New fuel barge leaves Port with escort.

Fraser Shipyards launches Greenstone II

The tank barge Greenstone II, the first vessel to be built by Superior's Fraser Shipyards in nearly 40 years, left the Port of Duluth-Superior on May 25. She was escorted to Houghton, Mich., by the tug Miss Laura, owned by Marine Tech of Duluth.

The Greenstone II is a double-hulled fuel barge that will operate between Houghton and Isle Royale National Park, replacing the single hulled barge Greenstone, which was retired last year.

Fraser Shipyards, whose predecessors date back 113 years, is the only remaining major American shipyard and dry dock operation on the western end of the Great Lakes.

Established in the 1890s as American Steel Barge Company, the shipyard was famous for building whaleback steamers and barges under the direction of shipbuilder Alexander McDougall.

From 1900 to 1926, Superior Shipbuilding Co. operated the yard and built more than 50 Great Lakes ore carriers.

From 1926 to 1945, the Fraser yard was a repair facility of the American Shipbuilding Co. It then became known as Knudsen Brothers Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. Fraser-Nelson Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. took over the plant in 1955, and the present name was adopted in 1964.

Fraser now serves as a leader in repair, reconstruction and conversion of Great Lakes vessels, "but we're continually looking for new projects such as this vessel construction," said Yard Superintendent Gene Walroos. "We hope this new barge will launch a return for Fraser into small-vessel construction, and we'll continue to work with various owners on upcoming projects."