Toronto Drydock Company Explained

Toronto Drydock Company is a shipbuilding repair company in Canada and the name of two shipbuilders in the 19th and 20th centuries respectively.

Toronto Dry Dock Company

The first Toronto Dry Dock Company was established in 1847 by William Botsford Jarvis (1799–1864) in the Province of Canada to build ships to ply the waters of the Great Lakes.[1]

Toronto Dry Dock Company Limited

Another Toronto Dry Dock Company Limited was established in 1917 by several partners:

Toronto Dry Dock and its floating dry dock and yard were located along the south edge of Keating Channel, along with the related Toronto Ship Building Company, owned by the same principals. The company acquired the shipbuilding business of Patrick Dixon and son Harry J. Dixon) under the Ontario Companies Act to build larger ships, and during WW I Toronto Shipbuilding constructed two wood-hulled freighters in 1918, the War Ontario and War Toronto, side-launching both into Keating Channel. The company remained in business until 1964 and was later acquired as part of the Port Weller Dry Docks.[2]

The facilities were sold following the bankruptcy of Port Weller Dry Docks Limited, who moved the dry dock to Port Weller, Ontario and sold the facilities to Toronto Harbour Commission.[3] The former dockyard is now used for storage by Harbourfront Centre and Port of Toronto (to store the airport ferries).

Toronto Drydock

The current Toronto Drydock, founded in 1989 is a small marine repair facility built from the former St-Lawrence pulpwood carrier Menier Consol (built in 1962 and converted as floating drydock after 1984) and located in the eastern Portland area in the Turning Basin along Basin Street and across from the former Hearn Generating Station.

History of shipbuilding in Toronto

Shipbuilding in Toronto dates back to the period when shipping was isolated to the Great Lakes. Early ship building was conducted by the Royal Navy for use in the Great Lakes, but several small, medium, and large private shipbuilding concerns developed during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Polson Iron Works, established in Toronto in 1883, was a major builder of steamers into the 1900s. Located at the foot of Sherbourne Street, the Iron Works produced around 150 assorted vessels,[4] including ten steel-hulled minesweepers for the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Navy, and six cargo vessels during World War I. After the war Polson declared bankruptcy and closed in 1919 due to lack orders and tariff protections.

A succession of ship builders were also located at Bathurst Street Wharf,[5] starting with John Doty Engine Works (1875–1892). The yard was purchased by Bertram Engine Works (1893–1905), then by Canadian Shipbuilding Company (1905–1907); and then by Toronto Shipyards (1908–1910). The idled yard was later taken over by Thor Iron Works (1913–1917), which constructed two minesweepers for the Royal Navy and four cargo vessels before selling the yard to Dominion Shipbuilding. Dominion then built a new facility on reclaimed land leased from the Toronto Harbour Commission and constructed twelve merchant ships during and immediately following the war (1917–1921) before ceasing operations. The once again idle ship yard was reactivated during World War II by the Canadian Government to construct Bangor and s (1941–1945), with the yard operated by a succession of companies, starting with Dufferin Shipbuilding Company Limited, then government-owned Toronto Shipbuilding Company Limited, and finally Redfern Construction Company Limited. At the end of the war the yard was closed for good.

A number of other small builders dotted the waterfront east and west of Toronto proper:

The Rouge River's ship building was linked to the prolific lumber industry. The shipbuilding industry ranged between 1810 and 1856.

Most of the ships were used for passenger and to carry potash, grain and lumber between Oswego, New York and Toronto, then called York.

A partial list of notable ships built in Toronto
 Vessel  Type  Hull  Year launched  Year retired  Builder 
name unknown[6] wood sailing shipc. 1812Thomas Adams Port Union near Highland Creek
Duke of Yorkwood schooner1820Capt. Hadley
Mary Annwood sailing ship1834Thomas Adams Port Union at mouth of Highland Creek
City of Torontowood ship1855built for Allan Lines
Knapp's Roller Boatprototype1887Polson Iron Works Limited
City of Chathampassenger201888Polson Iron Works Limited
Mayflower ferry 1890by John Doty & Sons
Primroseferry1890John Doty & Sons
Coronapassenger 161896Bertram Engineering Works Company
Torontopassenger 291899Bertram Engineering Works Company
Ottawacargo 351900Bertram Engineering Works Company
Kingstonpassenger 371901Bertram Engineering Works Company
Tadenaccargo 361902Bertram Engineering Works Company
Tadousaccargo 401903Bertram Engineering Works Company
Lurcherlight ship631903Polson Iron Works Limited
Anticostilight ship631904Polson Iron Works Limited
Montrealpassenger 381904Bertram Engineering Works Company
Haddingtoncargo 431904Bertram Engineering Works Company
Vigilantfisheries patrol 701904Polson Iron Works Limited
Bluebellferry 1906Polson Iron Works Limited
Cayugapassenger 1001907Canadian Shipbuilding Company
E. B. Oslerlaker 1011907Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Rapids Kingpassenger 1061907Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Ontario No. 1railcar ferry 1907Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Trilliumferry941910Polson Iron Works Limited
Rapids Princepassenger 1131910Toronto Shipyards Ltd
KwasindRCYC passenger ferry1051913Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Festubertminesweeper1351917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Ypresminesweeper1361917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Messinesminesweeper1371917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS St. Eloiminesweeper1381917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS St. Julienminesweeper1391917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Vimyminesweeper1401917Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-15minesweeper1411918Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-16minesweeper1421918Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-17minesweeper1431918Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-18minesweeper1441918Polson Iron Works Limited
Tentocargo1331918Polson Iron Works Limited
Aspcargo1341918Polson Iron Works Limited
War Ontariocargo 11918Toronto Drydock Company / Toronto Shipbuilding
War Torontocargo 21918Toronto Drydock Company / Toronto Shipbuilding
Angoulèmecargo 41918Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
Trojacargo 51918Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
HMCS TR-13minesweeper 61918Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
HMCS TR-14minesweeper 71918Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
St. Mihielcargo 81918Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
Le Quesnoycargo 91919Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
War Hydracargo1451919Polson Iron Works Limited
War Tauruscargo1461919Polson Iron Works Limited
War Timiskamingcargo1471919Polson Iron Works Limited
Aquila/War Hamiltoncargo1481919Polson Iron Works Limited
War Algomacargo1491919Polson Iron Works Limited
War Haltoncargo1501919Polson Iron Works Limited
General Curriecargo 11919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Morrisoncargo 21919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Turnercargo 31919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Williamscargo 41919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Hessacargo 51919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Skolmacargo 61919Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Torontoniancargo 71920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
T. L. Churchcargo 81920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Canadian Pathfindercargo 101920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Canadian Engineercargo 111920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Gonzaba/Washingtoncargo 141920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Floraba/Bolivarcargo 151920Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Ned Hanlontug 1932Toronto Drydock Company
William Inglis ferry1935Toronto Drydock Company
Sam McBride ferry61939Toronto Drydock Company
HMCS Nipigon (J154)minesweeper151941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Burlington (J250)minesweeper161941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Georgian (J144)minesweeper171941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Thunder (J146)minesweeper181941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Gananoque (J259)minesweeper191941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Goderich (J260)minesweeper201941Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Fort York (J119)minesweeper211942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Parrsborough (J117)minesweeper221942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Qualicum (J138)minesweeper231942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Shippigan (J212)minesweeper241942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Tadoussac (J220)minesweeper251942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Wedgeport (J139)minesweeper261942Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Antares (J282)minesweeper311943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Arcturus (J283) minesweeper321943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Aries (J284)minesweeper331943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Clinton (J286)minesweeper341943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Friendship (J398)minesweeper351943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Gozo (J287)minesweeper361943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Lightfoot (J288)minesweeper371943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Melita (J289)minesweeper381943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Octavia (J290)minesweeper391943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Persian (J347)minesweeper401943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Postillion (J297)minesweeper411943Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Skipjack (J300)minesweeper421944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Thisbe (J302)minesweeper431944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Truelove (J303)minesweeper441944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Welfare (J356)minesweeper451944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mary Rose (J360)minesweeper461944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Moon (J329)minesweeper471944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Providence (J325)minesweeper481944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Regulus (J327)minesweeper491944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Seabear (J333)minesweeper501944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Serene (J354)minesweeper511944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Coquette (J350)minesweeper521944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Courier (J349)minesweeper531944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Felicity (J369)minesweeper541944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Flying Fish (J370)minesweeper551944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Golden Fleece (J376)minesweeper561944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Lioness (J377)minesweeper571944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Prompt (J378)minesweeper581944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Jaseur (J428)minesweeper591944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Laertes (J433)minesweeper601944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Maenad (J335)minesweeper611944Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Magicienne (J436)minesweeper621945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mameluke (J437)minesweeper631945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mandate (J438)minesweeper641945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Marvel (J443)minesweeper651945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Michael (J444)minesweeper661945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Minstrel (J445)minesweeper671945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Myrmidon (J454)minesweeper681945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mystic (J455)minesweeper691945Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Nerissa (J456)minesweeper701945Redfern Construction Company Limited
Thomas Rennie ferry81951Toronto Drydock Company

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scanner, v. 8, n. 6 (March 1976) : The Toronto Drydock Company Ltd..
  2. Web site: Scanner, v. 8, n. 6 (March 1976) : The Toronto Drydock Company Ltd..
  3. Web site: Port Weller Dry Dock . 2010-06-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100620125015/http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/world/canada/portweller.htm . 2010-06-20 .
  4. Web site: Polson Iron Works.
  5. Web site: Boats built by Redfern Construction.
  6. Web site: CCRA News . ccranews.com . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160817192635/http://ccranews.com/history_port_union.html . 17 August 2016 . dead.