Dock Number 1
(A location steeped in history and a beacon of our shipbuilding past)
From time immemorial, the Grand Harbour has offered numerous opportunities for its exploitation as a maritime hub. From the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Aragonese, the Knights of St John and the British, the area where Dock Nr 1 is situated has always featured as an important location for the safe repair of ships.
The British inherited the Order’s small shipyard and at a very early stage the Royal Navy laid plans to expand these facilities. However it was not until 1844 that the foundation stone was laid for the first dock which was built at the head of Galley Creek. (The British renamed part of the Grand Harbour Dockyard Creek). The Drydock was opened in 1848 and shortly plans were drawn up to build similar works to cope with the increased volume of naval repairs .
A great debate started as to whether the French Creek or the Marsa would be the best site. The choice of the latter site would have involved the movement of the entire naval dockyard but in compensation a large area of flat land would be available to allow all foreseeable expansions to develop unhindered. The French Creek site was hampered by lack of space. Against this the inner area of the Grand Harbour was shallow and would require considerable dredging.
In the end the debate was resolved in favour of French Creek and start was made on the then huge Somerset Dock which was opened in 1871. For a time this dock was larger than any available to the Royal Navy at Portsmouth.
In 1892 the Hamilton Dock was completed and in 1899 a start was made on two more dry docks. Development went on until the naval dockyard consisted of one dock in Galley Creek and four in French Creek. The docks were supported by extensive harbourside workshops and refit facilities. Naval repair establishments were developed in Marsamxett as well; a small boat yard was erected on Manoel Island and provision was also made to enable work to be undertaken on submarines and destroyers. During the First World War the Dockyard employed 10,000.
Dock Nr 1 was the first to be decommissioned in the eary 1990’s but it has remained a symbol of the yard due to it being the very first of its kind. It has sadly fallen into neglect and disrepair over the years as its future fate has been uncertain but with the much awaited HSBC Valletta Boat Show it will surely take on a new lease of life and again be appreciated in its full glory.
by Gerald Fenech
The British inherited the Order’s small shipyard and at a very early stage the Royal Navy laid plans to expand these facilities. However it was not until 1844 that the foundation stone was laid for the first dock which was built at the head of Galley Creek. (The British renamed part of the Grand Harbour Dockyard Creek). The Drydock was opened in 1848 and shortly plans were drawn up to build similar works to cope with the increased volume of naval repairs .
A great debate started as to whether the French Creek or the Marsa would be the best site. The choice of the latter site would have involved the movement of the entire naval dockyard but in compensation a large area of flat land would be available to allow all foreseeable expansions to develop unhindered. The French Creek site was hampered by lack of space. Against this the inner area of the Grand Harbour was shallow and would require considerable dredging.
In the end the debate was resolved in favour of French Creek and start was made on the then huge Somerset Dock which was opened in 1871. For a time this dock was larger than any available to the Royal Navy at Portsmouth.
In 1892 the Hamilton Dock was completed and in 1899 a start was made on two more dry docks. Development went on until the naval dockyard consisted of one dock in Galley Creek and four in French Creek. The docks were supported by extensive harbourside workshops and refit facilities. Naval repair establishments were developed in Marsamxett as well; a small boat yard was erected on Manoel Island and provision was also made to enable work to be undertaken on submarines and destroyers. During the First World War the Dockyard employed 10,000.
Dock Nr 1 was the first to be decommissioned in the eary 1990’s but it has remained a symbol of the yard due to it being the very first of its kind. It has sadly fallen into neglect and disrepair over the years as its future fate has been uncertain but with the much awaited HSBC Valletta Boat Show it will surely take on a new lease of life and again be appreciated in its full glory.
by Gerald Fenech
