co.	Whaleback Steamer	2,234	340	Aug-92	Later James B. Neilson 1896, J. T. Reid 1927, scrapped 1936
203	100535	Islay	American Steel Barge	Yacht-Tug	19	60	Jul-92	Later Bayfield 1947, Islay 1983, now abandoned in Manitowoc WI
125	150587	Pillsbury	Soo Line Railway Co.	Whaleback Steamer	2,234	340	Aug-92	Later Henry Cort 1896, sank in collision 1934
126	53273	126/Baden	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,128	264	May-92	Abandoned 1905
127	53274	127/Jennie	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,128	264	Nov-92	Later Dallas, scrapped 1936
128	126952	Christopher Columbus	Goodrich Transit	Passenger Steamer	1,511	362	May-93	Scrapped 1936
129	53276	129	Pittsburgh Steamship	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	May-93	Sank in collision 1902
130	53277	130/Lynn	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	May-93	Scrapped 1924
131	53278	131/Salem	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Jul-93	Scrapped 1946
132	53279	132/Portsmouth	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Jun-93	Sank 1927
133	53280	133/Searsport	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Jun-93	Sank 1911
134	53281	134/Bangor	Great Lakes Eng. Works	Whaleback Barge	1,310	261	Jun-93	Abandoned 1912
135	77173	John B. Trevor	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	1,713	308	May-95	Later Atikokan 1912, scrapped 1925
2	116666	S. O. Co. No. 75	Standard Oil Co.	Tank Barge	793	175	Jun-95
3	116667	S. O. Co. No. 76	Standard Oil Co.	Tank Barge	793	175	Jul-95
136	121015	Frank Rockefeller	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	2,759	366	Jun-96	Later South Park 1927, Meteor 1943, museum in Superior 1972
137	53284	137	Upper Lakes	Whaleback Barge	2,480	345	Jun-96	Scrapped 1965
138	77226	John Ericsson	Upper Lakes	Whaleback Steamer	3,200	390	Jul-96	Scrapped 1968
139	107327	Alexander Holley	Upper Lakes	Whaleback Steamer	2,721	361	Jun-96	Scrapped 1965
140	127175	Constitution	Pringle Barge	Barge	3,231	379	Apr-97	Scrapped 1966
141	107372	Alexander McDougall	American Steel Barge	Whaleback Steamer	3,686	413	Jun-98	Scrapped 1947
142	92844	Maida	Pringle Barge	Barge	3,474	375	Apr-98	Scrapped 1968
4	116879	S. O. Co. No. 86	Standard Oil Co.	Tank Barge	1,102	209	Apr-99
143	77358	John Smeaton	Buckeye Steamship	Barge	4,726	458	Jul-99	Scrapped 1956
144	127426	Charles R. Van Hise	Upper Lakes	Whaleback Steamer	5,117	542	Jun-00	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-01	Scrapped 1926
501	111338	Randolph S. Warner	D.R.Hanna, Cleveland	Laker	3,062	332	Apr-01	Later Santa Teresa 1920, mined and lost 1921
502	127583	Christopher	Milwaukee Tug Co	Laker	4,260	410	Oct-01	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-02	Scrapped 1973
504	86610	G. J. Grammer	Seither Transit Co	Laker	3,914	418	May-02	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	Jul-02	Scrapped 1962
506	77541	James H. Hoyt	Provident S.S.Co	Laker	3,934	418	Jul-02	Later Bricoldoc 1926, scrapped 1968
507	77587	John Sharples	Great Lakes & St. L. Tptn	Laker	1,614	255	Jun-03	Later Cicoa 1916, Glenvegan 1923, Wharton 1925, Fleetwood 1934, scrapped 1947
508	96692	H. G. Dalton	Great Lakes & St. L. Tptn	Laker	1,614	255	Jun-03	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	Jun-03	Later Harry R. Jones 1916, scrapped 1961
510	157703	D. M. Clemson	Provident S.S. Co	Laker	5,531	580	Jun-03	Missing 1908
417	200374	Henry S. Sill	J.C. Gilchrist Transp. Co.	Laker	4,720	416	Oct-03	Built AmShip Cleveland, later Cetus 1913, Samuel H. Squire 1924, Cetus 1928, scrapped 1947
511	200333	Wisconsin	W.A.Hawgood	Laker	4,858	428	Nov-03	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	Jul-05	Later Westdale 1964, H. C. Heimbecker 1977, scrapped 1981
513	202876	Abraham Stearn	Commonwealth S.S.Co	Laker	6,657	535	Apr-06	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-06	Later Robert B. Wallace 1924, Peter Robertson 1957, wrecked 1969
515	203449	Edward Y. Townsend	Cambria S.S.Co	Laker	7,438	586	Sep-06	Broke in two in tow and sank 1967
516	203927	Sheldon Parks	Cuyahoga S.S.Co	Laker	6,611	540	Mar-07	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	Jun-07	Later Henry Steinbrenner 1965, scrapped 1979
518	204499	Ward Ames	Acme S.S.Co	Laker	5,750	540	Sep-07	Later C. H. McCullough Jr. 1916, scrapped 1980
519	204664	H. P. Hope	Standard S.S.Co	Laker	5,750	540	Oct-07	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-08	Scrapped 1961
521	205160	J. P. Durston	Wilkinson Tptn Co	Laker	4,791	425	May-08	Scrapped 1961
522	207471	Peter Reiss	North American S.S.Co	Laker	5,923	512	May-10	Scrapped 1973
523	208798	C. W. Cadwell	Cadwell Transit	Dredge	593	164	Jun-11	Crane barge 1979
none	211231	Robert J. Close	American Ship Building	Crane Barge	187	na	May-13
524	214499	Sir Trevor Dawson	Canada SS Line	Laker	7,215	na	Nov-16	Construction of a 400' forebody and joining to stern of William C. Moreland (ON 207851)
525	214709	Cleveland	Nieuwejaar & Hansen	Cargo Ship	2,045	251	Mar-17	To Norway, Ange Schiaffno 1923, Gungner 1927, Else-Marie 1933, bombed and lost 1942
526	France	Poitiers	Cie. Fr. des Chemins de Fer	Cargo Ship	2,045	251	Jul-17	To France, torpedoed and lost 1918
527	France	Toulouse	Cie. Fr. des Chemins de Fer	Cargo Ship	2,045	251	Jun-17	To France, later Aquila 1928, Ufa 1934, torpedoed and lost 1943
528	215642	War Chant/Lake Champlain	UK Admiralty	Cargo Ship	2,875	251	Sep-17	Later Nipponier 1920, Fruithandel 1925, Meisei Maru 1927, torpedoed and lost 1945
529	215715	War Signal/Lakeside	UK Admiralty	Cargo Ship	2,875	251	Oct-17	Later Sicilier 1920, Koffiehandel 1925, Cap Fedala 1925, Virginia 1932, wrecked 1952
530	216066	War Valour/Lake Tulare	UK Admiralty	Cargo Ship	2,875	251	Apr-18	Later Bestik 1923, Hai Hsiang 1934, bombed and lost 1941
531	216295	War Otter/Lake Capens	UK Admiralty	Cargo Ship	2,875	251	May-18	Scrapped 1957
532	216522	Lake Ledan	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Jun-18	Scrapped 1927
533	216678	Lake Lesa	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Jul-18	Scrapped 1927
534	216808	Lake Dymer	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Aug-18	Scrapped 1926
535	216981	Lake Dancey	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Oct-18	Scrapped 1927
536	217095	Lake Agomak	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Oct-18	Later Betty Weems 1924, Betty 1931, torpedoed and lost 1940
537	216866	Lake Aurice	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	3,600	251	Sep-18	Scrapped 1927
538	217235	Lake Fostoria	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Nov-18	Scrapped 1926
539	217301	Lake Fouche	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Nov-18	Scrapped 1928
540	217437	Lake Foxboro	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Apr-19	Scrapped 1926
541	217669	Lake Foxcraft	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Apr-19	Scrapped 1926
542	217820	Lake Fraichur	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Apr-19	Scrapped 1927
543	217821	Lake Fraley	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	May-19	Scrapped 1927
544	218116	Lake Farlin	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Jun-19	Scrapped 1927
545	218171	Lake Farmingdale	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Jul-19	Later Florence D 1924, bombed and lost 1942
546	218559	Lake Farragut	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Aug-19	Scrapped 1930
547	218692	Lake Farrar	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Sep-19	Later Nissho Maru 1926, hit a mine and lost 1945
548	218693	Lake Stobi	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Sep-19	Wrecked 1920
549	218694	Lake Falama	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	4,155	251	Oct-19	Later Annie Murphy 1926, Fairisle 1932, Herisle 1938, in collision and sank 1946

These shipbuilding pages are part of an ongoing project; new material and data is added regularly.

Back to Shipbuilding History main page.