Admiralty Dockyards

Categories / Economy/Industry
ADMIRALTY DOCKYARDS (203 Fontanka Embankment) is a State shipbuilding enterprise. It leads its history from the foundation of the Admiralty Dockyard in 1704. In 1800 some of the workshops were transported to Admiralteisky Island situated downstream the Neva River, close to the delta of Moika River, where the construction of rowing boats for the fleet had been taking place since 1712. Originally the enterprise on the Admiralteisky Island was called Srampaveiny Yard, since 1713 - Galerny Yard, since 1721 - Galernaya Dockyard; in the late 18th century the enterprise was renovated to accommodate construction of large boats, since 1800 it was called the New Admiralty where all shipbuilding works were transferred to gradually (Admiralteiskaya Dockyard was closed in 1843). In 1724 the construction of ships (initially rowing and small sailboats, and later frigates as well) started at Galerny Island, which was situated in the delta of the Fontanka River. The gunboats which provided the defence of the capital from the enemy fleet were built here during the Crimean War of 1853-56. In the early 1860s the dockyards of Galerny Island and the New Admiralty were reequipped into the construction of armoured ships. Peter the Great, the first Russian sea armored ship and one of the most powerful battleships of its time, was launched from the Galerny Island in 1873; Rynda cruiser, the first Russian steel ship, was launched in 1885. In 1908 the New Admiralty and the dockyard of the Galerny Island merged into a single enterprise - Admiralteisky Shipbuilding Plant. By the late 19th century the plant built squadron battleships, later - ships of the line (dreadnoughts), as well as cruisers and other ships. During WW I (1914-18) ships and cars were repaired and ammunition was produced at the enterprise in addition to shipbuilding works. In 1917 the production was sharply reduced, and then stopped. The work was resumed in 1921: the plant was involved in re-equipping of ships for the navy and their repair. In 1922 the enterprise was named after Marti (the former name, Admiralteisky Shipbuilding Plant, was returned in 1957). The plant received an order to build torpedo cutters, a major class of light naval vessels, in 1926 after ratification of the first Soviet shipbuilding program. Initially shipbuilding was revived at the former dockyard of Galerny Island. The former New Admiralty was excluded from the plant with the view of liquidation, which did not happen; since the early 1930s the shipbuilding was revived there as well. A short time thereafter the enterprise focused on making submarines. The plant was named Sudomekh (since 1966 - New Admiralty Plant). During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 the plant was partly evacuated, and the rest of equipment was used to produce ammunition, armour platforms, pillbox frames, and to repair ships. Small armour chasers and sea armoured tankers (which provided for defence of communications and participated in landing operation), tenders and barges for the Road of Life were designed and built there. In post-war years light cruisers and submarines (which carried nuclear propulsions since the 1970-90s) were the main enterprise products. Civil shipbuilding which had started in the pre-war period developed intensively as well. Icebreakers built for various purposes (including the Lenin, the first atomic icebreaker), tankers, floating fish-packing factories and repair docks, survey vessels were built there. Consumer goods, such as furniture and sporting goods were produced there as well. In 1972 both of the plants merged once again into a single enterprise - Leningrad Admiralty Union (LAU), which received its present-day name in 1992. In the 1980s the order of the defence sector reached 94% of the total output. A conversion program was implemented in 1991-95.

References: Адмиралтейские верфи: [В 2 т.]. СПб., 1994-1996; Александров В. Л. "Адмиралтейские верфи" в новом тысячелетии: (Состояние и развитие) // Наука, промышленность, сельское хозяйство и культура в Санкт-Петербурге и Ленинградской области на пороге XXI века. СПб., 2000. Т. 2. С. 147-155. sd.

V. S. Solomko. Fontanka River Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 203
Адмиралтейские верфи: [В 2 т.]. СПб., 1994-1996
Александров В. Л. "Адмиралтейские верфи" в новом тысячелетии: (Состояние и развитие) // Наука, промышленность, сельское хозяйство и культура в Санкт-Петербурге и Ленинградской области на пороге XXI века. СПб., 2000 Admiralty Shipyard
Road of Life
1843