Philip and Son

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The Philip & Son Limited shipyard in Dartmouth existed from 1858 until the late 1990s. In addition to being in operation for around 150 years, the shipyard also became known for the construction of numerous lightships .

history

View of the shipyard
The former lightship Skua in Arklow Harbor

The company was founded in 1858 by George Philip. In 1874 his son Alexander Philip took over the business and inherited the yard in turn to his sons George and John. In 1905 the company was converted into a limited company and took over the Noss shipyard from Simpson, Strickland and Company. During these years Philip and Son began to specialize more and more in the construction of tugs. These were initially made of wood, later of steel.

In 1920 Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson took over the majority stake. In the same year, a mechanical engineering department was opened on the shipyard site. In addition to building tugs for customers around the world, the shipyard also began building coastal tankers, ferries and excursion steamers from the mid-1920s.

In the 1930s, in addition to the types of ships that had already been built, there were also yachts, tank barges and kits for small vehicles intended for assembly overseas.

During the Second World War, the shipyard was mainly engaged in repairs to existing vehicles, but a number of small military vehicles were also built. The shipyard was hit in an air raid by the Luftwaffe, killing around 20 shipyard workers. However, operations continued even after the attack.

The construction program in the years after the war continued the pre-war period. In addition, coasters and coastal tankers, a Mersey ferry, Thames tugs, and construction contracts for cargo and passenger ships for foreign accounts were built in the 1950s.

The construction list of the 1960s was strongly influenced by the construction of ferries. During these years the shipyard employed around 450 people.

The company was able to survive until the end of the 1990s despite the difficult development of the British shipbuilding industry, but then the company closed. Today the area is owned by Noss Marina Limited, which operates a marina there.

literature

  • Blackhurst, Derek: Philip & Son Ltd., Shipbuilders & Engineers . Ships in Focus Publications, Preston 2001, ISBN 1-901703-42-8 .

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