PACIFIC COAST ENGINEERING (PACECO)

Oakland and Alameda CA

Most recent update: March 7, 2016.

Pacific Coast Engineering Company was originally an industrial fabricator and mechanical engineering company, working mostly for the construction and mining industries.  In the 1920s, they started building barges in Oakland, in a yard at the foot of 14th Street, close to the WWI emergency yard operated by Union Construction Company.  This site was taken over by the U.S. Navy in 1940 and the company moved to a new yard at 2350 Blanding Avenue, in Alameda.  During the war years they primarily built subassemblies for the larger yards in the San Francisco area, but also built five tugs for the Navy.  In 1950, the name was officially changed to PACECO and it was under this name that they developed a world-wide reputation as the designer of the modern container crane, which they first developed in 1958.  PACECO was bought by Fruehauf Corp. in 1967 and abandoned shipbuilding in 1976 in order to focus on the container crane market.  The Alameda shipyard was on the south side of the Tidal Canal, immediately to the west of the Park Street bridge: see it from the air on Google here.  If anyone can fill any of the gaps in the table below, please send your info to timcolton@aol.com. 

Hull # O.N. Original Name Original Owner Ship Type GT   Delivery Disposition
Built in Oakland
1 171515 Lighter No. 7 Tide Water Associated Oil Co. Tank Barge 249   1924 Later Foss 108, NLD 1964
2 169326 Haviside  Co. No. 4 Haviside Co. Dredge 491   Sep-25 Scrapped 1975
3 169455 Libby Honoulu No.1  Libby, McNeil & Libby Barge 403   1926 Later H. P. Benson, converted to dredge
4 231095 Alki City of Seattle Fireboat 196   Dec-27 Active
5   unknown Motor Vehicle Department Cable Barge     Apr-27  
6   R. W. Atkinson Hawaiian Dredging Co. Dredge     Sep-27  
7   unknown unknown Barge     1931  
8   unknown Jaspar Stacy Co. Gold Dredge     1936  
109 Federal Clamshell Barge US Army Corps of Engineers Barge     1938  
110 Federal No. 1 US Army Corps of Engineers Dump Scow     1938  
111 Federal No. 2 US Army Corps of Engineers Dump Scow     1938  
112 Federal Drill Barge US Army Corps of Engineers Drill Barge     1938  
113 174877 J. C. Freese Co. No. 3 J.C. Freese Company Tank Barge 296   Sep-40 NLD
114 240869 Enterprise San Francisco Towing Co. Towboat 59   1941 To USN as YT 462, later YTM 462
Built in Alameda
115   Mawkaw (YT 182) US Navy Tug 260d   6-Mar-43 Sold 1972
116   Negwagon (YT 188) US Navy Tug 260d   31-Mar-43 Sold 1973
117 951819 Nepanet (YT 189) US Navy Tug 260d   Mar-43 Sold 1987 as Headwind, later Richard, now Vega
118   Orono (YT 190) US Navy Tug 260d   29-May-43 To Guyana 1975
119   Osamekin (YT 191) US Navy Tug 260d   12-Feb-43 Sank off Alaska 1945
120   YD 92 US Navy Derrick Barge     1943?  
121   unknown            
122   unknown            
123   unknown            
124   unknown            
125 254459 United Towing No. 5 United Towing Co. Tank Barge 758   1944 Later Barge 5, Tori J
126 255282 United Towing No. 6 United Towing Co. Tank Barge 758   1944 Later Barge 6, NLD
127 586407 Barge 7 United Towing Co. Tank Barge 758   1945 Documented 1977
128 176688 J.C. Freese Co. Barge 11 J.C. Freese Company Tank Barge 770   1946 Later Barge 11,  NLD
129 252724 J.C. Freese Co. Barge 12 J.C. Freese Company Tank Barge 770   Apr-47 NLD
130 269083 Harbor No. 1 Harbor Transportation Co. Tank Barge 765   1946 Documented 1955, later Barge 1,  NLD
131 254358 United Towing No. 11 United Towing Co. Tank Barge 833   Dec-47 Later Barge 11, NLD
132 Federal The Colorado Bureau of Reclamation Dredge 600   1948  
133 Federal unknown Bureau of Reclamation Fuel Barge     1948  
134 Federal unknown Bureau of Reclamation Work Barge     1948  
135 Federal unknown Bureau of Reclamation Pipe Barge     1948  
136 Federal The Needles  Bureau of Reclamation Towboat     1948  
137   unknown State Harbor Commission Dump Scow     1948  
138   unknown State Harbor Commission Dump Scow     1948  
139 257023 Placer River Lines Inc. Tank Barge 627   1948 Later Barge 2
140 257343 Frank G. White State Harbor Commission Tug/Fireboat 80   1949 Later Jericho Chief, now Valiant
141 257968 Barge 12 Tank Barge 12, Inc. Tank Barge 1,481   May-49 NLD
142 258777 Barge 10 J.C. Freese Company Tank Barge 805   Sep-49 NLD
143 260212 Barge 14 Tank Barge 14, Inc. Tank Barge 1,473   Jul-50 Active
144 261033 Star & Crescent No. 24 Star & Crescent Boat Co. Tank Barge 1,480   Dec-50  
145 262398 Barge 15 Tank Barge 15 Co. Tank Barge 1,777   Jul-51 NLD
146 262931 Defiance Bay Cities Transportation Tug 48   1951  
147 262932 Fearless Crowley Launch & Tugboat Tug 48   1951  
148 Federal No. 2 Dry Dock Gate US Navy Caisson nm   Jun-52 For NSY San Francisco
149 264277 Sea Rover Shipowners & Merchants Tug 184   1952 Now Commodore
150 264276 Sea Scout Shipowners & Merchants Tug 184   1952 Now Arcturus
151 264148 Star & Crescent No. 25 Star & Crescent Boat Co. Tank Barge 1,639   Jul-52 Later Barge 25
152 264884 Barge 50 Harbor Tug & Barge Co. Tank Barge 1,215   1953 Active
153 264985 Sea Duke Shipowners & Merchants Tug 184   1953 Now Robert J. Brusco
154 265240 Sea Queen Shipowners & Merchants Tug 184   1953 Now Gladiator (Canada)
155 267775 San Diegan Star & Crescent Boat Co. Tug 186   1953 Active
156 266089 Barge 16 Tank Barge 16, Inc. Tank Barge 2,442   Aug-53 Active
157 267135 Barge 21 Tank Barge 21, Inc. Tank Barge 1,224   1954 Active
158 267546 Barge 22 Tank Barge 22, Inc. Tank Barge 1,224   1954 Active
159 268599 YB-17 Oahu Railway & Land Co. Barge 724   1954  
160 269023 Oil King San Francisco Towing Co. Tug 53   1954 Active
161   Ideal Cement 16 Ideal Cement Company Barge     Dec-54  
162   Ideal Cement 17 Ideal Cement Company Barge     Dec-54  
163   Ideal Cement 19 Ideal Cement Company Barge     Jan-55  
164   Ideal Cement 18 Ideal Cement Company Barge     Jan-55  
165 268871 Barge 17 Tank Barge 17, Inc. Tank Barge 2,444   Jan-54 Active
166 269060 Barge 24 Carrier Equipment Co. Tank Barge 1,216   Feb-55 Active
167 269429 Barge 51 Harbor Barging Inc. Tank Barge 1,370   Apr-55 Active
168   unknown            
169   unknown            
170 270645 Amorco Tide Water Associated Oil Co. Tank Barge 2,170   Dec-55  
171 271778 Sea Hound Tug Sea Hound, Inc. Tug 180   1956 Now Rosarito
172 271780 Sea Otter Tug Sea Otter, Inc. Tug 180   1956 Now Los Santo V, wrecked in Colon RP 2013
173   Ideal Cement 20 Ideal Cement Company Barge     Nov-55  
174 273537 Sea Witch Shipowners & Merchants Tug 293   Apr-57 Active
175 273536 Sea Giant Shipowners & Merchants Tug 293   May-57 Active (Antigua)
176 272315 Pacific No. 1 Pacific Barging Co. Tank Barge 2,725   1956  
177 272991 Pacific No. 2 Pacific Barging Co. Tank Barge 2,725   Jan-57 Later J. Whitney, then Chilkat Warrior, now ITB-272
178 272604 Carquinez State of California Ferry 537   1956 Later Blackbeard, now Noble Phoenix
179 273608 Barge 18 Tank Barge 18, Inc. Tank Barge 2,438   1957 Grounded on Shemya I. 1958, still there
180   unknown Delong Corp. Pipe Lay Barge     1958  
181 275925 Alameda Utah Construction Co. Dredge 1,284   Nov-58  
182 274677 Barge 14 Tank Barge 14, Inc. Tank Barge 2,712   Aug-57 Now Barge 141
183 274106 Marietta Star & Crescent Boat Co. Passenger 164   Jun-57  
184 276706 Atlas Crowley Launch & Tug Co. Tug 92   1958  
185 276707 Trojan Crowley Launch & Tug Co. Tug 92   1958 Now Capt Reino Mattila
186   George F. Ferris Hyperion Contractors J/U Drill Rig 6,648   Oct-58 Later J. F. P Five, Hercules 21, Parker Drilling 21-J, now Hercules 120 (Liberia)
187 278346 Barge 18 Tank Barge 18, Inc. Tank Barge 3,179   Jan-59 Now Boaz
188   unknown Delong Corp. J/U Drill Rig     1958  
189 280028 Pacific 3 Pacific Barge 3, Inc. Tank Barge 3,077   Nov-59 Later Lumberjack
190 281932 Barge 25 Freese Service Co. Tank Barge 1,217   1960 Active
191 Ghana unknown Kaiser Engineers Inc. Dredge     1961  
192 Ghana unknown Kaiser Engineers Inc. Dredge     1961  
193 287336 D.C.W.No. 1 Dow Chemical Co. Deck Barge 1,557   1961 Now Cascade
194   Foster City B-1   Dump Barge     Apr-62 Reassembly, originally built 1956 by Kaiser, Napa
195   Foster City II   Dump Barge     Apr-62 Reassembly, originally built 1956 by Kaiser, Napa
196 288266 Foster City T-1   Tug 57   Apr-62 Reassembly, originally built 1956 by Kaiser Portland
197   unknown            
198   unknown            
199   unknown            
200 292012 Skilak Long Beach Tugboat Co. Landing Craft 333   1963 Later Seahorse, now Lexington
201 280028 Pacific 3 Pacific Barge 3, Inc. Deckhouse 1,867   1964 Mod. to Hull 189
202 293495 Kenai Harbor Tug & Barge Co. Car Float 3,770   Dec-63 Later SBB XVIII, active
203 294228 Palmer Harbor Tug & Barge Co. Car Float 3,768   Mar-64  
204 294746 Jaramac Driller J. Ray McDermott, Inc. Platform Rig 1,021   May-64 Now Polar Cub
205 295826 Fairbanks Harbor Tug & Barge Co. Car Float 3,768   Jul-64  
206 296910 560 Pacific Inland Navigation Co. Barge 2,767   1964  
207 298992 Daring Bay Cities Transportation Co. Tug 196   Mar-65 Now Edward Brusco
208 299707 Intrepid Bay Cities Transportation Co. Tug 196   Jun-65  
209 500149 Sea Wolf Tug Sea Wolf, Inc. Tug 198   Aug-65 Now Narragansett
210 500707 Sea Lion Tug Sea Lion, Inc. Tug 190   1965 Later Triton, now Wycliffe
211 India Paceco Pacer Gov't of Bihar, India Dredge     Oct-66  
212 504166 Sea Racer Shipowners & Merchants Tug 190   Jun-66 Now Buckley McAllister
213 504597 Sea Monarch Shipowners & Merchants Tug 190   1966 Active
214 503692 Barge-10 Tank Barge 10, Inc. Tank Barge 4,133   1966  
215 505922 Samson Shipowners & Merchants Tug 198   Jan-66 Now Jack Brusco
216 506463 Vigilant Shipowners & Merchants Tug 199   Dec-66 Now David Brusco
217 520935 Thelma Trans-Bay Constructors Barge 1,175   Aug-66 Later HT 544, now Weeks 544
218   unknown Cook Inlet Pipe Line Co. Loading Platform     Oct-66  
219 506578 Barge 22 Smith-Rice Co. Inc. Barge 516   Jan-67 Now 429, active
220 506637 Barge 23 Derrick Barge 15, Inc. Barge 516   Jan-67 Now MLC 23, active
221 508472 Tidelands 011 J. Ray McDermott Deck Barge 2,545   Jul-67 Now Tideland 11
222 Federal YFU 71 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   14-Oct-67 Scrapped 1985
223 Federal YFU 72 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   24-Oct-67 Scrapped 1985
224 Federal YFU 73 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   20-Nov-67 To Cambodia 1970
225 939942 YFU 74 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   21-Dec-67 Sold 1986 , later Koos Carrier
226 Federal YFU 75 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   25-Jan-68 Sold 1986
227 Federal YFU 76 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   Mar-68 Sold 1984
228   unknown Gov't of the Philippines Landing Barge 100   1968  
229   unknown Gov't of the Philippines Landing Barge 100   1968  
230 Federal LCU 1637 US Navy Landing Craft 190d   Oct-70 Alum prototype, now Lady Kishma (Belize)
231 517948 Vivian Ann Vivian Fishing Co Tuna Seiner 715   1969 Later Willa G.
232 520243 Queen Mary Marilyn M Fishing Co. Tuna Seiner 722   Jul-69  
233 521455 Gina Karen Gina Karen Fishing, Inc. Tuna Seiner 722   1969 Later Bracero de Mar, foundered 1988
234 522612 Lou Jean II Lou Jean II Fishing, Inc. Tuna Seiner 722   1969 Now Trinidad III (Panama)
235 523613 Kathleen Hope Fishing, Inc. Tuna Seiner 724   1969 Later Aleutian Queen, Polar Queen, now Dona Roge
236 Federal YFU 77 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   17-May-68 To Dept. of Interior 1985
237 Federal YFU 78 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   Jun-68 Destroyed in Danang 1969
238 Federal YFU 79 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   Jul-68 Now IX 514
239 Federal YFU 80 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   Aug-68 Scrapped 1977
240 Federal YFU 81 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   1-Sep-68 Active
241 Federal YFU 82 US Navy Utility Boat 180d   Oct-68 Later IX 506, struck 2002
242 Mexico Pacer design Government of Mexico Dredge     1969 Hull assembled in Tampico
243   unknown Santa Clara Sand Co Dredge 1,000   1969  
244   unknown McCormack Sand Div. Dredge 1,000   1969  
245   unknown   Dredge        
246   unknown   Dredge        
247   unknown   Dredge        
248   unknown   Dredge     1975 Active (Canada)
249 Federal Mullen US Army Corps of Engineers Dredge     1976 Assembled in St. Paul MN
250   Barge 3 Smith-Rice Co. Inc. Derrick Barge 2,305   Dec-74 To Brazil 1978, now Superpesa II
251   Barge 3A Smith-Rice Co. Inc. Derrick Barge 2,305   1975  
252 562810 Foss 343 Foss Maritime Deck Barge 3,863   Feb-75 Now Marilyn Monroe
253 566922 D. B. 300 Crowley Derrick Barges, Inc. Deck Barge 2,614   Jul-75 Now D. B. Long Beach
254 567411 Polly B Peter Kiewit & Son Derrick Barge 1,185   Apr-75 Later R. L. Big Bob Strasser, DB Lucky Buck Woodward, now Lucky Buck, active
255 576844 Barge 5 Smith-Rice Co. Inc. Derrick Barge 2,468   Sep-76 Now Thomas W