Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company (renamed Charleston Drydock and Shipbuilding Co. in the late-1930s)[1] was a shipyard located in Charleston, South Carolina, on the Cooper River. The shipyard is significant for its contribution to marine engineering, including the first entirely-welded commercial ship built in the United States. It was owned and operated by Leland Louis Green who was the first registered naval architect in South Carolina.
The site is situated east of Concord Street, between the intersections of Calhoun and Laurens Streets. In the late-19th century, the wharves along Concord Street were home to naval store warehouses and Pregnall Brothers Shipyard, which was established in 1869. Pregnall Brothers closed in 1912, reopening that same year as Valk & Murdoch Iron Works. In 1919, the yard was renamed Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co.[1][2]
In 1921, it was reported that the plant had an 8,500-ton floating drydock, with a 30-foot depth of water coming into the facility.[3] The drydock was designed by Crandall Dry Dock Engineers of Massachusetts.[4]
The first entirely-welded ship in the world, the MS Carolinian, was built at the facility in 1929-1930. It was designed by R.F. Smith, and Charleston Dry Dock & Machine was the sole licensee of this design.
World War IIedit
Charleston Shipbuilding & Dry Dock was responsible for building at least 36 tugboats for the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946. Some of these vessels still have active registrations as of 2015.[1]
Philip Simmonsedit
Philip Simmons worked in, and also operated, a blacksmith shop at various locations adjacent to Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company. Some of his early work included repairing tools and equipment for waterfront industries.
Fate and legacyedit
In the Fall of 1946, Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. began operations under Todd Shipyards of New York.[5] In 2000, construction was completed on part of the site for the South Carolina Aquarium. Severe contamination of the site hindered the project in the late-1990s, and eventually lead to costly delays.[6] Since the 1980s, the former shipyard facility is also occupied by several condominium communities as well as the Charleston Maritime Center (early-2000s).
Two U.S. Coast Guard lightships built by Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co., Frying Pan(LV-115)[7] and Chesapeake(LV-116), survive as museum ships as of 2017.
^"Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of South Carolina". University of South Carolina Libraries. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
^Marine Engineering, Volume 52. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. 1921. pp. 300–302.
^"8000-ton floating dry dock buit in 1918". www.crandalldrydock.com. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
^Photograph. "Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company." 1946. Copy for Todd Shipyards.
^Behre, Robert (25 March 1998). "Superfund plan gets in gear CALHOUN SITE: The proposal involves removing nearly all contaminated soil in the area soon and eventually cleaning groundwater". The Post & Courier. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
^"Charleston Shipbuilding 1930". tugster: a waterblog. 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
charleston, dock, machine, company, renamed, charleston, drydock, shipbuilding, late, 1930s, shipyard, located, charleston, south, carolina, cooper, river, shipyard, significant, contribution, marine, engineering, including, first, entirely, welded, commercial. Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine Company renamed Charleston Drydock and Shipbuilding Co in the late 1930s 1 was a shipyard located in Charleston South Carolina on the Cooper River The shipyard is significant for its contribution to marine engineering including the first entirely welded commercial ship built in the United States It was owned and operated by Leland Louis Green who was the first registered naval architect in South Carolina Contents 1 Description 2 World War II 3 Philip Simmons 4 Fate and legacy 5 ReferencesDescription editThe site is situated east of Concord Street between the intersections of Calhoun and Laurens Streets In the late 19th century the wharves along Concord Street were home to naval store warehouses and Pregnall Brothers Shipyard which was established in 1869 Pregnall Brothers closed in 1912 reopening that same year as Valk amp Murdoch Iron Works In 1919 the yard was renamed Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine Co 1 2 In 1921 it was reported that the plant had an 8 500 ton floating drydock with a 30 foot depth of water coming into the facility 3 The drydock was designed by Crandall Dry Dock Engineers of Massachusetts 4 The first entirely welded ship in the world the MS Carolinian was built at the facility in 1929 1930 It was designed by R F Smith and Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine was the sole licensee of this design World War II editCharleston Shipbuilding amp Dry Dock was responsible for building at least 36 tugboats for the U S Navy from 1942 1946 Some of these vessels still have active registrations as of 2015 1 Philip Simmons editPhilip Simmons worked in and also operated a blacksmith shop at various locations adjacent to Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine Company Some of his early work included repairing tools and equipment for waterfront industries Fate and legacy editIn the Fall of 1946 Charleston Shipbuilding amp Drydock Co began operations under Todd Shipyards of New York 5 In 2000 construction was completed on part of the site for the South Carolina Aquarium Severe contamination of the site hindered the project in the late 1990s and eventually lead to costly delays 6 Since the 1980s the former shipyard facility is also occupied by several condominium communities as well as the Charleston Maritime Center early 2000s Two U S Coast Guard lightships built by Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine Co Frying Pan LV 115 7 and Chesapeake LV 116 survive as museum ships as of 2017 References edit a b c Charleston Shipbuilding www shipbuildinghistory com Retrieved 2017 06 14 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of South Carolina University of South Carolina Libraries Retrieved 2017 06 14 Marine Engineering Volume 52 Simmons Boardman Publishing Company 1921 pp 300 302 8000 ton floating dry dock buit in 1918 www crandalldrydock com Retrieved 2017 06 14 Photograph Charleston Dry Dock amp Machine Company 1946 Copy for Todd Shipyards Behre Robert 25 March 1998 Superfund plan gets in gear CALHOUN SITE The proposal involves removing nearly all contaminated soil in the area soon and eventually cleaning groundwater The Post amp Courier Retrieved 17 June 2017 Charleston Shipbuilding 1930 tugster a waterblog 2016 04 03 Retrieved 2017 09 15 32 47 19 N 79 55 28 W 32 788711 N 79 924533 W 32 788711 79 924533 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charleston Dry Dock 26 Machine Company amp oldid 1140843230, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
