Kingston Shipyards

Canadian shipbuilder and ship repair company (1910 - 1968)

Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Shipbuilding and Ship RepairIndustry| Shipbuilding

|

Founded| 1910
Defunct| 1968
Successor| Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston
Headquarters| Mississauga Point,

Kingston, Ontario

Canada

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.

## History

[edit]

### Marine Railway Company

[edit]

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.[1]

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.[1]

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.[1]

### First World War

[edit]

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.[1]

### Depression

[edit]

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.[1]

### Second World War

[edit]

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.[1]

### Canada Steamship Lines takes over

[edit]

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.[1]

### Final years

[edit]

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.[1]

### Shipbuilding history

[edit]

Ships built at Kingston Shipyards[2][3][4][5][6]

Hull # | Original name | Original owner | Type | Gross tonnage | Date built | Disposition
1 | Polana | Dept. of Agriculture | Quarantine cutter | 278 | 1911 | 1927: renamed Jalobert

1955: renamed Macassa 1965: renamed Queen City

3 | Bellechasse | Coast Guard | Icebreaker and buoy tender | 417 | 1912 | 1954: scrapped
4 | Dollard | Coast Guard | Buoy tender | 761 | 1913 | 1970: scrapped
5 | P.W.D. No. 17 | Dept. of Public Works | Dump scow | 398 | 1913 | 1938: no trace of ship records past this date.
6 | P.W.D. No.18 | Dept. of Public Works | Dump scow | 398 | 1913 | 1985: possibly broken up.
7 | HMCS Thiepval | Royal Canadian Navy | Minesweeper | 440d | 1918 | 1920: decommissioned

1923: recommissioned 1930: struck a rock and sank

8 | HMCS Loos | Royal Canadian Navy | Minesweeper | 440d | 1918 | 1920: decommissioned

1940: recommissioned 1949: broken up

9 | HMCS TR-19 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1918 | 1926: renamed Almeria

1928: renamed Goolgwai 1939: HMAS Goolgwai 1945: decommissioned 1955: wrecked near Sydney, Australia

10 | HMCS TR-20 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1918 | 1920: renamed Seville

1926: renamed Durraween 1940: HMAS Durraween 1952: broken up

11 | HMCS TR-54 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1918 | 1925: renamed Table Bay

1937: renamed Mary Mortimer

12 | HMCS TR-55 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1918 | 1920: renamed Marie Jacqueline

1927: Svalbard II 1939: HNoMS Scorpion (Royal Norwegian Navy) 1940: captured by Germans, renamed NN02 Scorpion 1945: surrendered and returned to previous Norwegian owners 1946: Svalbard II 1956: Baxel 1966: sold for scrap

13 | HMCS TR-56 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1918 | 1919: renamed CT56 (USN)

1921: renamed Romanita

14 | HMCS TR-57 | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 360d | 1919 | 1920: renamed Colonel Roosevelt

1926: renamed Texas 1941: HMT Texas 1944: lost in a collision off Jamaica

15 | Canadian Beaver | Canadian Govt. | Cargo ship | 2,410 | 1920 | 1934: renamed Shinai (Japan Govt.)

1941: renamed Shinai Maru 1944: sunk by an American mine off the coast of Celebes.

16 | Canadian Coaster | Canadian Govt. | Cargo ship | 2,422 | 1921 | 1929: renamed Kingsley

1943: renamed Silvestre 1950: renamed Santa Lucia 1966: scrapped for parts

| J. A. Cornett | Canadian Dredging | Tug | 60 | 1937 | 2015: moored near Port Dover harbour
17 | HMCS Napanee | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 940d | 1941 | 1942: sinks enemy ship U-356

1943: sinks enemy ship U-163 1946: sold and scrapped

18 | HMCS Prescott | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 940d | 1941 | 1943: sinks enemy ship U-163

1946: sold 1951: scrapped

19 | HMCS Sudbury | vRoyal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 940d | 1941 | 1946: sold and converted to tug

1967: scrapped

20 | HMCS Charlottetown | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 940d | 1941 | 1942: Torpedoed and sunk by U-517 in the St. Lawrence River near Cap-Chat, Quebec.
21 | HMS Ironbound | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 545d | 1942 | 1946: renamed Turoy

1949: renamed Christina 1954: renamed Korso 1957: sunk by a mine off Portugal

22 | HMS Liscomb | Royal Navy | Minesweeper | 545d | 1942 | 1946: renamed Aalesund

1967: renamed Lars Nyvoll 1978: renamed Jan Mayen

23 | USS Brisk / HMS Flax | U.S. Navy / Royal Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1942 | 1947: renamed HMS Flax

1951: renamed Ariana 1955: renamed Arvida Bay 1963: renamed Zaida

24 | USS Caprice / HMS Honesty | U.S. Navy / Royal Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1942 | 1943: renamed HMS Honesty

1946: renamed USS Caprice 1961: scrapped

25 | USS Splendor / HMS Rosebay | U.S. Navy / Royal Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1943: renamed HMS Rosebay

1947: renamed Benmark 1950: renamed Frida 1954: scrapped

26 | HMCS Frontenac | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1945: sold to United Ship Corp. of New York for merchant service
27 | HMCS Trentonian | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1945: Torpedoed and sunk by U-1004 in the English Channel
28 | HMCS Peterborough | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1944 | 1947: renamed Gerardo Jansen (Dominican Republic Navy)

1972: scrapped

29 | HMCS Belleville | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 980d | 1943 | 1947: renamed Juan Bautista Combiaso (Dominican Republic Navy)

1972: broken up

30 | HMCS Smiths Falls | Royal Canadian Navy | 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 | Royal Canadian Navy | Corvette | 980d |  | Cancelled
33 | Rockglen | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1945 | 1948: renamed Freedom
34 | Rockforest | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1945 | 1946: renamed Aramco 202

1948: renamed Abqaiq 1

35 | Rockpigeon | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1945 | 1947: renamed Flaunt

1959: renamed St. Merryn 1984: scrapped

36 | Rockdoe | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1945 | 1947: renamed Hoedic

1967: renamed Atlantico 1977: scrapped

37 | Rockswift | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1945 | 1946: renamed Ocean Rockswift

1967: collides with Silver King I killing 6 fishermen 1995: sold

38 | Rockelm | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1946 | 1952: renamed Kalid
39 | Rockswift | British Ministry of War Transport | Tug | 233 | 1946 | 1949: renamed Pemex XI
40 | Kingston | Canada Steamship Lines | Passenger vessel |  |  | Cancelled
41 |  | Canada Steamship Lines | Canaller |  |  | Cancelled
42 | N.H.B.M. Hopper No. 1 | National Harbour Board | Dump scow | 135 | 1948 | 2015: active
43 | N.H.B.M. Hopper No. 2 | National Harbour Board | Dump scow | 135 | 1948 | 2015: active
44 | HMCS Resolute | Royal Canadian Navy | Minesweeper | 412d | 1954 | 1966: scrapped
45 | D. C. Everest | Marathon Corp. | Pulpwood carrier | 2,196 | 1953 | 1981: renamed Condarrell

1989: renamed D. C. Everest 2000: renamed Condarrell 2006: scrapped

46 | St. Lawrence II | Brigantine Inc. | Sailing vessel | 34 | 1953 | 2015: active
47 | Windmill Point | Toronto Port Auth. | Ferry | 118 | 1954 | 2015: active
48 | Amherst Islander | Ont. Dept. of Hwys | Ferry | 184 | 1955 | 2015: active
49 | Seeley’s Bay Ferry | Leeds and Lansdowne | Ferry |  | 1955 |
50 | D.O.T. 11 | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1955 |
51 | D.O.T. 12 | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1955 |
52 |  | Royal Canadian Navy | Landing craft |  | 1955 |
53 | S.L.S. 81 | St. Lawrence Seaway | Sweep scow | 102 | 1955 | 2015: active
54 | YLV 600 | Royal Canadian Navy | Flat deck scow | 220 | 1955 |
55 | YLV 601 | Royal Canadian Navy | Flat deck scow | 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 | Landing craft | 27 | 1956 |
59 | D.O.T. 50 | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1956 |
60 | D.O.T. 51 | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft  | 27 | 1956 |
61 | Pitts Merrit | C.A. Pitts Contractors | Dredge | 883 | 1957 | 1977: Lost off Newfoundland
62 | Fort Steele (MP 34) | R.C.M.P. | Patrol cutter | 215 | 1958 | 1973: to RCNR, renamed HMCS Fort Steele 140

1996: renamed Marie T. Splinter 1996: renamed Longway

63 | Kenora II (MP 94) | R.C.M.P. | Patrol cutter | 119 | 1957 |
64 | S.L.S. 86 | St. Lawrence Seaway | Scow | 422 | 1958 |
65 | S.L.S. 87 | St. Lawrence Seaway | Scow | 422 | 1958 |
66 | T.H.C. No. 50 | Toronto Harbour Comm. | Barge | 385 | 1958 | 2004: active
67 | William B. Dilly | McNamara Construction | Dredge | 473 | 1957 | 2015: active
68 | McNco No. 30 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 321 | 1958 | 2015: active
69 | McNco No. 31 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 306 | 1958 |
70 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
71 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
72 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
73 | Scirocco | Gulfs & Lakes Navigation | Yacht | 57 | 1959 | 1969: renamed Esmau

1982: renamed Un Monde Different 2008: deleted

74 | Lightship No. 4 | Dept. of Transport | Lightship | 520 | 1959 | 1969: renamed CCGS Mikula

1995: renamed Kormoran

75 | RCL D-35 | Russel Construction | Scow | 235 | 1958 | later: renamed J.P.P. No. 501

later: renamed H.M.D.C. No. 2 later: scrapped

76 | RCL D-36 | Russel Construction | Scow | 307 | 1958 | Later: renamed J.P.P. No. 501

1998: H.M.D.C. No. 3 2006: closed

77 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
78 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
79 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
80 | D.O.T. | Dept. of Transport | Landing craft | 27 | 1958 |
81 |  | Grayco Canada | Pontoons |  | 1958 |
82 | Marguerite | St. Lawrence Seaway | Wooden boat |  | 1959 | Display boat for Upper Canada Village
83 | McNco No. 1 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 223 | 1959 |
84 | McNco No. 2 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 224 | 1959 |
85 | McNco No. 3 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 225 | 1959 |
86 | McNco No. 4 | McNamara Construction | Scow | 223 | 1959 |
87 | Miss Cornwall | Cornwall Boat Tours | Tour boat | 44 | 1960 | later: renamed L’Aventure II

active?

88 | Pilot Boat No. 9 | Dept. of Transport | Pilot launch | 44 | 1960 | 1984: renamed Claudin Riverin

2007: renamed Navsea

89 | Churchill 61 | National Harbour Board | Dump scow | 331 | 1961 | 1983: renamed Pitts No. 18

2004: deleted

90 | Endiang | John P. Labatt | Ketch | 72 | 1962 | 1969: deleted
91 | Pitts No. 1 | C. A. Pitts Contracting | Dump scow | 532 | 1962 |
92 | Pitts No. 2 | C. A. Pitts Contracting | Dump scow | 532 | 1962 |
93 | Relay | Coast Guard | SAR cutter | 143 | 1963 | 1989: stripped and abandoned
94 | Shiwassie | City of Toronto | Ferry | 62 | 1962 | 1982: renamed Torontonian
95 | YSD 1 | Royal Canadian Navy | Driving float |  | 1963 |
96 | YSD 2 | Royal Canadian Navy | Driving float |  | 1963 |
97 | S.T.V. Pathfinder | Toronto Brigantine Inc. | Brigantine | 35 | 1963 | 2015: active
98 | Hudson One | Dept. of Mines | Landing craft |  | 1963 | for: CSS Hudson
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 |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston" (PDF).
2. ^ "Canada Coast Guard". Archived from the original on 2009-12-17.
3. ^ "Shipbuildinghistory.com". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
4. ^ "For Posterity Sake - RCN".
5. ^ "Ship Spotting".
6. ^ "Canada Vessel Registration Office".