American Ship Building Company
Encyclopedia
The American Ship Building Company was the dominant shipbuilder on the Great Lakes
before the Second World War. It started as Cleveland Shipbuilding in Cleveland, Ohio
in 1888 and opened the yard in Lorain, Ohio
in 1898. It changed its name to the American Ship Building Company in 1900, when it acquired Superior Shipbuilding, in Superior, Wisconsin
; Toledo Shipbuilding, in Toledo, Ohio
; and West Bay Shipbuilding, in West Bay City, Michigan
. With the coming of the World War I
, the company also acquired Buffalo Dry Dock, in Buffalo, New York
; Chicago Shipbuilding, in Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit Shipbuilding, in Wyandotte, Michigan
.
Yard served as the main facility of the company after World War II
and to this day five of the 13 separate 1000 ft (304.8 m) ore carriers on the Great Lakes were built in Lorain, including the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha
which is the largest vessel on the Great Lakes (1,013'06" long). Built in 1898, the Lorain Yard quickly grew in size and importance. The facilities eventually included two dry docks over 1000 feet (304.8 m) long built to handle the largest of the Great Lakes ore carriers. The Lorain Yard closed in 1984 after a series of labor disputes. The land is now being redeveloped as an upscale housing development.
, built in 1906 (renamed Admiral Sebree in 1915, built in 1906 (renamed Admiral Clark in 1915, originally built in 1913 as the Seeandbee, originally built in 1924 as the Greater Buffalo, launched in 1943 in Lorain, built in 1952 in Lorain, built in 1927 in Lorain oiler
s, launched in 1943 in Lorain, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1944 in Lorain, launched in 1944 in Lorain, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1943, launched in 1944 in Toledo, Ohio
, launched in 1953, launched in 1967, launched in 1998
. Delta had a yard at New Orleans and built a total of 188 ships.
, who became better known later as the principal owner of the New York Yankees
.
The company began having difficulties in the 1980s, going through a bankruptcy in 1993. The company was sold in 1995.
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
before the Second World War. It started as Cleveland Shipbuilding in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1888 and opened the yard in Lorain, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
in 1898. It changed its name to the American Ship Building Company in 1900, when it acquired Superior Shipbuilding, in Superior, Wisconsin
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
; Toledo Shipbuilding, in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
; and West Bay Shipbuilding, in West Bay City, Michigan
West Bay City, Michigan
West Bay City was a city in the U.S. state of Michigan.In 1905, West Bay City merged with Bay City, Michigan....
. With the coming of the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the company also acquired Buffalo Dry Dock, in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
; Chicago Shipbuilding, in Chicago, Illinois; and Detroit Shipbuilding, in Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
.
The Lorain Yard
The Lorain, OhioLorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
Yard served as the main facility of the company after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and to this day five of the 13 separate 1000 ft (304.8 m) ore carriers on the Great Lakes were built in Lorain, including the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha
MV Paul R. Tregurtha
MV Paul R. Tregurtha is a Great Lakes-based bulk carrier freighter. The current Queen of the Lakes, she is the largest ship operating on the Great Lakes complex. Launched as the William J...
which is the largest vessel on the Great Lakes (1,013'06" long). Built in 1898, the Lorain Yard quickly grew in size and importance. The facilities eventually included two dry docks over 1000 feet (304.8 m) long built to handle the largest of the Great Lakes ore carriers. The Lorain Yard closed in 1984 after a series of labor disputes. The land is now being redeveloped as an upscale housing development.
Ships built by the company
, launched in 1893, built in 1903 in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, built in 1906 (renamed Admiral Sebree in 1915, built in 1906 (renamed Admiral Clark in 1915, originally built in 1913 as the Seeandbee, originally built in 1924 as the Greater Buffalo, launched in 1943 in Lorain, built in 1952 in Lorain, built in 1927 in Lorain oiler
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
s, launched in 1943 in Lorain, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1944 in Lorain, launched in 1944 in Lorain, launched in 1943 in Cleveland, launched in 1943, launched in 1944 in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, launched in 1953, launched in 1967, launched in 1998
Delta Shipbuilding
During the Second World War, the company managed Delta Shipbuilding Company for the United States Maritime CommissionUnited States Maritime Commission
The United States Maritime Commission was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and replaced the U.S. Shipping Board which had existed since World War I...
. Delta had a yard at New Orleans and built a total of 188 ships.
Toledo Shipbuilding Company
The Toledo Shipbuilding Company, which became an operating unit of the American Shipbuilding Company by consolidation, was itself the builder of several of the most well-known coal-fired steamships of the Great Lakes, such as the (built in 1911).Steinbrenners
In the early 1960s, the American Shipbuilding Company acquired Kinsman Marine Transit Company, which was owned by the Steinbrenner family. As a result of the transaction, the Steinbrenner family acquired a controlling interest in American Shipbuilding. Frustrated after years of fighting with unions over cost-saving work changes, the Steinbrenners closed the Lorain shipyard in December 1983 and moved all operations to Tampa, Florida. The principal member of the Steinbrenner family who was involved in the operation of the transit company at this time was George SteinbrennerGeorge Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
, who became better known later as the principal owner of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
The company began having difficulties in the 1980s, going through a bankruptcy in 1993. The company was sold in 1995.