Richard Dunston (shipbuilder)
Encyclopedia
Richard Dunston was a shipbuilder on the Humber
. The company started building wooden barges miles from the sea and evolved to pioneer fully welded steel ships of a single design. The yard is now closed, although the name continues in a ship repair yard.
Dunstons bought the Henry Scarr shipbuilding yard at Hessle
in 1932, which allowed ships to be launched directly into the Humber
. They pioneered construction of all-welded ships in the UK, finding that they could mass produce a single design more efficiently than traditional rivet
ing. During the war they built 159 all-welded steel tugs, the TID tug
, with one completed ship leaving the shipyard at six-day intervals. Sections were fabricated for erection elsewhere.
In 1974 the Dunston family sold both yards to the Ingram Corporation
of America. In 1985, they were put up for sale again, but the Thorne yard closed as it was not financially viable. The Hessle yard was the subject of a management buy out, funded by Dutch capital (?Damen Shipyards Group
). Following this, the yard built a variety of vessels, including four Clyde car ferries, a low air draft dry cargo ship, gas tankers and naval tugs.
In December 1994, the company went into liquidation and the Hessle yard closed. It was used as a recycling yard for several years following its closure, but most of the site has now been rebuilt with offices and car showrooms. Richard Dunston ship repairs still exists further east along the Humber Estuary.
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
. The company started building wooden barges miles from the sea and evolved to pioneer fully welded steel ships of a single design. The yard is now closed, although the name continues in a ship repair yard.
History
Richard Dunston started building wooden barges, in 1858 on the bank of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal in Thorne, some 45 miles from the sea. He used locally- grown, hand-sawn timber. In 1902, control of the yard passed to Thomas Dunston and, in 1910 to the 20 year old grandson of the founder. He set about modernising the business to enable the construction of iron and steel ships, but was limited by the size of vessel that could be built at the Thorne site on the canal.Dunstons bought the Henry Scarr shipbuilding yard at Hessle
Hessle
Hessle is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the...
in 1932, which allowed ships to be launched directly into the Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
. They pioneered construction of all-welded ships in the UK, finding that they could mass produce a single design more efficiently than traditional rivet
Rivet
A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the buck-tail. On installation the rivet is placed in a punched or pre-drilled hole, and the tail is upset, or bucked A rivet...
ing. During the war they built 159 all-welded steel tugs, the TID tug
Tug, Inshore and Dock
TID was a standardized British design for a tugboat drawn up and built during the Second World War.One hundred and eighty two were built for the Ministry of War Transport....
, with one completed ship leaving the shipyard at six-day intervals. Sections were fabricated for erection elsewhere.
In 1974 the Dunston family sold both yards to the Ingram Corporation
Ingram Industries
Ingram Industries is a company based in Nashville founded by the late Erskine Bronson Ingram and still owned and run by the Ingram family. Ingram Barge Company was founded by his father, Orrin Henry Ingram...
of America. In 1985, they were put up for sale again, but the Thorne yard closed as it was not financially viable. The Hessle yard was the subject of a management buy out, funded by Dutch capital (?Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Group
Damen is a Dutch shipbuilding company which was founded in 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen in a self-built workshop. In 1954 their 200th ship was delivered.-History:...
). Following this, the yard built a variety of vessels, including four Clyde car ferries, a low air draft dry cargo ship, gas tankers and naval tugs.
In December 1994, the company went into liquidation and the Hessle yard closed. It was used as a recycling yard for several years following its closure, but most of the site has now been rebuilt with offices and car showrooms. Richard Dunston ship repairs still exists further east along the Humber Estuary.
Hessle
| Yard No | Name | Type | Launch | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John M Rishworth | 1915 | |||
| Hunt's Kim | Sheffield Keel | 1923 | ||
| Hunts-Eden | Sheffield Keel | 1924 | For John Hunt & Sons, Leeds | |
| Hunts-Eve | Sheffield Keel | 1924 | For John Hunt & Sons, Leeds | |
| TID 172 | TID Tug Tug, Inshore and Dock TID was a standardized British design for a tugboat drawn up and built during the Second World War.One hundred and eighty two were built for the Ministry of War Transport.... |
1946 | For Ministry of War Transport | |
| Seaspring | 1957 | |||
| Dunster | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1972 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Felsted | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1972 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Fotherby | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1972 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Froxfield | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1972 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Hambledon | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Harlech | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Headcorn | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Hever | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Holmwood | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Horning | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1973 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Lamlash | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1974 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Lechlade | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1974 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Llandovery | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1974 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Loyal Supporter | R.M.A.S. Loyal Class Fleet Tender | 1978 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Loyal Watcher | R.M.A.S. Loyal Class Fleet Tender | 1978 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Melton | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1981 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Menai | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1981 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Meon | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1982 | (year of commissioning) | |
| Milford | R.M.A.S. Clovelly Class Fleet Tender | 1982 | (year of commissioning) | |
| 592 | Ferry | 1986 | For Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast... |
|
| 593 | Ferry | 1986 | For Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast... |
|
| 954 | Ferry | 1986 | For Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast... |
|
| 955 | Ferry | 1987 | For Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast... |
|
| 961 | Dunker | Tug | 1988 | For Helsingsborgs Bogser |
| 968 | Geira | Ferry | 1988 | For Shetland Islands Council Shetland Islands Council The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council... |
| 973 | Roseberry Cross | Tug | 1989 | For Cory Towage |
| 974 | Cleveland Cross | Tug | 1989 | For Cory Towage |
| 1004 | Fiery Cross | Tug | 1993 | For Cory Towage |
| 1005 | Phoenix Cross | Tug | 1993 | For Cory Towage |
| Sources: Ships Photos and Historic Ships Register | ||||
Thorne
| Yard No | Name | Type | Launch | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance (VIC 24) | Clyde puffer Clyde puffer The Clyde puffer is essentially a type of small steamboat which provided a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland, stumpy little cargo ships that have achieved almost mythical status thanks largely to the short stories Neil Munro wrote about the Vital Spark and her... |
1942 | Ministry of War Transport | |
| T179 | Daybreak | Humber Keel Humber Keel The Humber Keel was a type of sail craft used for inshore and inland cargo transport around Hull and the Humber Estuary, in the United Kingdom, particularly through the late 19th and early 20th centuries.... |
1936 | For Hanley's, flour millers of Doncaster |
| Enterprise | 1921 | For South Yorkshire Navigation Co | ||
| Ferncliffe | Humber Keel | 1925 | For Bleasdale's Shipping Co | |
| Gainsborough Trader | Humber Keel | 1931 | flour barge | |
| John Adams | Battleship tender | 1934 | For British Admiralty | |
| Leicester Trader | Trent dumb boat | 1953 | ||
| T897 | Cormooring | Salvage Vessel | 1955 | now Medway Rhino |
| TID43 | TID Tug Tug, Inshore and Dock TID was a standardized British design for a tugboat drawn up and built during the Second World War.One hundred and eighty two were built for the Ministry of War Transport.... |
1943 | now Seaport Alpha | |
| Southcliffe | Humber Keel | 1940 | For W Bleasdale & Co | |
| VIC 32 | Victualling Inshore Craft Clyde puffer The Clyde puffer is essentially a type of small steamboat which provided a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland, stumpy little cargo ships that have achieved almost mythical status thanks largely to the short stories Neil Munro wrote about the Vital Spark and her... |
1939 | For British Admiralty | |
| VIC 96 | Clyde puffer Clyde puffer The Clyde puffer is essentially a type of small steamboat which provided a vital supply link around the west coast and Hebrides islands of Scotland, stumpy little cargo ships that have achieved almost mythical status thanks largely to the short stories Neil Munro wrote about the Vital Spark and her... |
1945 | For British Admiralty | |
| Source: Historic Ships Register | ||||