Shipyards in Dundee extended throughout the port area that we see today as well as within the housing area at City Quay.
These included:
- Panmure Shipyard
- Gourlay Camperdown
- Caledon Yard
- Stannergate Yard (Caledon)
The Caledon yards produced over 500 ships in their lifetime, before finally closing the gates in 1981
One of the last wooden three-masted sailing ships to be built in the UK was the RRS Discovery. Built at the Dundee Shipbuilding Company (formerly Alexander Stephen & Sons). The City was chosen as the builders here had retained the woodworking skills whilst other shipyards had already transferred to metal hulled shipping. Dundee had also earned a reputation for building strong ships to endure the Arctic and Antarctic weather.
The exact location of the slipway where the RRS Discovery was launched is marked by a an artwork by sculptor Marion Smith.
