Toronto Drydock Company

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:

  • C. S. Boone – President of the C. S. Boone Dredging and Construction Company Limited
  • John E. Russell,
  • Lawrence Solman, manager of the Toronto Ferry Company Limited
  • John J. Manley, C. S. Boone Dredging and Construction Company Limited
  • Henry J. Dixon

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 Great Lakes 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 Algerine-class minesweepers (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:

  • Rouge River
  • Highland Creek – Thomas Adams
  • Humber River
  • Credit River

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 ship c. 1812 Thomas Adams Port Union near Highland Creek
Duke of York wood schooner 1820 Capt. Hadley
Mary Ann[7] wood sailing ship 1834 Thomas Adams Port Union at mouth of Highland Creek
City of Toronto wood ship 1855 built for Allan Lines
Knapp's Roller Boat prototype 1887 Polson Iron Works Limited
City of Chatham passenger 20 1888 Polson Iron Works Limited
Mayflower ferry 1890 by John Doty & Sons
Primrose ferry 1890 John Doty & Sons
Corona passenger 16 1896 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Toronto passenger 29 1899 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Ottawa cargo 35 1900 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Kingston passenger 37 1901 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Tadenac cargo 36 1902 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Tadousac cargo 40 1903 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Lurcher light ship 63 1903 Polson Iron Works Limited
Anticosti light ship 63 1904 Polson Iron Works Limited
Montreal passenger 38 1904 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Haddington cargo 43 1904 Bertram Engineering Works Company
Vigilant fisheries patrol 70 1904 Polson Iron Works Limited
Bluebell ferry 1906 Polson Iron Works Limited
Cayuga passenger 100 1907 Canadian Shipbuilding Company
E. B. Osler laker 101 1907 Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Rapids King passenger 106 1907 Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Ontario No. 1 railcar ferry 1907 Canadian Shipbuilding Company
Trillium ferry 94 1910 Polson Iron Works Limited
Rapids Prince passenger 113 1910 Toronto Shipyards Ltd
Kwasind RCYC passenger ferry 105 1913 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Festubert minesweeper 135 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Ypres minesweeper 136 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Messines minesweeper 137 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS St. Eloi minesweeper 138 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS St. Julien minesweeper 139 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS Vimy minesweeper 140 1917 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-15 minesweeper 141 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-16 minesweeper 142 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-17 minesweeper 143 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
HMCS TR-18 minesweeper 144 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
Tento cargo 133 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
Asp cargo 134 1918 Polson Iron Works Limited
War Ontario cargo 1 1918 Toronto Drydock Company / Toronto Shipbuilding
War Toronto cargo 2 1918 Toronto Drydock Company / Toronto Shipbuilding
Angoulème cargo 4 1918 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
Troja cargo 5 1918 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
HMCS TR-13 minesweeper 6 1918 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
HMCS TR-14 minesweeper 7 1918 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
St. Mihiel cargo 8 1918 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
Le Quesnoy cargo 9 1919 Thor Iron Works / Dominion Shipbuilding
War Hydra cargo 145 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
War Taurus cargo 146 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
War Timiskaming cargo 147 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
Aquila/War Hamilton cargo 148 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
War Algoma cargo 149 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
War Halton cargo 150 1919 Polson Iron Works Limited
General Currie cargo 1 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Morrison cargo 2 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Turner cargo 3 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
General Williams cargo 4 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Hessa cargo 5 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Skolma cargo 6 1919 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Torontonian cargo 7 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
T. L. Church cargo 8 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Canadian Pathfinder cargo 10 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Canadian Engineer cargo 11 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Gonzaba/Washington cargo 14 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Floraba/Bolivar cargo 15 1920 Dominion Shipbuilding Limited
Ned Hanlon tug 1932 Toronto Drydock Company
William Inglis ferry 1935 Toronto Drydock Company
Sam McBride ferry 6 1939 Toronto Drydock Company
HMCS Nipigon (J154) minesweeper 15 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Burlington (J250) minesweeper 16 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Georgian (J144) minesweeper 17 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Thunder (J146) minesweeper 18 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Gananoque (J259) minesweeper 19 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMCS Goderich (J260) minesweeper 20 1941 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Fort York (J119) minesweeper 21 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Parrsborough (J117) minesweeper 22 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Qualicum (J138) minesweeper 23 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Shippigan (J212) minesweeper 24 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Tadoussac (J220) minesweeper 25 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Wedgeport (J139) minesweeper 26 1942 Dufferin Shipbuilding / Toronto Shipbuilding
HMS Antares (J282) minesweeper 31 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Arcturus (J283) minesweeper 32 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Aries (J284) minesweeper 33 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Clinton (J286) minesweeper 34 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Friendship (J398) minesweeper 35 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Gozo (J287) minesweeper 36 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Lightfoot (J288) minesweeper 37 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Melita (J289) minesweeper 38 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Octavia (J290) minesweeper 39 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Persian (J347) minesweeper 40 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Postillion (J297) minesweeper 41 1943 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Skipjack (J300) minesweeper 42 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Thisbe (J302) minesweeper 43 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Truelove (J303) minesweeper 44 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Welfare (J356) minesweeper 45 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mary Rose (J360) minesweeper 46 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Moon (J329) minesweeper 47 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Providence (J325) minesweeper 48 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Regulus (J327) minesweeper 49 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Seabear (J333) minesweeper 50 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Serene (J354) minesweeper 51 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Coquette (J350) minesweeper 52 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Courier (J349) minesweeper 53 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Felicity (J369) minesweeper 54 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Flying Fish (J370) minesweeper 55 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Golden Fleece (J376) minesweeper 56 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Lioness (J377) minesweeper 57 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Prompt (J378) minesweeper 58 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Jaseur (J428) minesweeper 59 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Laertes (J433) minesweeper 60 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Maenad (J335) minesweeper 61 1944 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Magicienne (J436) minesweeper 62 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mameluke (J437) minesweeper 63 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mandate (J438) minesweeper 64 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Marvel (J443) minesweeper 65 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Michael (J444) minesweeper 66 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Minstrel (J445) minesweeper 67 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Myrmidon (J454) minesweeper 68 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Mystic (J455) minesweeper 69 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
HMS Nerissa (J456) minesweeper 70 1945 Redfern Construction Company Limited
Thomas Rennie ferry 8 1951 Toronto Drydock Company
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See also

References
  1. http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/Scanner/08/06/default.asp?ID=c007
  2. http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/documents/scanner/08/06/default.asp?ID=c007
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2010-06-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/canadayards/polson.htm
  5. http://shipbuildinghistory.com/canadayards/redfern.htm
  6. http://www.ccranews.com/history_port_union.html%5B%5D
  7. http://www.ccranews.com/history_port_union.html%5B%5D
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