Astoria Marine Construction (AMCCO) was founded as Astoria Shipbuilding by Joe Dyer is 1929 in Jeffers Gardens of Astoria, Oregon. Joe Dyer's father was a pioneer of early Astoria and operated a family sawmill. Joe Dyer started by building wooden fishing boats at his shipyard. Then added wooden pleasure craft to his product line. Joe Dyer designed and built Columbia River One Design (CROD) boats and boats for the United States Navy. The shipyard was on the east bank of the Lewis and Clark River and the Jeffers Slough. Due to its historical importance the site is on the National Register of Historic Places in Clatsop County, Oregon.Astoria Marine Construction, nps.govAstoria Marine Construction, nps.gov Astoria Marine Construction shipyard closed in 2013.

History Before starting his shipyard, Joe Dyer (1898–1974) was given a contract to build 12 Bristol Bay sailing gill-netters in 1924. Joe Dyer partnered with Acme (Ac) Mansker, and Clair Mansker to build 12 boats, calling the firm Astoria Shipbuilding in 1929. Together they built a new 7.2 acre shipyard. The yard grew, Astoria Shipbuilding built the Arrow No. 2 Astoria's river pilot boat. In 1926 Ac Mansker and his family departed the firm and moved to Puget Sound. Ac Mansker later worked as a superintendent at Bellingham Shipyards and later Todd Shipyards in Seattle. In addition to building wooden boats, Dyer added metal sheet, called ice sheathing to the bows of wooden cargo ships, to protect the hull in iced ports.Makovich, Lee. "The Age of Wooden Boat Building." Oregon Coast Magazine, January 1998: 28–32.

Tourist III In 1931 Dyer received his first large project, the design and construction of a 120-foot car ferry, called the Tourist III run by Captain Fritz Elving. The Tourist III operated for the Astoria-North Beach Ferry Company, on the Astoria – North shore route. Dyer leased a shipway at the Port of Astoria to build the large Tourist III and hired a crew. Tourist III was built in 90 days, so good a ship it put its rival Columbia Transportation out of action in two years. Tourist III was long, 233 tons, with a capacity of: 28 automobiles, 280 passengers. Tourist III ferry service started on July 4, 1931. The Tourist III Astoria run ended in 1966 as the Astoria – Megler Bridge was built. The Tourist III was taken to Kodiak, Alaska and was used as a floating crab-processing plant.Evergreenfleet.com "Tourist III" (accessed 05–26–11).

Great Depression Columbia River One Design The Great Depression was difficult on Astoria Shipbuilding Company, but the firm survived. Columbia River Yachting Association contacted the shipyard to design and build a one-class racing and cruising sloop in 1934. The Columbia River One Design (CROD) became the standard for the Astoria regatta races for the next thirty years. The shipyard built five Columbia River One Design (CROD) and due to the depression sold four CRODs as kits between 1934 and 1940. The second CROD built, CROD No. 2, named Jean II was sold to Dean Webster of Portland, Oregon, he won first in class in the Pacific International Yachting Association race. After World War II Dyer built three more CRODs, including one for himself Joe's own boat, called Tom Tom after his son, that was passed down to his son. Astoria Shipbuilding built 12 Columbia River One Design (CROD), the 28-foot sloops became a classic. Columbia River One Design hulls 1 and 2 were donated to the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Columbia river one design: Length 27.83 feet Beam 8.83 feet Draft 2.33 feet, Maximum draft 5 feet Sail area at max 344 sq. feet Monohull keel with centerboard wood Waterline length 24 ft Displacement 7,000 lbs Ballast 950 lbs Hull speed 6.56 knots (had back up Westerbeke Universal gasoline engine with 20-gallon tank)

Great depression boats

In 1935, naval architect John Omundse joined the firm. In 1935 Dyer built a 36-foot express cruiser, Joanne, for A. N. Prouty, a local mill owner, also a luxurious 50-footer, Phantom with twin V-8 for Dr. Wallace Haworth of Portland. In 1938 Dyer built a 47-foot boat the Evening Star for Portland businessman Milt Henderson. In 1938, Dyer built a 52-foot gaff-rigged schooner, Pagan, for Edward Hefty. In 1938 Astoria Marine won a contract with United States Coast and Geodetic Survey to build an 88-foot survey ship, the E Lester Jones out of pressure-treated wood. The wood was pressure-treated at a plant in Wauna, Oregon. Heine Dole a new engineer with Astoria Marine was key in overseeing the project.

World War II To support the World War II effort, Astoria Marine Construction built boats for the United States Navy and United States Army. At its peak in 1943, Astoria Marine Construction had over 1,500 workers. Dyer improved an East Coast Navy designed Minesweepers. Astoria Shipbuilding Company won on April 1, 1941, a $1,312,000 contract to build four minesweepers. Astoria Marine Construction built a new shipyard for the minesweeper assembly line at a Port of Astoria facility. Other orders were given to Astoria Shipbuilding. Astoria Marine operated three-yard during the war: Lewis and Clark River, Astoria Port Docks, and Tongue Point yard. Astoria Marine also converted 50 escort carriers and 56 ammunition ships for the war efforts.Astoria history, City of Astoria

For the US Navy Astoria Marine Construction built: YMS-1 type 137-foot Minesweepers YMS-135 subclass Minesweepers, like USS Osprey (AMS-28) and USS Minah (AMc-204) YP 623 type 128-foot Patrol Craft, like PCS 1465

For the US Army Astoria Marine Construction built: MTL Tugboats a Type V ship Motor Launch World War II boats: Boat Owner Type Tons Feet long Delivery date Fate YMS 100 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 20-Jun-42 To the USSR 1945 as T 602 YMS 101 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 17-Jul-42 Struck 1946 YMS 102 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 22-Aug-42 Struck 1947 YMS 103 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 19-Sep-42 Mined off Okinawa and lost 1945 YMS 135 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 20-Feb-43 To the USSR 1945 as T 606 YMS 136 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 19-Mar-43 Renamed AMS 46, to Brazil 1960 as Jutai M14, struck 1969 YMS 137 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 17-Apr-43 Britain as BYMS 2137 in 1943, to Italy 1947 as Orchida, then Calisto YMS 138 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 7-Jun-43 To Thailand 1947 as Ladea, YMS 139 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 24-Jun-43 To the USSR 1945 as T 594 YMS 140 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 12-Aug-43 Sold private 1946 as Salvor, later Salvage Queen and Clearwater YMS 141 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 28-Aug-43 Britain BYMS 2141 in 1943, to Italy 1947 as Dalia, struck 1966 YMS 142 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 137 30-Sep-43 To Britain 1943 as BYMS 2142, to Italy 1947 as Azalea, struck 1966 MTL 1057 US Army Tug 47 Oct-43 Ship design 324-A, 12 ft beam, Diesel 260 shp MTL 1058 US Army Tug 47 Oct-43 MTL 1059 US Army Tug 47 Oct-43 MTL 1060 US Army Tug 47 Oct-43 MTL 1061 US Army Tug 46 Nov-43 Ship design 410 MTL 1062 US Army Tug 46 Nov-43 MTL 1063 US Army Tug 46 Nov-43 MTL 1064 US Army Tug 46 Nov-43 MTL 1065 US Army Tug 46 Nov-43 MTL 1066 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 MTL 1067 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 MTL 1068 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 MTL 1069 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 MTL 1070 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 MTL 1071 US Army Tug 46 Dec-43 YT 312 US Navy Tug 70 1943–44 Destroyed 1948 YT 313 US Navy Tug 70 1943–44 Sold 1946 YT 314 US Navy Tug 70 1943–44 Sold 1947 YT 315 US Navy Tug 70 1943–44 Sold PCS 1464 US Navy Minesweeper 338d 136 8-Jan-44 became Medrick (AMc 203), to MARAD in 1948 PCS 1465 US Navy Minesweeper 338d 136 15-Feb-44 became USS Minah (AMc-204), then AMCU 14, MHC 14, sold 1960 YMS 422 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 27-Sep-44 renamed Osprey (AMS 28), to Japan 1955 as Yakushima (YTE 10) YMS 423 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 25-Oct-44 To South Korea 1948 as Kaya San, sunk 1949 YMS 424 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 24-Nov-44 Lost 1945 YMS-425 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 21-Dec-44 renamed USS Siskin, scrapped 1968 YMS 426 US Navy Minesweeper 278d 21-Dec-44 renamed in 1947 to Siskin (AMS 58), scrapped 1968 YP 623 US Navy Patrol Craft 128 1944 To MARAD in 1947 YP 624 US Navy Patrol Craft 128 1944 To MARAD in 1947

Post War II

Astoria Marine Construction built 79-foot trawlers including the Trask and the Shirley Lee. Astoria Marine Construction built a 58-foot seiner without an order and took two years to sell. Dyer built a CROD, the Tom Tom for himself in 1945. Astoria Marine Construction worked the reserve fleet at Tongue Point. For the Navy, and National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria Marine Construction worked on "mothballing" ships and boats. Astoria Marine was able to rent two Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARD) Auxiliary floating drydock to repair large ships and boats. NOAAS Oregon was built in 1946 under a US contract with Reconstruction Finance Corporation, to help with the shortage of fishing boats after the war. Many good fishing boats had been used for patrol boats. In 1949 she was acquired by the United States Department of the Interior for fish and wildlife work. In 1970 Oregon was acquired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and used the Oregon for 10 years.Anonymous, "AFSC Historical Corner: Oregon, RFC Exploratory Fishing Fleet Vessel," noaa.gov, undated Retrieved August 22, 2018

Korean War Astoria Marine Construction won the contract to build new Agile-class minesweeper minesweepers with less iron (non-magnetic), less likely to set off new naval mines used in the Korean War. The first contract was for two ships, AM 480, the USS Dash, and AM 481, the USS Detector with aluminum engines. Next Astoria Marine Construction received an order for three more Onversaagd-class minesweepers for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Astoria Marine de-mothballed ships and boats in the reserve fleet, so they could be used for the war. After the war the yard built fishing vessels and tug boats and repaired boats. In 1957 Astoria Marine Construction built the grand 39-foot Cutter Yacht Patronilla, for Bill Forrest. In 1966 the last grand Yacht built was the 39 -foot, Jeanne Elizabeth, for Leah Pierce.

Korean War ships: ID Name owner Type Tons Feet long Delivery date Fate MSO 428 USS Dash U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780d 172 14-Aug-53 Scrapped 1983 MSO 429 USS Detector U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780d 172 26-Jan-54 Scrapped 1983 MSO 480 Onversaagd U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780d 172 19-May-54 To the Netherlands as M 884, scrapped 1979 MSO 481 Onvevreesde U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780d 172 21-Sep-54 To the Netherlands as M 885, scrapped 1989 MSO 482 Onverschrokken U.S. Navy Minesweeper 780d 172 18-Jan-55 To the Netherlands as M 886, torpedo trials ship 1972

Joseph M. Dyer