James Rees, a Welshman, established this shipyard, which was originally a machine shop and engine works called Rees & Thorn. In 1878, they began building ships. It is claimed that they built not only the first steel-hulled boat in America - the "Francisco Montoya", in 1878 - but also the first boat with electric light throughout - the "Kate Adams", in 1882. It is also notable for building many knockdown (KD) boats for service in South America. The yard closed in 1930. It was located at Duquesne Way (now Fort Duquesne Boulevard) and Fancourt Street (later Fourth Street and roughly where Stanwix Street is now). See the site from the air on Google here. If anyone can add to the table below, which is clearly far from complete, please e-mail me at timcolton@aol.com.
| Hull # | Original Name | Original Owner | Vessel Type | Tons | Built | Disposition |
| Benton | Fort Benton Tptn. Co. | Steamship | 1875 | |||
| Helena | Fort Benton Tptn. Co. | Steamship | 1878 | Sank 1891 | ||
| Francisco Montoya | Magdalena Steam Nav. Co. | Steamship | 1878 | For South America | ||
| Victoria | Steamship | 1880 | For South America | |||
| Venezuela | Zulia River Navigation | Steamship | 1880 | For South America | ||
| Benner | U.S. Government | Medical Boat | 1880 | |||
| Saratoga Lake | Steam Catamaran | 1880 | ||||
| U.S. Government | Tug | 1881 | ||||
| U.S. Government | Tug | 1881 | ||||
| U.S. Government | Tug | 1881 | ||||
| Rober Carliator | Steamship | 1882 | For South America | |||
| De Castro | Steamship | 1882 | For South America | |||
| Chattahoochee | Steam Packet | 436 | 1882 | |||
| Kate Adams | Memphis & Arkansas Packet Co. | Steam Packet | 1882 | Burnt 1888 | ||
| Tenafly | 134 | 1885 | ||||
| Tres Hermanso | Thebaud Brothers | Steamship | 1885 | For South America | ||
| Charles R. Suter | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Towboat | 1886 | |||
| Lize | Kranewski and Peasant | Steamship | 35 | 1893 | ||
| Vesta | Jones & Laughlin Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 142 | 1902 | ||
| Hidalgo | Thebaud Brothers | Steamship | 1904 | For South America | ||
| Henry A. Laughlin | Jones & Laughlin Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 151 | 1905 | ||
| S. S. Brown | Steamship | 643 | 1906 | |||
| B. F. Jones, Jr. | Jones & Laughlin Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 91 | 1908 | ||
| Oregon | Mission Steamer | 1909 | ||||
| Olivia | Brazilian Owners | KD Riverboat | 1912 | For South America | ||
| Itacoatiara | Brazilian Owners | KD Riverboat | 160 | 1913 | For South America | |
| Campinas | Brazilian Owners | KD Riverboat | 160 | 1913 | For South America | |
| Aracaju | Brazilian Owners | KD Riverboat | 160 | 1913 | For South America | |
| Gaiola | Julio Guimaraes | Riverboat | 1913 | Now Benjamin Guimaraes, still active | ||
| Idlewild | West Memphis Packet Co. | Steamboat | 260 | 1914 | Now Belle of Louisville, museum in Louisville KY | |
| Aliquippa | Jones & Laughlin Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 1915 | |||
| Parahyba | Brazilian Owners | KD Riverboat | 160 | 1916 | For South America | |
| W. H. Clingerman | Carnegie Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 234 | 1918 | Now W. P. Snyder. Jr., museum in Marietta OH | |
| Homestead | Carnegie Steel | Sternwheel Towboat | 234 | 1919 | ||
| Ayacucho | Soc. Colombiana de Transportes | Steamboat | Burnt and sank 1961 |