P&O floating drydock wreck
In 1862 P&O sent out four iron lighters in sections to be constructed at Albany, which were to be used in conjunction with the hulk Kingfisher to supply their steamships with coal. Due to the shallow shores of Princess Royal Harbour rendering a slipway impracticable, it was decided to construct a floating dry dock for repairing and cleaning the lighters. The floating dry dock was built of jarrah with dimensions of 129 x 30 x 25 feet (39.3 x 9.1 x 7.6 metres) and launched in April 1866. It was a technological and shipbuilding first for Western Australia, was the largest vessel to be constructed in Albany, and one of only a small number of purpose-built floating docks in Australia. After P&O ceased operations in Albany, local firm Armstrong and Waters took over the dock. The watertight doors never sealed perfectly necessitating a windmill pump in permanent operation. It appears to have sunk at its moorings in Princess Royal Harbour sometime during World War I and was partly salvaged, but as yet the site has not been relocated. It is believed to lie under reclaimed land on the Albany foreshore. Any remains of the floating dock would be of technical, archaeological and historical significance as a unique, locally built vessel associated with the development of Albany and the P&O Company coaling trade.
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Country Built Australia
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Port Built Albany
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When Built 1866
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Length 39.30
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Beam 9.10
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Draft 7.60
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TONA 401.00
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When Lost c.1915
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Where Lost Albany foreshore
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Sinking Buried in landfill
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Sunk Code Abandoned
Museum Reference
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wreck P&O floating drydock
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Protected State
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Found N
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Inspected N
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Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | P&O floating drydock |
|---|---|
| When Lost | c.1915 |
| Protected | State |
| Found | N |
| Inspected | N |
| Where Lost | Albany foreshore |
| TONA | 401.00 |
| Country Built | Australia |
| Port Built | Albany |
| When Built | 1866 |
| Length | 39.30 |
| Beam | 9.10 |
| Draft | 7.60 |
| Sinking | Buried in landfill |
| Sunk Code | Abandoned |
| Owner | P&O Company, later Armstrong & Waters |
| Builder | Captain Charles Louis Van Zuilecom (designer), Mr Daniels (P&O shipwright) |
| Comments | In 1862 P&O sent out four iron lighters in sections to be constructed at Albany, which were to be used in conjunction with the hulk Kingfisher to supply their steamships with coal. Due to the shallow shores of Princess Royal Harbour rendering a slipway impracticable, it was decided to construct a floating dry dock for repairing and cleaning the lighters. The floating dry dock was built of jarrah with dimensions of 129 x 30 x 25 feet (39.3 x 9.1 x 7.6 metres) and launched in April 1866. It was a technological and shipbuilding first for Western Australia, was the largest vessel to be constructed in Albany, and one of only a small number of purpose-built floating docks in Australia. After P&O ceased operations in Albany, local firm Armstrong and Waters took over the dock. The watertight doors never sealed perfectly necessitating a windmill pump in permanent operation. It appears to have sunk at its moorings in Princess Royal Harbour sometime during World War I and was partly salvaged, but as yet the site has not been relocated. It is believed to lie under reclaimed land on the Albany foreshore. Any remains of the floating dock would be of technical, archaeological and historical significance as a unique, locally built vessel associated with the development of Albany and the P&O Company coaling trade. |
| Sources | Douglas at al, Marshall, G., 2001, Maritime Albany remembered, Tangee Pty Ltd, Kalamunda: 53-58. |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/po-floating-drydock |