Benson Bros. Shipbuilding, Vancouver BC
Most recent update: February 5, 2015.
This famous shipyard was started in False Creek in 1919, by Charlie Benson, who had come to Vancouver from Australia in 1907. Charlie's sons, A. C. and R. H. Benson, took over in 1923 but in 1925, A. C. took control and it became the A. C. Benson Shipyard. In 1938 he moved it to a much larger facility in Coal Harbour, the former Menchions Shipyard: this was at 1705 West Georgia Street, roughly where the Bayview Drive condos are now - see it from the air on Google here. In 1942 they became Benson Bros. Shipbuilding again. In 1974, they bought the former Star Shipyard, in New Westminster, and consolidated there in 1979, after the Coal Harbour yard was acquired for redevelopment, but only lasted another five years, closing in 1984. If anyone can add any data to the table below, please send it to me at timcolton@aol.com
O.N. Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type GT Built Disposition Built in the False Creek Shipyard 154975 Grey Swan 1928 Suspended 156629 Rotona 1930 Suspended 156901 C.F. Co. 55 1930 Suspended 157231 Green Point 1932 Suspended 158283 G.P.L. No. 1 1932 Suspended 158293 Lucky VII 1933 Closed 158302 Tipella 1933 Suspended 158566 Dean C. 1934 Suspended 158927 Joe Drinkwater III 1936 Closed 822669 Olympic Rainbow Passenger 5 1936 Active 170395 Kwatna Tug 26 1937 Active 170419 Monique Marie No. 1 1937 Closed 170434 Maranatha II Tug 35 1937 Now Why-Ack Brave 170780 Tuya 1937 Closed Built in the Coal Harbour Shipyard San Thomas Jimmy Detwellar Fish Packer 1938 Sea Foam No. 1 Harbour Towing Tug 1938 170939 Sea Foam V 1938 Closed Passing Cloud Johnson Bros. Seiner 1939 Tyee No. 1 Great West Towing Tug 1939 Coast Guard Survey Vessel 1939 171780 Qualicum 1939 Suspended 171784 Q. B. No. 1 George O'Brian Tug 1939 172322 Surf Point 1940 Suspended 172323 Pursuit II 1940 Closed Combat Nels Nielsen Fishing 1940 Herring Point Canadian Fish Fishing 1940 Lake Queen Water Taxi 1940 Reef Point Canadian Fish Fishing 1940 Sea Spray Barney Beldickson Tug 1940 M-11 R.C.A.F. Torpedo Retriever 1941 M-12 R.C.A.F. Torpedo Retriever 1941 Q 68 R.C.N. Sub Chaser 1941 Q 69 R.C.N. Sub Chaser 1941 R.C.A.F. Crash Boat 1941 R.C.A.F. Crash Boat 1941 R.C.A.F. Crash Boat 1941 R.C.A.F. Crash Boat 1941 R.C.A.F. Refueling Barge 1942 R.C.A.F. Refueling Barge 1942 R.C.A.F. Refueling Barge 1942 173923 Redonda Bay 1942 Closed 176879 Earl Roy Fishing 14 1942 Now Dementia 177614 Allyssa Bay Passenger 47 1942 Now High Seas Drifter Aleutian Queen Fishing 1942 River Ace Tug 1942 509495 Gannet Recreational 58 1942 Sold to US owners, active R.C.N. Landing Barges 1943 Quantity unknown 176230 Miss Linda 1943 Suspended 176281 Hughie Mac 1943 Suspended 177372 Forest Surveyor Recreational 54 1944 Sold to US owners (US ON 1090372), active Kalamalka (J 395) R.C.N. Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1947 as Kalamalka, sank 1968 Lavallee (J 371) R.C.N. Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1947 as Lavallee, burnt 1967 177409 Pitt Lake Express Pitt Lake Water Taxi 1945 179604 Taku Princess 1945 Closed Arrogant Gordon Gibbon Fishing 1945 Lost 1945 Pacific Sunrise Nookta Packing Fishing 115 1945 Rosalie III Norman Ryall Fishing 1945 Unimak Johnson Bros. Seiner 1945 177985 Pacific Rover Fishing 77 1946 Now Iron Wind, a floating B & B in Richmond BC 178065 River Chief 1946 Closed 193763 Shy Ann Fishing 12 1946 Active Clayhurt Dept. of Highways Tug 1946 Red Fir 1 River Towing Tug 1946 Red Fir 2 River Towing Tug 1946 Red Fir 3 River Towing Tug 1946 179058 Safari II 1947 Closed 179094 Chelsea Lake 1947 Closed BC Rover Helge Skarpness Fishing 1947 Great Northern III Francis Millard Fishing 1947 Venetta Prince Adolph Prince Fishing 1947 179592 Gracie L. II 1948 Suspended 189281 Quadra Isle 1948 Closed 190293 Silver Harvester 1948 Suspended 190599 Comalong 1948 Closed 190795 Strady V Strady Bros. Tug 15 1948 190821 Deep Sea Fishing 19 1948 311219 Kaymar Recreational 21 1948 Now Nesika II Grace Jack Lippon Fishing 1948 River Dee No. 1 Tug 1948 Sport No. 2 Julius Sorensen Fishing 1948 Western Price Harold Fem Fishing 1948 192036 Symphony II 1949 Suspended 192043 Miss Helen Nick Juring Fishing 63 1949 192484 Gremlin II 1950 Closed 192882 Waldero Walter Carr Fishing 1950 Mount Cheam Water Taxi 1950 194231 Belina Louis Benedet Fishing 138 1951 Allegra Recreational 40 1951 195241 Reliant Vancouver Tug Tug 57 1952 Active 195259 Albatross II 1952 Closed Alaska Queen Lar Solaway Fishing 1952 River Dee No. 2 Tug 1952 197407 Cul-De-Sac Recreational 29 1954 Now Seven Fathoms 198912 Estric Johnny Gron Fishing 27 1955 198972 Tugger Yorke F. M. Yorke Tug 14 1955 Later Curtis K, later Merry Sea II, now Tugger G 188330 Silver Viking Melvin Muir Fishing 1956 Later A.P. Knight, Arrow Post, 1991-03, I. F. Mariner, now Ocean Viking (US-flag) 188647 Vigorous II Tug 38 1956 Active Paul Jack Bill Vivian Recreational 1956 189291 Renown Jack Parker Fishing 104 1957 Active 189952 Black Tusk Tug 8 1957 Active Gail Bernice Hank McBride Fishing 1957 Howe Sound IV Fishing 1957 819426 Sidney R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 30 1958 Sold Brennines III Bob Osborne Recreational 1959 Brennines IV Bob Osborne Recreational 33 1959 Kaymar Joe Perro Recreational 1959 Papoose Recreational 1959 311215 Tug-O-War 1960 Closed 312844 Pacific Harvester Fishing 146 1960 313719 Breezin Thru Jack McDonald Recreational 33 1960 Later Sequoia Park, now Breezin Thru 313722 Anita G. 1960 Closed 14th of March Fishing 1960 Dominator Bill Logan Fishing 1960 952311 Recreational 25 1960 Active 313729 Dorlen Len Swell Recreational 33 1961 Now Escalante 314010 Lady Diane ? Elworthy Recreational 33 1961 Suspended 2008 Nordic Dick Alexander Recreational 1961 314887 Wee Fir 1962 Closed 314935 Full Circle 1962 Suspended 2008 319374 Points North 1962 Suspended 2008 320183 Hutow Queen Tug 15 1963 Now Jervis Queen 320191 Milbanke Sound Pattison Ent. Fishing 181 1963 Active 320211 Moya Rosa Recreational 20 1963 Later Halmia, now Pacific Hustler 320258 Chieftain III Pacific Cachalot Tug 65 1963 Active Scotch Fir Tug 1963 322343 Dauntless II Pacific Towing Tug 66 1963 Active 322411 Western King Roberts Fishing Fishing 178 1964 Active 323225 Canadian No. 1 Radil Bros. Fishing Fishing 190 1964 Active 320898 Silver Dolphin Percy Pierce Fishing 190 1965 Now Frederick K 326478 F.D.J.V. No. 4 Foundation Dravo Tug 27 1965 Now Forest Engineer F.D.J.V. No. 5 Foundation Dravo Tug 27 1965 326511 Arctic Walrus Crane Barge 35 1965 Later C. F. W. Vagg, now Northwest Rogue 325595 Actress Pass 1965 Closed Provider Brajcich Bros. Fishing 1965 Sold to Trinidad owners Quaddy Bay Ivan Matthews Fishing 1965 326520 Kaien Yarder 1966 Suspended 2007 327265 Eastern King Roberts Fishing Fishing 6 1966 Active 327223 Sharlene K. Seamaid Fishing Fishing 147 1967 Active 327905 Lady Noreen Guptil & Sons Fishing 223 1967 Active 329396 W.W. XII Tug 2 1968 Closed 329447 Sky VIII Tug 2 1968 Closed 329461 Tahsis No. 32 Scaler Boat 1967 Suspended 2008 345140 Tahsis No. 33 Scaler Boat 1967 330436 Tahsis No. 34 Scaler Boat 1967 Suspended 2008 Martin G. Martin Scotty Martin Fishing 1967 328939 Canada 100 KCR Fisheries Fishing 219 1968 Active 329469 W.W. XIII Tug 2 1968 Closed 329470 W.W. XIV Tug 2 1968 Closed 329483 Goodson XIV Tug 2 1968 Closed 329501 Sandy Ann Sandy Ann Fishing Fishing 72 1968 Active 329515 Sandy L. XII Tug 2 1968 Closed 330327 M.K. Tug 2 1968 Active 330328 M.K. II Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330329 M.K. III Tug 2 1968 Registered 330330 M.K. IV Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330331 M.K. V Tug 2 1968 Registered 330332 M.K. VI Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330333 M.K. VII Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330334 M.K. VIII Tug 2 1968 Registered 330335 M.K. IX Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330336 M.K. X Tug 2 1968 Deleted 330357 M.K. XI Tug 2 1968 Registered 330381 Sky VIII Tug 2 1968 Suspended 2008 330382 LA XIV Tug 2 1968 Active 330383 Ogden Prince Tug 2 1968 Suspended 2008 330402 M.D. III Tug 2 1968 Suspended 2003 330429 M.D. IV Tug 2 1968 Closed 330435 SD II Tug 2 1968 Suspended 2008 330446 Quatam Tug 2 1968 Closed Atlantic Gardner Atlantic Sugar Power Skiff 2 1968 Atlantic Ginnis Atlantic Sugar Power Skiff 2 1968 1081736 Harry Gamlen Recreational 87 1968 Now Tango 330447 B. 211 Weyerhaeuser Co. Tug 2 1969 Active 330467 Southgate Tug 2 1969 Suspended 2008 330780 Seymour Charger Victoria Plywood Tug 2 1969 Active 330784 Sandy L. XIV Tug 2 1969 Closed 330785 N.W.D. 3 Tug 2 1969 Suspended 2008 330790 B. 215 Weyerhaeuser Co. Tug 2 1969 Closed 330828 Sandy L. XV Tug 2 1969 Closed 330838 Wolco V Tug 2 1969 Closed 330848 B. 217 Weyerhaeuser Co. Tug 2 1969 Suspended 2007 330877 Tahsis No. 37 Tug 2 1969 Suspended 2008 331172 B. 216 Weyerhaeuser Co. Tug 2 1969 Suspended 2002 331173 B. 219 Weyerhaeuser Co. Tug 2 1969 Active 331194 Peace Boomer No. 1 Tug 2 1969 Closed 331211 Vic Ply Tug 2 1969 Closed 331233 T. 735 Tug 2 1969 Closed 331235 M.K. XXI Tug 2 1969 Active 331236 MD 51 Tug 2 1969 Closed 331240 Dallas Prince S. & R. Sawmills Tug 2 1969 Active 331248 M.K. XXII Tug 2 1969 Active 331252 SD 76 Tug 2 1969 Active 331301 Mayo No. 2 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2008 331821 1992-06 Suspended 2008 331825 Winder 4152 Closed 331836 Jose Narvaez Tug 150 1969 Active 331855 SD 88 Tug 2 1969 Active 331856 SD 82 Tug 2 1969 Active 331857 SD 78 Tug 2 1969 Active 331871 W.W. XVI Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2003 331877 MD 89 Tug 2 1970 Closed 331899 SD 83 Tug 2 1970 Active 331909 MD 81 Tug 2 1970 Closed 331920 SD 92 Tug 2 1970 Active 331941 SD 93 Tug 2 1970 Active 331942 MD 101 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2003 331958 MD 98 Tug 2 1970 Closed 344563 Celkraft VII Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2008 344564 MD 105 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2008 344621 SD 103 Tug 2 1970 Active 344703 SD 104 Tug 2 1970 Active 344704 SD 106 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2003 344705 SD 107 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2003 344706 SD 108 Tug 2 1970 Active 344714 Island Champion Island Tug & Barge Tug 150 1970 Now Seaspan Champion 344718 MD 113 Tug 2 1970 Active 345090 Crown Forest 72-44 Tug 2 1972 Suspended 345091 MD 114 Tug 2 1970 Closed 345186 MD 117 Tug 2 1970 Suspended 2008 345221 Nelbro 101 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1970 Closed 345222 Nelbro 102 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1970 Closed 345223 Nelbro 103 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1970 Active 345224 Nelbro 104 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1970 Active 345225 Nelbro 105 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1970 Active 31 345522 Arctic Harvester Karliner Fisheries Fishing 339 1972 Sold to Venezuelan owners 345692 Crown Forest 72-40 Tug 2 1972 Closed 346304 Nelbro 108 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1971 Active 346305 Nelbro 107 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1971 Active 346306 Nelbro 106 Pattison Ent. Fishing 4 1971 Active Abashag Lee Donavent Recreational 1971 346330 MD 122 Tug 2 1971 Suspended 2007 346349 Nalos Dozer Tug 2 1971 Closed 534676 Swan Recreational 73 1971 Active 346644 Crown Forest 72-41 Tug 2 1972 Active 346645 Crown Forest 72-42 Tug 2 1972 Later CZ-72-42 815279 First Light II Recreational 28 1972 Active Southward Ho Longline Fishing Fishing 339 1972 Sold to Philippines owners 347892 Storm Queen Egmont Towing Tug 93 1973 Later Island Brave, now North Arm Victor 347992 F. & F. XVIII Tug 2 1973 Active 348010 F. & F. XIX Tug 2 1973 Now Sanjay Prince 348380 W.C. 1973 Closed 348394 W.W. XXXI Tug 2 1973 Active 348420 Nelbro 158 Pattison Ent. Fishing 1974 Closed 348511 Caledonian Ingram Fishing Fishing 260 1974 Sank 2015 369103 Nemesis Vigo Mark Fishing 237 1974 Active 370331 Stormforce Egmont Towing Tug 136 1974 Active 393375 Nelbro 139 Pattison Ent. Fishing 1974 Suspended 2008 369689 Swiftsure II Canadian F.P. Tug 192 1975 Now Pacific Ranger II Built in the New Westminster Shipyard Jandix Dept. of Enviro. Research 1976 40 384000 Neekis Medanic Fisheries Fishing 131 1978 Active 41 800025 Simstar Hank McBride Fishing 246 1981 Later Gail Bernice, now Viking Storm 803655 Castlefinn II Recreational 46 1983 Later Magdalene 817596 Adriane's Rainbow Closed Small Boats C02107BC Suspended C10311BC Workboat 5 Active C11501BC Fishing 7 Active C15243BC Suspended C19668BC Workboat 2 Active