Ships Built on the River Tees, Hartlepool and Whitby.

The River Tees and adjacent port of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool were among the most productive shipbuilding regions in the United Kingdom for over two centuries. Builders such as William Gray, Smith’s Dock and Furness built ships of many types sailing under a multitude of flags and owners. Shipbuilding continues on a smaller scale, the last major yard having closed in 1987.
The opportunity has been taken to include the shipyards of Whitby where shipbuilding remains very much alive at the Parkol yard.

This free-to-use resource aims to present the vital information and the careers of all vessels built by the shipyards of the Tees and Whitby, with photographs of ships and shipyards whenever available to us. It is still very much a "work in progress", so far recording over 6000 vessels and their histories.

It is based on detailed research by a number of enthusiasts, and is being developed with the support of a team of volunteer data editors and contributors of photographs. The organisers have had two particular objectives in mind - not only to make available the most comprehensive information in an accessible format, but to ensure that it is secured for the long term. To that end, the database and website have been developed under the ownership of the Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust.

You are welcome to try out the database. Hopefully you will find your ship, though we cannot guarantee that the editors have yet completed the full details. Please give us some feedback on what you find and how easy it is to find it. And if you have the time and interest to join the team of editors, you will be very welcome.


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