| Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Shipbuilding and Ship Repair | |
| Successor: | Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston |
| Foundation: | 1910 |
| Defunct: | 1968 |
| Location City: | Kingston, Ontario |
| Location Country: | Canada |
| Location: | Mississauga Point |
| Industry: | Shipbuilding |
| Products: | Lake freighters, Naval vessels |
| Services: | Ship Repair |
| Parent: | Collingwood Shipbuilding |
Kingston Shipyards was a Canadian shipbuilder and ship repair company that operated from 1910 to 1968.[1] The facility was located on the Kingston waterfront property known as Mississauga Point, which is the now the site of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.
In 1836 the British Board of Ordnance transferred control of the Kingston waterfront property, Mississauga Point, from the military to local businessmen. John Counter, Henry Gildersleeve, and Thomas Kirkpatrick created the Marine Railway Company to service the shipping traffic on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
By 1839 the company had built a small dry dock, an engine foundry, two wharves and a marine railway. In 1848 a large three storey warehouse was constructed. Steam power was added to the marine railway in 1851 and additional stone outbuildings were constructed in 1854.
The Marine Railway Company advertised its facilities in 1862. The company claimed to own a marine railway with steam sawmill, workshops and offices, sixteen stone cottages, a large foundry known as the Ontario foundry, five large three and four storey fireproof warehouses and many wharves. Over two hundred men were employed to overhaul and service seven vessels at a time. At its time, it was the largest shipbuilding effort west of Quebec.
In 1910 Collingwood Shipyards opened a subsidiary shipbuilding and repair plant in Kingston. The government dry dock was rented and purchased, and three government contracts for ships were secured. Several small jobs followed until the First World War in 1915. War contracts required 8 minesweepers for the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy and thus the workforce increased to over 1000 workers.
Manager D. Thompson headed the firm during the Great Depression keeping a crew of six to eight men onsite. Parties of workers were hired on the spot on a jobbed basis.
The first three corvettes were ordered to be constructed in 1940. This was the first construction contract since 1923. The workforce grew to over 1500 as corvette and minesweeper construction progressed. The last wartime contracts were for seven seagoing steam tugs which were finished after the war had ended.
In 1947 the yard was bought by the Canada Steamship Lines. This rejuvenated the shipyard business as the fleet of canallers owned by the Canada Steamship Lines provided repair work for the yard. The Kingston Shipyards throughout the 1950s was occupied with building tugs, barges and pontoons.
The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 made the fleet of canallers obsolete. With no canaller fleet wintering in Kingston, the yard lost the majority of its work. In 1967 Canada Steamship Lines shut down the site and all the equipment was to be sold or transferred to Collingwood Shipyards. The property was sold in 1968, and in 1974 acquired by the establishment of the current Marine Museum of the Great lakes at Kingston.
| Ships built at Kingston Shipyards[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull # | Original name | Original owner | Type | Date built | Disposition | ||
| 1 | Polana | Dept. of Agriculture | 278 | 1911 | 1927: renamed Jalobert1955: renamed Macassa1965: renamed Queen City | ||
| 3 | Bellechasse | Icebreaker and buoy tender | 417 | 1912 | 1954: scrapped | ||
| 4 | Dollard | Buoy tender | 761 | 1913 | 1970: scrapped | ||
| 5 | P.W.D. No. 17 | 398 | 1913 | 1938: no trace of ship records past this date. | |||
| 6 | P.W.D. No.18 | 398 | 1913 | 1985: possibly broken up. | |||
| 7 | 440d | 1918 | 1920: decommissioned 1923: recommissioned1930: struck a rock and sank | ||||
| 8 | 440d | 1918 | 1920: decommissioned1940: recommissioned1949: broken up | ||||
| 9 | HMCS TR-19 | 360d | 1918 | 1926: renamed Almeria 1928: renamed Goolgwai1939: 1945: decommissioned1955: wrecked near Sydney, Australia | |||
| 10 | HMCS TR-20 | 360d | 1918 | 1920: renamed Seville1926: renamed Durraween1940: 1952: broken up | |||
| 11 | HMCS TR-54 | 360d | 1918 | 1925: renamed Table Bay1937: renamed Mary Mortimer | |||
| 12 | HMCS TR-55 | 360d | 1918 | 1920: renamed Marie Jacqueline1927: Svalbard II1939: HNoMS Scorpion (Royal Norwegian Navy)1940: captured by Germans, renamed NN02 Scorpion1945: surrendered and returned to previous Norwegian owners 1946: Svalbard II1956: Baxel1966: sold for scrap | |||
| 13 | HMCS TR-56 | 360d | 1918 | 1919: renamed CT56 (USN)1921: renamed Romanita | |||
| 14 | HMCS TR-57 | 360d | 1919 | 1920: renamed Colonel Roosevelt1926: renamed Texas1941: HMT Texas1944: lost in a collision off Jamaica | |||
| 15 | Canadian Beaver | 2,410 | 1920 | 1934: renamed Shinai (Japan Govt.)1941: renamed Shinai Maru1944: sunk by an American mine off the coast of Celebes. | |||
| 16 | Canadian Coaster | 2,422 | 1921 | 1929: renamed Kingsley1943: renamed Silvestre1950: renamed Santa Lucia1966: scrapped for parts | |||
| J. A. Cornett | Canadian Dredging | 60 | 1937 | 2015: moored near Port Dover harbour | |||
| 17 | 940d | 1941 | 1942: sinks enemy ship U-356 1943: sinks enemy ship 1946: sold and scrapped | ||||
| 18 | 940d | 1941 | 1943: sinks enemy ship U-1631946: sold1951: scrapped | ||||
| 19 | 940d | 1941 | 1946: sold and converted to tug1967: scrapped | ||||
| 20 | 940d | 1941 | 1942: Torpedoed and sunk by U-517 in the St. Lawrence River near Cap-Chat, Quebec. | ||||
| 21 | 545d | 1942 | 1946: renamed Turoy1949: renamed Christina1954: renamed Korso1957: sunk by a mine off Portugal | ||||
| 22 | 545d | 1942 | 1946: renamed Aalesund1967: renamed Lars Nyvoll1978: renamed Jan Mayen | ||||
| 23 | / | 980d | 1942 | 1947: renamed HMS Flax 1951: renamed Ariana1955: renamed Arvida Bay1963: renamed Zaida | |||
| 24 | / | 980d | 1942 | 1943: renamed HMS Honesty1946: renamed USS Caprice1961: scrapped | |||
| 25 | / | 980d | 1943 | 1943: renamed HMS Rosebay1947: renamed Benmark1950: renamed Frida1954: scrapped | |||
| 26 | 980d | 1943 | 1945: sold to United Ship Corp. of New York for merchant service | ||||
| 27 | 980d | 1943 | 1945: Torpedoed and sunk by in the English Channel | ||||
| 28 | 980d | 1944 | 1947: renamed Gerardo Jansen (Dominican Republic Navy)1972: scrapped | ||||
| 29 | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1947: renamed Juan Bautista Combiaso (Dominican Republic Navy) 1972: broken up | |||
| 30 | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1950: renamed Olympic Lightning (Honduran-flagged whale-catcher)1956: renamed Otori Maru No. 16 (Japanese vessel)1961: renamed Kyo Maru No. 23 (Japanese vessel) | |||
| 31-38 | Carleton, Listowel, Aydon Castle, Barnwell Castle, Beeston Castle, Bowes Castle, Devizes Castle, Egremont Castle | 980d | Cancelled | ||||
| 33 | Rockglen | 233 | 1945 | 1948: renamed Freedom | |||
| 34 | Rockforest | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1945 | 1946: renamed Aramco 2021948: renamed Abqaiq 1 | ||
| 35 | Rockpigeon | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1945 | 1947: renamed Flaunt1959: renamed St. Merryn1984: scrapped | ||
| 36 | Rockdoe | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1945 | 1947: renamed Hoedic 1967: renamed Atlantico1977: scrapped | ||
| 37 | Rockswift | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1945 | 1946: renamed Ocean Rockswift1967: collides with Silver King I killing 6 fishermen1995: sold | ||
| 38 | Rockelm | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1946 | 1952: renamed Kalid | ||
| 39 | Rockswift | British Ministry of War Transport | 233 | 1946 | 1949: renamed Pemex XI | ||
| 40 | Kingston | Cancelled | |||||
| 41 | Canaller | Cancelled | |||||
| 42 | N.H.B.M. Hopper No. 1 | National Harbour Board | 135 | 1948 | 2015: active | ||
| 43 | N.H.B.M. Hopper No. 2 | National Harbour Board | 135 | 1948 | 2015: active | ||
| 44 | Royal Canadian Navy | 412d | 1954 | 1966: scrapped | |||
| 45 | D. C. Everest | Marathon Corp. | Pulpwood carrier | 2,196 | 1953 | 1981: renamed Condarrell1989: renamed D. C. Everest2000: renamed Condarrell2006: scrapped | |
| 46 | St. Lawrence II | Brigantine Inc. | 34 | 1953 | 2015: active | ||
| 47 | Windmill Point | Toronto Port Auth. | 118 | 1954 | 2015: active | ||
| 48 | Amherst Islander | Ont. Dept. of Hwys | 184 | 1955 | 2015: active | ||
| 49 | Seeley’s Bay Ferry | Leeds and Lansdowne | 1955 | ||||
| 50 | D.O.T. 11 | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1955 | |||
| 51 | D.O.T. 12 | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1955 | |||
| 52 | 1955 | ||||||
| 53 | S.L.S. 81 | 102 | 1955 | 2015: active | |||
| 54 | YLV 600 | Flat deck scow | 220 | 1955 | |||
| 55 | YLV 601 | 220 | 1955 | ||||
| 56 | Baffin One | Canadian Hydro Svce. | Landing barge | 4 | 1956 | For CSS Baffin | |
| 57 | Baffin Two | Canadian Hydro Svce. | Landing barge | 4 | 1956 | For CSS Baffin | |
| 58 | D.O.T. 49 | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1956 | |||
| 59 | D.O.T. 50 | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1956 | |||
| 60 | D.O.T. 51 | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1956 | ||
| 61 | Pitts Merrit | C.A. Pitts Contractors | 883 | 1957 | 1977: Lost off Newfoundland | ||
| 62 | Fort Steele (MP 34) | Patrol cutter | 215 | 1958 | 1973: to RCNR, renamed HMCS Fort Steele 1401996: renamed Marie T. Splinter1996: renamed Longway | ||
| 63 | Kenora II (MP 94) | R.C.M.P. | Patrol cutter | 119 | 1957 | ||
| 64 | S.L.S. 86 | 422 | 1958 | ||||
| 65 | S.L.S. 87 | 422 | 1958 | ||||
| 66 | T.H.C. No. 50 | Toronto Harbour Comm. | 385 | 1958 | 2004: active | ||
| 67 | William B. Dilly | McNamara Construction | 473 | 1957 | 2015: active | ||
| 68 | McNco No. 30 | McNamara Construction | 321 | 1958 | 2015: active | ||
| 69 | McNco No. 31 | McNamara Construction | 306 | 1958 | |||
| 70 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 71 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 72 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 73 | Scirocco | Gulfs & Lakes Navigation | 57 | 1959 | 1969: renamed Esmau1982: renamed Un Monde Different2008: deleted | ||
| 74 | Lightship No. 4 | Dept. of Transport | 520 | 1959 | 1969: renamed 1995: renamed Kormoran | ||
| 75 | RCL D-35 | Russel Construction | Scow | 235 | 1958 | later: renamed J.P.P. No. 501later: renamed H.M.D.C. No. 2later: scrapped | |
| 76 | RCL D-36 | Russel Construction | 307 | 1958 | Later: renamed J.P.P. No. 5011998: H.M.D.C. No. 32006: closed | ||
| 77 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 78 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 79 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 80 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | 27 | 1958 | |||
| 81 | Grayco Canada | Pontoons | 1958 | ||||
| 82 | Marguerite | Wooden boat | 1959 | Display boat for Upper Canada Village | |||
| 83 | McNco No. 1 | McNamara Construction | 223 | 1959 | |||
| 84 | McNco No. 2 | McNamara Construction | 224 | 1959 | |||
| 85 | McNco No. 3 | McNamara Construction | 225 | 1959 | |||
| 86 | McNco No. 4 | McNamara Construction | 223 | 1959 | |||
| 87 | Miss Cornwall | Cornwall Boat Tours | 44 | 1960 | later: renamed L’Aventure IIactive? | ||
| 88 | Pilot Boat No. 9 | Dept. of Transport | Pilot launch | 44 | 1960 | 1984: renamed Claudin Riverin2007: renamed Navsea | |
| 89 | Churchill 61 | National Harbour Board | 331 | 1961 | 1983: renamed Pitts No. 182004: deleted | ||
| 90 | Endiang | John P. Labatt | 72 | 1962 | 1969: deleted | ||
| 91 | Pitts No. 1 | C. A. Pitts Contracting | 532 | 1962 | |||
| 92 | Pitts No. 2 | C. A. Pitts Contracting | 532 | 1962 | |||
| 93 | Relay | SAR cutter | 143 | 1963 | 1989: stripped and abandoned | ||
| 94 | Shiwassie | City of Toronto | Ferry | 62 | 1962 | 1982: renamed Torontonian | |
| 95 | YSD 1 | Driving float | 1963 | ||||
| 96 | YSD 2 | Driving float | 1963 | ||||
| 97 | S.T.V. Pathfinder | Toronto Brigantine Inc. | Brigantine | 35 | 1963 | 2015: active | |
| 98 | Hudson One | Dept. of Mines | 1963 | for: | |||
| 99 | Bayswater Shipping | Barge | 808 | 1963 | |||
| 100 | Cargomaster | Hamilton Harbour Comm. | Derrick scow | 562 | 1964 | ||
| 101 | HBC 1000 | Hudson Bay Company | Barge | 1151 | 1964 | 2006: Lost in James Bay | |
| 102 | Dept. of Public Works | Floats | 1965 | ||||
| 103 | Dept. of Public Transport | Ferry barge | 15 | 1965 | |||
| 104 | Louis S. St. Laurent One | Coast Guard | Landing barge | 35 | 1967 | For CCGS Louis S. St. Laurent | |
| 105 | Louis S. St Laurent Two | Coast Guard | Landing barge | 35 | 1967 | For CCGS Louis S. St. Laurent | |
| 106 | Alexbow | Alexbow Ltd. | Icebreaking barge | 81 | 1967 | 1969: Lost in the Arctic | |
| 107 | Jean Bourdon | Coast Guard | Survey vessel | 81 | 1968 | 1995: renamed 801 | |
| 108 | Scow No. 108 | Dept. of Transport | Flat deck scow | 50 | 1967 | ||