Ira S. Bushey started his work life driving mules on the Erie Canal in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. By 1895 Bushey began repairing boats, settling up shop in Brooklyn in 1905. His shipyard was located at the foot of Court Street, on the Gowanus Creek. When his oldest son was only 15, he incorporated his business as Ira Bushey and Sons – the company lasted for three generations. Bushey expanded his business to include boat building, initially barges but later tugs and tankers too. The company also got into the oil storage and delivery business. In 1977 Ira Bushey and Sons sold the company to Amerada Hess

The tanker MARY A. Whalen, homeship of PortSide NewYork was built for Ira S. Bushey.