George F. Rodgers Shipbuilding Company

George F. Rodgers Shipbuilding Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Shipbuilding
Founded	August 6, 1917 (1917-08-06)
Founder	George F. Rodgers, C.A. Koppison, L.E. Rolfe
Defunct	1924
Headquarters	Astoria , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Cargo ships (Design 1001 "Ferris"-class)

The George F. Rodgers Shipbuilding Company operated as a ship construction firm based in Astoria, Oregon.

History

Established on August 6, 1917, by George F. Rodgers (who previously served as mayor of Salem, Oregon), along with partners C.A. Koppison and L.E. Rolfe, the enterprise secured a five-year lease on a dock in Astoria, Oregon. The shipyard spanned 7.5 acres at the entrance of the Columbia River, strategically situated between the Port of Astoria and the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway. Its infrastructure featured four berths each measuring 300 feet in length with launching ways extending 210 feet, complemented by a blacksmith shop, sawmill, and joinery workshop.

During the maritime shortages caused by World War I, the yard obtained a contract from the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFT) in August 1917 to construct four 3,500-ton cargo vessels of the Design 1001 type, commonly referred to as "Ferris"-class after naval architect Theodore E. Ferris. Production commenced by October 1917 with the initial keel laid that month. The first ship, SS Blue Eagle, was finalized in 1918, followed by SS Capines, SS Wohnabe, and SS Munra completed in 1919.

Subsequently, the company secured contracts for an additional four Design 1001 vessels at a price of $300,000 each. Work began on two hulls named Granon and Crantor before these orders were canceled by EFT due to the conclusion of the war. The incomplete hulls became subject to legal disputes after the Port of Astoria took over the remaining lease area intending to develop a multi-million-dollar import-export pier.

In January 1920, Rodgers acquired all unfinished wooden hulls commissioned by EFT across the United States—totaling 34—for $170,000. The company also engaged in negotiations to assume control of the Seattle shipyard previously operated by Skinner & Eddy, which was closing; however, this arrangement was abandoned by May 1920. Following Rodgers’ fatal airplane accident at the Oregon State Fair in September 1924, the company ceased operations.

Vessels Constructed by George F. Rodgers Shipbuilding Company in Astoria, Oregon

Image	Hull	Ship Name	Design	O/N Number	Owner	Type	Gross Tonnage	Delivery Date	Disposition
		S.S. Blue Eagle	1001	217181	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	2,559	1918	Transferred to Western Marine & Salvage Company (1922); dismantled at Portland facility during 1924-25
		S.S. Capines	1001	217747	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	2,559	1919	Acquired by Western Marine & Salvage Company (1922); scrapped at Portland yard between 1924-25
		S.S. Wohnabe	1001	218366	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	2,559	1919	Lost to fire on Thames River (UK) in October 1920
		S.S. Munra	1001	218367	US Shipping Board	Cargo Ship	2,559	1919	Sold to Western Marine & Salvage Company (1922); dismantled at Portland yard during 1924-25