STAR SHIPYARDS (MERCER'S)

New Westminster BC

Most recent update: July 19, 2021.
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
Hull #
 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