G. M. Standifer Construction Company


The G. M. Standifer Construction Company was an American company that built three shipyards on the Columbia River for the World War I effort, one in Oregon and two in Washington. After the war it maintained its original yard in north Portland, Oregon. The north Portland yard, and one of the Vancouver, Washington yards produced wooden ships. The other Vancouver yard, located just west of what was then the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway bridge produced steel-hulled ships. The Portland yard was located about a mile to the west, just downstream from the BNSF bridge. Both Vancouver yards were closed in 1921.

Standifier Steel Shipyard (1918–1919)

The Vancouver yard, referred to as the Standifier Steel Shipyard, began working steel for the assembly of merchant ships on July 13, 1918, and by October 13, 1918, was handling an average of 200 tons of steel a day with plans to begin producing a completed steel ship every two weeks.
Hull #Ship NameUSSB #OwnerTypeGross TonnageDelivery DateDisposition
1S.S. CokesitUS Shipping BoardCargo Ship6,100May 1919Later Adelfoi Chandris 1938, Saint Marin 1941, Catania 1942, bombed 1943 and scrapped 1949cell
2S.S. CoaxetUS Shipping BoardCargo Ship6,100July 1919Later Empire Kingfisher 1941, wrecked off Cape Sable 1942
3S.S. WabanUS Shipping BoardCargo Ship6,100July 1919Later Empire Sambar 1940, Empire Beaver 1941, S.S. Norhauk 1942, mined and lost 1943