Maryland Drydock Company
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Drydock Company was a shipbuilding company that operated in Baltimore, Maryland during the 20th century.
The company started life in 1920 as the Globe Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Maryland. Its President at this time was B. C. Cooke. The company bought land along the Patapsco River
across the Bay from Fort McHenry
. It later changed its name to the simpler "Maryland Drydock Company". Sometime after 1950, its name was changed again, to the Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.
Maryland Drydock specialized in ship conversions, upgrades and repairs rather than with shipbuilding per se. During World War II
, the company was employed in the conversion of numerous warships built at other yards for the US war effort. Unlike many other shipbuilding companies of the period, it survived the postwar downturn in the shipbuilding industry.
In 1970, the company's yard in Baltimore was purchased by the manufacturer of Fruehauf trailers which spent $30 million upgrading the site. Unfortunately, adverse economic conditions caused the yard to close in 1984 and much of the site was razed, although one drydock was preserved and was being used by Kurt Metal for the scrapping of old ships in 1995.
Not counting the many vessels "jumbosized" there, a total of at least eighteen vessels were built during the shipyard's history.
The company started life in 1920 as the Globe Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Maryland. Its President at this time was B. C. Cooke. The company bought land along the Patapsco River
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
across the Bay from Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
. It later changed its name to the simpler "Maryland Drydock Company". Sometime after 1950, its name was changed again, to the Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.
Maryland Drydock specialized in ship conversions, upgrades and repairs rather than with shipbuilding per se. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the company was employed in the conversion of numerous warships built at other yards for the US war effort. Unlike many other shipbuilding companies of the period, it survived the postwar downturn in the shipbuilding industry.
In 1970, the company's yard in Baltimore was purchased by the manufacturer of Fruehauf trailers which spent $30 million upgrading the site. Unfortunately, adverse economic conditions caused the yard to close in 1984 and much of the site was razed, although one drydock was preserved and was being used by Kurt Metal for the scrapping of old ships in 1995.
Not counting the many vessels "jumbosized" there, a total of at least eighteen vessels were built during the shipyard's history.
List of vessels built by the company
This is an incomplete list.- Gov. Harry W. Nice (ferryFerryA ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
), launched 1936, used in Puget SoundPuget SoundPuget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
. - Gov. Herbert R. O'Conor (ferry), launched 1946, used in Puget Sound.
- M/V Islander (ferry), launched 1950.
- M/V North River, launched 1974, still in service for New York City DEP. (Photo).