AMSHIP SUPERIOR
Superior WI

Most recent update: October 24, 2021.

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.
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