Star Shipyards (Mercer's), New Westminster BC
Most recent update: February 15, 2015.
Star Shipyards was started in 1908 by Edward Mercer, a Newfoundlander, and his wife, who cleared the lot at 61 Duncan Avenue at the east end of Lulu Island. The yard was taken over by their sons, Arthur and Gordon Mercer, in the early 1930s. The business was sold in 1971 but closed again in 1973. It was then acquired by Benson Bros., whose shipyard in Coal Harbour was to be acquired for the redevelopment of that neighbourhood, and continued as Benson Star Shipyard until closing again in 1984. The site is still a shipyard, now called Fraser Shipyard & Industrial Centre: see it from the air on Google here. If anyone can add to the table below, please send your input to me at timcolton@aol.com
O.N. Original Name Original Owner Vessel Type GT Built Disposition Built by Edward Mercer 138737 G. of G. No. 21 1912 Closed 150424 F.S. No. 2 1921 Closed 150874 E.R.G. No. 1 Barge 201 1923 Now B.C.F.P. No. 9 152945 Vedder River 1923 Suspended 152686 K 5 Dept. of Public Works Barge 575 1924 Later Langara Lodge 152762 C & J W No. 2 1925 Closed 152875 S. T. Co. No. 1 1925 Closed 153071 E.R.G. No. 3 1925 Closed 153077 V.T. No. 20 1926 Closed 153335 John Davidson 1926 Closed 154537 Simpson Maid 1927 Closed 172542 P. 119 1927 Closed 173170 S.B. No. 1 1928 Suspended 155207 Digmore No. 1 1929 Closed Built by Star Shipyards (Mercer's) 157203 P.W.D. No. 315 1933 Closed 157207 Timberland No. VII 1934 Closed 192543 Framac Recreational 27 1934 Now Waylin Myth 158798 Pacific Pilot Five 1937 Closed 170681 Samson V Dept. of Public Works Tug 418 1937 Now museum in New Westminster 171967 Evco No. 51 1939 Suspended 172291 M. & M. No. 5 1939 Suspended 172295 Evco No. 54 1940 Suspended 172298 Evco No. 21 1940 Closed 176883 Besbro Lady 1940 Closed 173476 Black Bird II Tug 98 1941 Now Gulf Bird 53 CN 218 Ehkoli Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 1941 Sold 1948 as Northwest Explorer 54 CN 219 Nenamook Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 1941 Sold 1948 as Cape Palmerston 176515 Haida Fishing Vessel 100 1941 Later Emil K, now Confidence I 313121 Pacific Spirit I Research Vessel 123 1941 Now Ehkoli 173621 J 15 1942 Closed 173627 Evco No. 57 1942 Closed 174067 Somass No. 1 1942 Closed 174082 Southisle Fishing Vessel 101 1942 Active 174087 Eastisle Fishing Vessel 101 1942 Active 174088 K.N. No. 25 1942 Closed 176752 GV-5 Royal Canadian Navy Gate Vessel 1942 To Public Works 1947 as PWD No. 304 178778 GV-6 Royal Canadian Navy Gate Vessel 1942 Sold 1947 as Gilley No. 32 179108 Eastview Recreational 114 1942 Active 173208 Malaspina Voyageur Tug 47 1943 Now Lady Jodi 173630 Strady XV Tug 7 1943 Active 174080 Western Mariner Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active 174081 Western Commander Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active 174106 Cape Mark Fishing Vessel 104 1943 Closed 176474 ML-125 Royal Canadian Navy Motor Launch 112 ft. 1943 Sold 1945 as Malibu Tillikum, later Yorkeen, Campana, Jornholm, Gulfstream II, laid up, to be scrapped 176482 ML-126 Royal Canadian Navy Motor Launch 112 ft. 1943 Sold 1945 as Princess Malibu, later RivTow B, closed 176483 ML-127 Royal Canadian Navy Motor Launch 112 ft. 1943 Sold 1945 as Chief Malibu 176475 ML-070 Royal Canadian Navy Motor Launch 112 ft. 1943 Sold 1945 as Machigonne, later Gulf Ranger, Coast Ranger, Saracen III, Lahaina Lady, Noble Lady, active 176497 ML-071 Royal Canadian Navy Motor Launch 112 ft. 1943 Sold 1946 as Gulf Wing, later Troubadour III, Nimpkish Princess, Northland Princess, Kona Winds, Knight Time II, sank 2015 93 GV-18 Royal Canadian Navy Gate Vessel 1944 Sold post-war 94 GV-19 Royal Canadian Navy Gate Vessel 1944 Sold post-war 174042 Bamtod 1 1944 Closed 175144 Imperial Oil No. 7 1944 Closed 175687 Northern King 1944 Closed 176498 Susan M II 1944 Closed 176785 F 80-1 Research 45 1944 Now Quashala 176893 M 468 Songhee R.C.A.F. Passenger 198 1944 Later Songhee, now Driftwood 177412 Evco No. 59 1944 Closed 177994 Sea Comet 51 1944 Later PML 16, ML 16, MP 77 132 197849 HC-304 Royal Canadian Navy Harbour Craft 46 ft. 1944 Sold post-war as Dover II 133 325546 HC-305 Royal Canadian Navy Harbour Craft 46 ft. 1944 Sold post-war as Kelly Point, now Jay-El 134 327850 HC-306 Royal Canadian Navy Harbour Craft 46 ft. 1944 Sold post-war as Virago Point II, suspended CN 485 Cranbrook (J 372) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1947 to Mexican interests CN 486 Revelstoke (J 373) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1956 as Shirley Ann W, burnt 1979 175709 Active Pass Passenger 38 1945 Active 176220 Seaforth Base 1945 Closed 176225 C.F. Co. 33 Barge 55 1945 Closed 176229 B.S. & W. No. 3 Barge 231 1945 Active 176254 Invercan No. 4 Fishing Vessel 38 1945 Active 176283 Sharon M. Fishing Vessel 46 1945 Active 176663 J. H. Todd Recreational 38 1945 Active 176664 Louisa Todd 1945 Suspended 176279 Timberland No. 10 1946 Closed 176504 Croatia 1946 Closed 176670 Robt. G. Johnston 1946 Closed 176755 Merrilyn 1946 Suspended 177368 Florence No. 2 Fishing Vessel 38 1946 Active 177588 C.F. Co. 36 Barge 55 1946 Closed 177589 C.F. Co. 37 Barge 55 1946 Active 178042 C.F. Co. 39 Barge 55 1946 Closed 190805 C.F. Co. 40 Barge 55 1946 Suspended CN 922 Poplar Lake (J 493) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 255 1946 To Russia 1946 as T-199 CN 923 Spruce Lake (J 494) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 255 1946 To Russia 1946 as T-202 178225 Companero 1947 Closed 178832 Black Prince Tug 10 1947 Active 179613 B. M. No. 1 Barge 371 1947 Active 190281 Agonus 1947 Closed 190580 E.O.E. No. 1 Pile Driver 60 1947 Now Evco No. 4 179477 B. S. & W. No. 4 1948 Closed 179632 Bruce Luck 1948 Closed 190098 M.T. 2 1948 Closed 190106 J.K.G. No. 2 1948 Closed 190107 Eugenie B 1948 Closed 190094 M.G.L. No. 1 Barge 235 1948 Active 190572 Dawn G 1948 Closed 190583 C.F. Co. 45 Barge 80 1948 Active 190607 F.S. 33 1948 Closed 179570 Freeman Pass Barge 326 1949 Active 190082 Spider Island Barge 109 1949 Active 190820 Armour Tug 50 1949 Now E.D. Stone 190948 F.J.W. No. 3 1949 Suspended 190953 P.P.C. 3 1949 Closed 190086 Wiah Point 1950 Suspended 192535 Canyon No. 2 1950 Suspended 192536 Crown Forest 84-3 1950 Closed 192542 G. of G. 178 Barge 281 1950 Now Mission Buenaventura II 192545 Try No. 1 Barge 208 1950 Now V.T. No. 8 192548 B.C. Rover 1950 Closed 192887 C.W. 4 1950 Suspended 193305 Samson IV 1950 Closed 193426 G. of G. 176 1951 Closed 193786 Sterna 1951 Closed 193811 Quesnel Lake Fishing Vessel 62 1951 Active 194204 Chilco Lake Fishing Vessel 62 1951 Active 194403 Big Cedar 1951 Closed 195868 G.T.S. No. 20 Tug 8 1951 Now Brico No. 20 195869 Brico No. 22 Tug 8 1951 Now Era 195870 G.T.S. No. 23 Fishing Vessel 7 1951 Now Nortel No. 4 194912 Squamish Yarder 1952 Suspender 194973 P.R.F.C. 1952 Closed 195168 M.A.M. No. 1 Barge 233 1952 Now G. of G. 165 195170 Eclipse 103 1952 Suspended 195176 M.T. 4 1952 Closed 195213 Big Mac Tug 12 1952 Active 195238 RivTow 5 1952 Closed 319129 Dondee Tug 8 1952 Active 195178 H.W. 3 1953 Closed 195724 Tsekoa Passenger 75 1953 Active 195732 G. of G. 179 1953 Closed 195733 Bedwas 1953 Suspended 195735 Come-By-Chance 1953 Suspended 195889 H.P.D. 101 1953 Closed 197457 Chadmac Barge 232 1954 Active 197457 Ace No. 1 1954 Closed 197662 G. of G. 196 1954 Suspended 188213 D.P.W. No. 325 1955 Suspended 195780 Lilala 1955 Closed 198149 G. of G. 172 1955 Closed 198152 Ace No. 3 Barge 245 1955 Now Gulf Lifter No. 1 198159 Larbro Tug 23 1955 Now Service IX 198162 Jenny 4 1955 Closed 198612 Gavia 1955 Closed 198631 P.A. No. 3 1955 Closed 198960 L & K III Barge 232 1955 Active 198961 L & K IV Barge 232 1955 Active 198980 Brama Fisheries Patrol 15 1955 Later Amar B, now Brama 198996 P. F. Stone 1955 Closed 838674 YFB 316 Royal Canadian Navy Ferry 69 1955 Sold 2014 YFB 318 Royal Canadian Navy Ferry 69 1955 Sold 2014 188215 G. & L. 2 Barge 2,126 1956 Active 188224 Sleep-Robber Fishing Vessel 109 1956 Active 188230 Venture North Tug 10 1956 Now Imperial Falcon 188345 N.C. No. 1 1956 Closed 188620 Charon No. 1 1956 Closed 189231 Columbian Passenger 56 1956 Now Columbia III 189442 Mercer No. 6 Barge 289 1956 Active 189443 T. Ply 1956 Closed 198078 John Antle Recreational 28 1956 Now Chelsea II 189456 Blue Pacific No. 1 Fishing Vessel 99 1957 Active 189463 G & M Barge 294 1957 Active 189990 North Rock 20 1957 Now Lewis Isle 310376 P.G.D. 3 Patrol Boat 23 1957 Now Dean Ranger 310351 P.A. No. 4 1957 Closed 189634 Charon No. 1 1958 Later P.R.F.C. No. 4, closed 189973 Star Rock II 1958 Closed MP 60 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat Later Fort St. James 370765 MP 95 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 35 1958 Later Little Bow II, now White Orca 311207 L.M. No. 1 1958 Closed 311208 Aquila 1958 Closed 311251 G. of G. 184 1958 Closed 310143 Salvelinus Research Vessel 13 1959 Active 383458 MP 51 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 48 1959 Sold 1978 as Tofino, active in Richmond BC 383232 MP 97 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 48 1959 Sold 1975 as Ganges 312075 Coastal Messenger Tug 27 1959 Later D. M. Mackay, closed 312909 M.B.M. 2 Barge 324 1959 Now N.R.T. No.1 343 312836 Caamano Sound Fishing Vessel 122 1960 Active 312863 Colco 1960 Closed MP 58 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 26 1960 Now Port Alice 312865 1997-9 R.C.M.P. Patrol Boat 23 1960 Now Temple Rock 312920 J.K.G. No. 3 Barge 325 1960 Active 312929 Crestow 1960 Closed 313701 Kraft II Tug 4 1960 Active 313885 Sea Cap II Tug 10 1960 Active 352 313751 Lorne Yorke F. M. Yorke & Sons Tug 150 1961 Now Seaspan Lorne 313896 Sabre Tug 15 1961 Active 313909 Gulf Warrior Gulf of Georgia Towing Tug 76 1961 Now Ocean Warrior 313915 Yucata Scout Tug 14 1961 Now C.M. Scout 314907 T.W. No. 5 Fish Packer 269 1962 Active 314932 T.W. No. 6 Fish Packer 269 1962 Active 318526 90-3 Survey Vessel 59 1962 Now Richardson Point 318981 Sealane Tug 61 1962 Now Inlet Charger 319446 Tug 1962 Later Seaspan Meteor, closed 319448 Gulf Ranger Gulf of Georgia Towing Tug 10 1962 Now Tymac Ranger 319147 Surrey Guardian 15 1963 Now Huntress O 319165 Evco Wave Ocean Marine Towing Tug 81 1963 Now North Arm Wave 320036 Island Rocket Island Tug & Barge Tug 24 1963 Now Seaspan Rocket 320254 Island Sentry Island Tug & Barge Tug 62 1963 Now Seaspan Sentry 320315 Royal City Fishing Vessel 181 1963 Active 320352 Evco Breeze Ocean Marine Towing Tug 81 1964 Now Storm Breeze 323220 La Reine Tug 207 1964 Now Seaspan Queen 323573 Sceptre Columbia Graymar Equipment Dredge 789 1965 Active 323574 Inter Sceptre Tug 14 1965 Active 323577 Swiftsure VII Tug 79 1965 Now Texada Crown 323578 Seawitch VII Tug 10 1965 Now Sea Imp VI 325563 Ocean Clipper Groupe Ocean Inc. Tug 237 1965 Active 323609 D.P.W. 330 Barge 214 1966 Now Shenandoah III 323610 Sceptre Fraser Graymar Equipment Dredge 777 1966 Closed 379 326548 Harold A. Jones Tug 518 1966 Later Seaspan Monarch 1971, now Island Monarch 327239 Gulf Fisherman Barge 79 1966 Now Wichito Giver 327827 Wesbridge One Tug 147 1966 Now Pacific Mariner II 327828 Petro Chief Tug 143 1966 Now Pacific Chief 323624 Evco Spray Ocean Marine Towing Tug 81 1967 Now Storm Spray 328843 Le Mars Tug 203 1967 Now Seaspan Pacer 328908 Thomas Crosby V. Passenger 129 1967 Active 329403 Royal Canadian Fishing Vessel 265 1968 Active 329590 Lady Scott 1968 Closed 391 Atlantic Harvester Fishing Vessel 264 1968 330317 Island King Island Tug & Barge Tug 498 1968 Now Seaspan King 393 329607 Eastward Ho Fishing Vessel 277 1969 Closed 395 329609 Royal Venture Fishing Vessel 283 1969 Later Betty Elizabeth, closed 329617 Royal Venture Jr. 1969 Closed 329618 Eastward Ho Jr. 1969 Closed 330844 1969 Later Seaspan Venture, closed 331841 Evco Crest Ocean Marine Towing Tug 56 1969 Now Seaspan Prince 344602 Hecate Crown Rivtow Straits Ltd. Tug 501 1970 Now Seaspan Challenger 344654 Eva V 1970 Suspended 400 345111 Le Beau Tug 148 1970 Later Seaspan Commander 1971, now Evco Buccaneer 345610 Storm Coaster Tug 102 1971 Closed 345611 Mercer Straits Rivtow Straits Ltd. Tug 230 1971 Closed 404 346585 Mary B. VI AHTS 718 1972 Later Arctic Tuktu 1983, now John Spence 405 346687 Nordic VI AHTS 718 1972 Later Federal 6, Seafed Avalon, Arctic Malik, Escort Protector (Nigeria), scrapped 2004 406 347856 Federal 7 AHTS 719 1973 Later Arctic Pelly, Hercules, now Olympico (Mexico) 407 347175 Brochu Arcellormittal Mines Tug 390 1973 Active 408 347867 Vachon Tug 390 1973 Active