AMSHIP BUFFALO

Buffalo NY

Most recent update: November 6, 2021.

The AmShip yard in Buffalo NY was started in 1808 by Nathan Bidwell.  The first graving docks were dug in 1836, on a site across the Buffalo River from the intersection of Chicago Street and Ohio Street.  A major client, Union Steamboat Company, invested in the yard in 1871 and bought Bidwell out in 1882, changing the name to Union Dry Dock Company.  In 1900, Union leased the yard to the American Ship Building Company and it was renamed Buffalo Dry Dock: American Ship Building bought it outright in 1910 and in 1914 renamed it AmShip Buffalo.  It effectively stopped building ships after World War One and, except for building a few tugs for the DPC in World War Two, it concentrated on ship repair until 1962, when AmShip closed it and sold it for redevelopment.  Today it is an empty lot: see it from the air on Google here.
Hull # O.N. Original Name Owner Type GT Feet Built Disposition
Built by Bidwell & Banta
    Queen City Charles M. Reed Cargo 906   1848 Barge 1862
    Northern Indiana Michigan Southern RR Cargo 1,475   1852 Burned 1856
    Southern Michigan Michigan Southern RR Cargo 1,470   1852 Scrapped 1863
    Crescent City Dean Richmond Cargo 1,746   1853 Scrapped 1863
    City of Buffalo Michigan Southern RR Cargo 2,026   1857 Bulker 1864, barge 1866, abandoned 1875
Built by Union Dry Dock Co.
1 80265 William H. Tweed Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,299 216 1871 Later Newburgh, stranded 1892
2 110155 Rambler   Tug 42 57 1873  
3 75602 James L. Beckwith   Tug 103 59 1872  
4 80432 Waverly Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,104 191 1874 Lost in collision off Harbor Beach MI 1903
5 115381 Starucca Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,313   1874 Wrecked off Grand Marais MI 1888
6 150042 Portage Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,608 238 1875 Later George H Van Vleck 1909, foundered 1918
7 150084 Pacific   Tug 42 62 1876  
8 80598 Wissahickon Erie & Western Tptn Cargo 1,619 238 1876 Later Wasaga 1906, burnt in Copper Harbor MI 1910
9 105624 Andrew J. Smith Frank Perry Tug 239 117 1876  
10 105733 Avon Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,702 251 1877 Later Stormount 1919,wrecked in the Williamsburg Canal 1920
11 130125 Nyack Union Steamboat Co Passenger 1,257 231 1878 Later cargo ship 1916, breakwater at Big Summer I. WI 1933
12 75012 Juniata Erie & Western Tptn Cargo 1,708 252 1878 Later Winnipeg 1905, Weavercoal 1923, wrecked Montreal 1929
13 85539 Gazelle   Yacht 36   1878  
14 130157 New York Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,921 269 1879 Burnt Thunder Bay MI 1910
15 91135 Minnie Matham   Tug 12 42 1879  
16 91151 M. M. Drake   Tug 13 43 1879  
17 110438 Rochester Union Steamboat Co Cargo 2,220 267 1880 Later Sydney C McLouth 1906, burnt Pennsaukee WI 1912
18 95608 Huntress   Yacht 114 109 1880  
19 145222 T. M. Moore   Tug 25 52 1880  
20 145231 Tom Matham   Tug 39 63 1880  
21 76204 John C. Gault Wabash-St Louis RR Cargo 1,212 218 1881 Later Felix Carbray 1908, Crescent 1916, foundered 1916
22 110472 Russell Sage Wabash-St Louis RR Cargo 1,224 218 1881 Later barge Atlasco 1917, foundered 1921
23 155034 O. W. Cheney   Tug 41 62 1881  
24 105994 A. C. Adams J Ash & others Tug 41 62 1881  
25 95712 H. J. Jewett Union Steamboat Co Cargo 1,953 265 Sep-82 Later Binghampton 1903, wrecked Gannet Rock Ledge 1921
26 126018 Cornelia   Passenger 38 61 1882  
27 95684 Hecla J Ash & others Cargo 1,167 224 1882 Later Captain Dan 1917, scrapped 1930
28 115833 Shaughraun   Tug 43 60 May-82  
29 none Will Moore   Scow     1882  
30 76318 J. W. Hahn   Tug 31 41 1882 Scrapped
31 91485 M. M. Drake J Green Cargo 1,102 201 1882 Foundered 1901
32 120513 Fred Mercur Lehigh Valley Tptn Cargo 1,293 232 1882 Burnt near Stanley I. 1925
33 na William P. Fessenden U.S. Coast Guard Rev. Cutter 330 198 Sep-83 Later Chippewa 1909, barge 1938, scrapped 1943
34 115917 Shaughraun   Tug 45 60 Jun-83  
35 155067 O. A. Crandall   Tug 17 42 1882  
36 na Commodore Perry U.S. Coast Guard Cutter 451 404 Jun-84 Sunk 1910
37 na John B. Hawley U.S. Coast Guard Launch 16   1883  
38 126237 Calumet Danforth & Pratt Cargo 1,526 257 1884 Wrecked Fort Sheridan IL 1889
39 145405 Tioga Union Steamboat Co Cargo 2,085 285 Jun-85 Wrecked N. Eagle River MI 1919
40 none Comm. James Pratt   Scow     1885  
41 116128 Susquehanna Erie & Western Tptn Cargo 2,500 302 Nov-86 Later Papyrus 1923, Da Costa 1925, Papyrus 1925, scrapped 1925
42 none Maytham No. 2   Scow     1886  
43 155153 Owego Union Steamboat Co Cargo 2,611 326 Apr-88 Later Yin Tung 1925, Ting On, Voo Yang 1930, Buyo Go 1942, wrecked 1944
44 126495 Chemung Union Steamboat Co Cargo 2,615 326 Mar-88 Later George F Brownell 1914, Chemung 1915, torpedoed and sunk 1916
45 76755 Julian V. O'Brien   Tug 57 68 1888  
46 81204 W. I. Babcock   Tug 63 71 1888  
47 86017 Grace Danforth   Tug 65 72 1888  
48 106638 America J Kelderhouse Cargo 2,171 275 Apr-89 Later Glenstriven 1919, wrecked Cove I. ON 1923, scrapped 1924
49 161612 Viking F W Gilchrist Cargo 1,117 217 Sep-89 Later Clinton 1920, Viking 1925, scrapped 1936
50 110841 Robert H. Hebard   Tug 65 69 1889 Scrapped 1916
51 3467 Brazil M M Drake Cargo 2,186 276 Feb-90 Later Glenbrae 1919, dredger Brazil 1925, scrapped 1949
52 116340 S. C. Reynolds Lake Erie Tptn Cargo 1,895 255 Jun-90 Later John G McCullough 1912, torpedoed and lost 1918
53 none City of Buffalo Chautauqua SB Co Passenger     1890 Assembled in Jamestown NY
54 106738 Alva B Vessel Owners Towing Tug 83 73 1890  
55 116358 S. C. Schenck S C Schenk Tug 126 90 Oct-90  
56 81283 William L. Scott   Tug 54 68 1890  
57 106802 Apalachee A. J. Sweeney & Sons Passenger 161   Feb-91 Assembled in Wheeling WV
58 145580 Townsend Davis   Tug 67 70 1890  
59 100490 Island Belle Ossian Bedell Passenger 153 93 1891  
60 120839 Frank W Frank Gilchrist Tug 93 75 May-91  
61 92314 Major   Barge 147   1891  
62 none W. C. Rhinearson Chautauqua SB Co Passenger 83   1891 Assembled in Jamestown NY
63 150542 Pier New York Dock Dept Tug 99   Aug-91  
64 136214 Edward Gillen Knapp & Gillen Tug 57 68 1891  
65 none Mary Belle Lake Keuka Nav. Passenger     1892 Assembled in Hammondsport NY
66 126886 Codorus Erie & Western Tptn Cargo 2,165 275 Jul-92 Scrapped 1919
67 56605 Red Jacket   Scow 310   1892  
68 136360 Erastus Day Hand & Johnston Tug 69 70 Jun-93  
69 126955 Cris Grover   Tug 56 69 1893  
70 81435 Wm. Kennedy Vessel Owners Towing Tug 86   1893  
71 86267 George J. Gould Lake Erie Tptn Cargo 2,237 266 Sep-93 Later Granville A Richardson 1912, Glencairn 1919, Nassau 1926, scrapped 1951
72 145645 Tonawanda   Tug 31 59 1893  
73 120969 Fabian   Tug 71 71 1894  
74 na Unnamed U.S. Government Scow     1894  
75 none John H. Farley City of Cleveland Tug 109   1894  
76 127088 Cascade O. W. Cheney Tug 72 73 1895  
77 136651 Enquirer W. J. Conners Yacht 140   Jul-96  
78 111123 Ramapo Union Steamboat Co Cargo 3,045 319 Aug-96 Later F D Underwood 1912, scrapped 1940
79 116763 S. O. Company No. 81 Standard Oil Tank Barge 1,774   Jun-97  
80 116786 Starrucca Erie Railroad  Cargo 3,114 326 Aug-97 Later Delos W Cooke 1913, Steel King 1941, cut into two barges 1954
81 107302 America Erie Tug Line Tug 123 83 Aug-97  
82 162758 Reciprocity Dunbar & Sullivan Scow 446   1897  
83 162759 Monroe Doctrine Dunbar & Sullivan Scow 446   1897  
84 29616 Queen   Tug 29 40 1897 Later Carlotta
85 127241 Charles F. Dunbar Maytham Line Tug 136 86 May-98  
86 92852 Marion Hickler Bros. Tug 63 70 May-98  
87 none Yankee T. A. Gillespie Co. Dredge 404   1898  
88 56689 Roughrider T. A. Gillespie Co. Dredge 404   1898  
89 na Unnamed   Launch     1898 44' waterboat
90 3805 Buffalo Western Transit Co Cargo 3,951 382 Sep-99 Later P E Crowley 1925, Kurikka 1947, scrapped 1953
91 127391 C. Persons Sons   Canal Boat 49   Dec-99 canal boat
Ordered from Union Dry Dock but built by Buffalo Dry Dock Co.
92 81733 Wilkes-Barre Lehigh Valley Tptn Cargo  4,153 382 Dec-00 Later Edward E Loomis 1921, scrapped 1940
93     Dunbar & Sullivan Barge 79   1900

Two of these four barges were named Cyclone and Tornado: we don't know which
94     Dunbar & Sullivan Barge 79   1900
95     Dunbar & Sullivan Barge 79   1900
96     Dunbar & Sullivan Barge 79   1900
97 86536 Georgetown Atlantic Coast Lumber Cargo 1,358 243 Dec-00 Later Etretat 1917, foundered in North Atlantic 1917
98 93133 Mauch Chunk Lehigh Valley Tptn Cargo 4,499 382 Jun-01 Later W J Conners 1921, Malacca Straits 1947, W J Conners 1948, Haeringur 1948m, scrapped 1957
99 155414 Ossian Bedell Buffalo & Erie Tpt. Passenger 296 104 May-01  
100 127590 Chicago Western Transit Co Cargo 3,195 324 Nov-01 Wrecked Michipicoten Is. 1929
Built by Buffalo Dry Dock Co.
200 111354 Rocket   Fishing Tug 39 62 Aug-01  
201 81804 William Nottingham United States Tptn Laker 4,234 376 Apr-02 Scrapped 1947
202 30291 Alexander Maitland Franklin Tptn. Co. Laker 3,351   Jul-02  
203 77580 J. S. Keefe Great Lakes & St L Tptn Laker 1,640 239 May-03 Later Parame 1916, Glenfarn 1921, Canmore 1927, Ashleaf 1942, Manzzutti 1951, scrapped 1971
204 111466 Robert Wallace Great Lakes & St L Tptn Laker 1,640 239 Jun-03 Later Tregastel 1916, Glendowan 1921, Chandler 1927, Aspenleaf 1942, Helen Hindman 1949, Grovedale 1952, scrapped 1959.
205 200346 P. P. Miller Miller Steamship Laker 3,845 354 Oct-03 Later Collier 1920, John McCartney Kennedy 1922, R E Moody 1937, scrapped 1959
206 200537 Marquette & Bessemer No. 1 Flint & Pere Marquette RR Ro-ro Laker 1,732 241 Dec-03 Later Carollton 1937, scrapped 1961
207 162466 Norman Kelley Kelley's I. Tptn. Co. Barge 513   Jul-05  
208 162507 James H. Pellet Kelley's I. Tptn. Co. Barge 346   Aug-05  
209 203983 Favorite Great Lakes Towing Salvage Tug 1,223 181 Apr-07 To USN 1918 as Favourite (SP-1385/IX 45), to Peru 1948 as Guardian Rios, later Rios, struck 1958 
210 204416 Wissahickon Erie & Western Tptn Laker 4,062 350 Aug-07 Later Daniel Willard 1925, Anne Marie 1948, scrapped 1954
211 163349 Reliance Great Lakes Towing Crane Barge 1,738   Oct-07  
212 204745 Harvard Great Lakes Towing Tug 75 71 Nov-07  
213 205096 Americana Lake Erie Excursion Passenger 1,009 203 May-08 Scrapped 1953
214 205261 Honduras Davidson Steamship Laker 2,350 248 Jun-08 Later Guarany 1919, burnt in Barbados 1919
215 207479 Canadiana Lake Erie Excursion Passenger 974 210 Jun-10 Hulked 1959, scrapped 2004
216 207434 Niagara Frontier Buffalo & Fort Erie Tpt. Co. Ferry 421 120 May-10  
217 207808 West Shore Pickands Mather Lighter 675   Aug-10 Scrapped 1974
218 208690 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Coal Co Lighter 1,270   Jun-11 Abandoned 1948
219 164473 Derrick No. 5 Great Lakes Dredge Dredge 329   Jul-11  
Built by the American Shipbuilding Company
900 none No. 2   Scow     1911 no trace
901 none No. 3   Scow     1911 no trace
none 212345 E. N. Smith American Ship Building Tug 20 49 Jul-14 Later AmerShip
none 212746 H. G. Smith American Ship Building Tug 20 49 Nov-14  
902 AT 19 Huron/Allegheny US Navy Tug 750d 156 May-18 Scrapped 1947
903 AT 20 Comanche/Sagamore US Navy Tug 750d 156 Jun-18 Sold 1948 as John E McAllister, scrapped 1953
904 216669 Lake Bledsoe US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,316 251 Jul-18 Scrapped 1926
905 216903 Lake Delancey US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,316 251 Sep-18 Scrapped 1927
906 217057 Lake Galera US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,316 251 Oct-18 Later Dora Weems 1925, Dora 1928, Sniaffiocco 1937, Sereno 1940, bombed and lost at Tobruk 1940
907 217139 Lake Otsquago US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,337 251 Nov-18 Scrapped 1926.
908 217309 Lake Cathcoon US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,319 251 Dec-18 Scrapped 1926
909 217857 Lake Fugard US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,607 251 Jun-19 Scrapped 1927
910 217856 Lake Furley US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,607 251 Jun-19 Scrapped 1926.
911 218472 Lake Furlough US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,607 251 Jul-19 Scrapped 1926.
912 218954 Lake Fernando US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,594 251 Sep-19 Later Munami 1926, Lisieux 1940, foundered 1940.
913 219186 Lake Ferrona US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,598 251 Oct-19 Completed at AmShip Cleveland, later Turkmen 1930, scrapped 1960
914 219213 Lake Fessenden US Shipping Board Cargo Ship 2,599 251 Nov-19 Completed at AmShip Cleveland, later Cumberland 1925, Western Head 1939, torpedoed and lost 1942
none 221267 Service American Ship Building Workboat 190   May-21  
none 227455 Sid Jr. American Ship Building Workboat 12 38 Apr-28  
915 173884 Junior Great Lakes Dredge Dredge 434 110 1937 Sold to British owners 1959
916 244419 DPC 93 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Oct-43 Sold 1946 as Kevin Moran, Mutela 1947, NLD 1953
917 244420 DPC 94 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Oct-43 To WSA as WSA 15, to USN as YT-478, YTM 478 1944, back to WSA 1946 as WSA 15
918 244421 DPC 95 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Oct-43 To USA as ST-764, sold 1946 in Greece, Grangetown 1950, Polaris 1970, in Croatia 1992
919 244422 DPC 96 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Oct-43 To USA as ST-765, sold 1946 as Hippone, in Algeria 1964
920 244515 DPC 97 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Nov-43 To USA as ST-766, sold 1946 as Rekin, NLD 1966
921 244517 DPC 98 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Nov-43 Sold 1946 as Ferry Point, Captain RK 1950, Dianne M. 1988, NLD 1989
922 244518 DPC 99 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Nov-43 To USA as ST-767, sold 1945 as Cornhill, Hannah Spearing 1980, burned off Fleetwood and scrapped 1996
923 244518 DPC 100 Defense Plant Corp. Tug  146 81 Nov-43 To USA as ST-768, sold 1948 as Kronos, Whitburn 1964, Abou Shanab 1978, scrapped 2005
none 258807 American American Ship Building Tug  29 47 Oct-49  
924 268858 Service II American Ship Building Workboat 149 87 Dec-54  
925 Federal Grasse River St. Lawrence Seaway Gatelifter 754   1958