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Star Shipyards (Mercer's), New Westminster BC

Most recent update: August 12, 2011.


Star Shipyards was started in 1908 by Edward Mercer, a Newfoundlander, and his wife, who cleared the lot at 61 Duncan Avenue in Queensborough, a part of New Westminster that extends onto Lulu Island.  The yard was taken over by their sons, Arthur and Gordon Mercer, in the early 1930s.  The yard 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 at the eastern tip of Lulu Island 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
  152686 Samson IV Dept. of Public Works Tug 418 1924  
  192543 Framac   Recreational 27 1934 Now Waylin Myth
  152945 Vedder River          
  153077 V.T. No. 20          
  153335 John Davidson          
  157207 Timberland No. VII          
  170681 Samson V Dept. of Public Works Tug 418 1937 Now museum in New Westminster
53   Ehkoli Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 150 1941 Sold 1948 as Northwest Explorer
54   Nenamook Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 150 1941 Sold 1948 as Cape Palmerston
  171967 Evco No. 51          
  172291 M. & M. No. 5          
  172295 Evco No. 54          
  173170 S.B. No. 1          
  173208 Malaspina Voyageur   Tug 47 1943 Now Lady Jodi
  173476 Black Bird II   Tug 98 1941 Now Gulf Bird
  173621 J 15          
  173630 Strady XV   Tug 7 1943 Active
  174080 Western Mariner   Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active
  174081 Western Commander   Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active
  174082 Southisle   Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active
  174087 Eastisle   Fishing Vessel 101 1943 Active
  174088 K.N. No. 25          
    Cape Mark   Fishing Vessel 104 1943  
  175687 Northern King          
  175709 Active Pass   Passenger 38 1945 Active
  176229 B.S. & W. No. 3   Barge 231 1945 Active
  176254 Invercan No. 4   Fishing Vessel 38 1945 Active
  176283 Sharon M.          
  176474 Jormholm   Passenger 38 1943 Now Gulfstream II
  176475 Lahaina Lady   Passenger 135 1943 Now Noble Lady
  176482 Princess Malibu          
  176497 Northland Princess   Passenger 135 1944 Now Kona Winds
  176498 Susan M II          
  176515 Haida   Fishing Vessel 100 1941 Now Emil K
  176663 J. H. Todd   Recreational 38 1945 Active
  176664 Louisa Todd          
  176755 Merrilyn         Suspended
  176785 F 80-1   Research 45 1944 Now Quashala
  176883 Besbro Lady          
  176893 M 468 Songhee R,C.A.F. Passenger 198 1944 Now Songhee
  177368 Florence No. 2   Fishing Vessel 38 1946 Active
  177412 Evco No. 59          
  177589 C.F. Co. 37   Barge 55 1946 Active
  178225 Companero          
    Cranbrook (J 372) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1947 to Mexican interests
    Revelstoke (J 373) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 228 1944 Sold 1956 as Shirley Ann W, burnt 1979
    Poplar Lake (J 493) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 255 1946 To Russia 1946 as T-199
    Spruce Lake (J 494) Royal Canadian Navy Minesweeper 255 1946 To Russia 1946 as T-202
  178832 Black Prince   Tug 10 1947 Active
  179108 Eastview   Recreational 114 1942 Active
  179570 Freeman Pass   Barge 326 1949 Active
  179613 B. M. No. 1   Barge 371 1947 Active
  188213 D.P.W. No. 325          
  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          
  189231 Columbian   Passenger 56 1956 Now Columbia III
  189442 Mercer No. 6   Barge 289 1956 Active
  189456 Blue Pacific No. 1   Fishing Vessel 99 1957 Active
  189463 G & M   Barge 294 1957 Active
  189973 Star Rock II          
  189990 North Rock     20 1957 Now Lewis Isle
  190082 Spider Island   Barge 109 1949 Active
  190086 Wiah Point          
  190094 M.G.L. No. 1   Barge 235 1948 Active
  190098 M.T. 2          
  190106 J.K.G. No. 2          
  190580 E.O.E. No. 1   Pile Driver 60 1947 Now Evco No. 4
  190583 C.F. Co. 45   Barge 80 1948 Active
  190805 C.F. Co. 40          
  190820 Armour   Tug 50 1949 Now E.D. Stone
  190948 F.J.W. No. 3          
  190953 P.P.C. 3          
  192535 Canyon No. 2          
  192542 G. of G. 178   Barge 281 1950 Now Mission Buenaventura II
  192545 Try No. 1   Barge 208 1950 Now V.T. No. 8
  192887 C.W. 4          
  193786 Sterna          
  193811 Quesnel Lake   Fishing Vessel 62 1951 Active
  194204 Chilco Lake   Fishing Vessel 62 1951 Active
  194403 Big Cedar          
  194912 Squamish Yarder          
  195168 M.A.M. No. 1   Barge 233 1952 Now G. Of G. 165
  195170 Eclipse 103          
  195178 H.W. 3          
  195213 Big Mac   Tug 12 1952 Active
  195724 Tsekoa   Passenger 75 1953 Active
  195733 Bedwas          
  195735 Come-By-Chance          
  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
  195889 H.P.D. 101          
  197457 Chadmac          
  197662 G. Of G. 196          
  198078 John Antle   Recreational 28 1956 Now Chelsea II
  198152 Ace No. 3   Barge 245 1955 Now Gulf Lifter No. 1
  198159 Larbro   Tug 23 1955 Now Service IX
  198612 Gavia          
  198960 L & K III   Barge 232 1955 Active
  198961 L & K IV   Barge 232 1955 Active
  198980 Amar B   Training Vessel 15 1955 Now Brama
    Sleep-Robber   Fishing Vessel 109 1956 Active
  198996 P.F. Stone          
  310143 Salvelinus   Research Vessel 13 1959 Active
  310376 P.G.D. 3   Patrol Boat 23 1957 Now Dean Ranger
  370765 Little Bow II   Recreational 35 1958 Now White Orca
  383458 Tofino   Fishing Vessel 48 1959 Active
  312075 Coastal Messenger   Tug 27 1959 Now D.M. Mackay
343 312836 Caamano Sound   Fishing Vessel 122 1960 Active
  312863 Colco          
  312865 1997-9   Patrol Boat 23 1960 Now Temple Rock
  312909 M.B.M. 2   Barge 324 1959 Now N.R.T. No.1
  312920 J.K.G. No. 3   Barge 325 1960 Active
  313121 Pacific Spirit I   Research Vessel 123 1960 Now Ehkoli
  313701 Kraft II   Tug 4 1960 Active
352 313751 Lorne Yorke F. M. Yorke & Sons Tug 150 1961 Now Seaspan Lorne
  313885 Sea Cap Ii   Tug 10 1960 Active
  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
  319129 Dondee   Tug 8 1952 Active
  319147 Surrey Guardian     15 1963 Now Huntress O
  319165 Evco Wave Ocean Marine Towing Tug 81 1963 Now North Arm Wave
  319448 Gulf Ranger Gulf of Georgia Towing Tug 10 1962 Now Tymac Ranger
  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 Active
  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
  323609 D.P.W. 330   Barge 214 1966 Now Shenandoah III
  323610 Sceptre Fraser Graymar Equipment Dredge 777 1966 Active
  323624 Evco Spray Ocean Marine Towing Tug 81 1967 Active
  325546 Jay-El          
  325563 Ocean Clipper Groupe Ocean Inc. Tug 237 1965 Active
379 326548 Harold A. Jones   Tug 518 1966 Later Seaspan Monarch 1971, now Island Monarch
  327239 Gulf Fisherman   Barge 79 1966 Now Wichito Giver
  327714 The Beaver IV   Barge 65 1967 Active
  327827 Wesbridge One   Tug 147 1966 Now Pacific Mariner II
  327828 Petro Chief   Tug 143 1966 Now Pacific Chief
  327850 Virago Point 2          
  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
  330317 Island King Island Tug & Barge Tug 498 1968 Now Seaspan King
  331841 Evco Crest Ocean Marine Towing Tug 56 1969 Now Seaspan Prince
391   Atlantic Harvester   Fishing Vessel 264 1968  
393   Eastward Ho   Fishing Vessel 277 1969  
395   Royal Venture   Fishing Vessel 283 1969 Now Betty Elizabeth
  344602 Hecate Crown Rivtow Straits Ltd. Tug 501 1970 Now Seaspan Challenger
  344654 Eva V          
400 345111 Le Beau   Tug 148 1970 Later Seaspan Commander 1971, now Evco Buccaneer
  345610 Storm Coaster   Tug 102 1971 Active
  345611 Mercer Straits Rivtow Straits Ltd. Tug 230 1971 Active
404 346585 Mary B. VI   AHTS 718 1972 Later Arctic Tuktu 1983, now John Spence
405   Nordic VI   AHTS 718 1972 Later Arctic Mallik 1983, now Escort Protector
406   Federal 7   AHTS 719 1973 Later Arctic Pelly 1978, Hercules 1991, now Olimpico
407 347175 Brochu Arcellormittal Mines Tug 390 1973 Active
408 347867 Vachon   Tug 390 1973 Active