American Shipbuilding Company
Considered to be the dominant shipbuilding establishment leading up to World War II, American Shipbuilding Company served the Great Lake region until 1984. Originally called Cleveland Shipbuilding, the company began in Cleveland, Ohio in 1888 and subsequently opened a second location in Lorain, Ohio. The name was changed to American Shipbuilding in 1900 after the organization purchased several additional shipbuilding companies, including Superior Shipbuilding out of Wisconsin, Ohio's Toledo Shipbuilding, and West Bay Shipbuilding out of West Bay City, Michigan.
A subsidiary of Tampa Bay Shipbuilding in Tampa, Florida, the company was owned by Ohio native George Steinbrenner Jr. and was taken over by his son, George Steinbrenner III, in 1957. Steinbrenner III, who also purchased the New York Yankees in 1973, eventually purchased the struggling company from his father.
American Shipbuilding Company's main location in Lorain was the birthplace of a number of ships, including the USS Sable IX, an aircraft carrier that served in WWII. The Lorain Yard was a large facility which included two dry docks that spanned well over 1,000 feet each and were constructed to accommodate the gigantic ore carriers that traveled the Great Lakes.
The Lorain location closed in 1984 as a result of labor disputes, and is now being redeveloped and will eventually be the site of a new upscale home development. American Shipbuilding Company now operates out of Tampa, Florida, and George Steinbrenner III continues to act as company chairman. American Shipbuilding was one of the many shipyards that utilized asbestos in the repair and modifications of vessels. Those exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma cancer of the lining of the lungs. Anyone with asbestos exposure history should consult a physician and monitor their health closely.
Ships built by American Shipbuilding Company:
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
