Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company

Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company (renamed Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in the late-1930s) was a shipyard located in Charleston, South Carolina, on the Cooper River. The shipyard is significant for its contribution to marine engineering, including the first entirely-welded commercial ship.

The site is situated east of Concord Street, between the intersections of Calhoun and Laurens Streets. In the late-19th century, the wharves along Concord Street were home to naval stores warehouses and Pregnall Brothers Shipyard, which was established in 1869. In 1915, the yard was reorganized as Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co.

In 1921, it was reported that the plant had an 8,500-ton floating drydock, with a 30-foot depth of water coming into the facility. The drydock was designed by Crandall Dry Dock Engineers of Massachusetts.

The first entirely-welded ship in the world, the MS Carolinian, was built at the facility in 1929-1930. It was designed by R.F. Smith, and Charleston Dry Dock & Machine was the sole licensee of this design.

Charleston Shipbuilding & Dry Dock was responsible for building at least 36 tugboats for the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946. Some of these vessels still have active registrations as of 2015.

Philip Simmons worked in, and also operated, a blacksmith shop at various locations adjacent to Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Company. Some of his early work included repairing tools and equipment for waterfront industries.

In the Fall of 1946, Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. began operations under Todd Shipyards of New York. In 2000, construction was completed on part of the site for the South Carolina Aquarium. Severe contamination of the site hindered the project in the late-1990s, and eventually lead to costly delays. Today, the former shipyard facility is occupied by several condominium communities and the Charleston Maritime Center.

Two U.S. Coast Guard lightships built by Charleston Dry Dock & Machine Co., Frying Pan (LV-115) and Chesapeake (LV-116), survive as museum ships as of 2017.

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