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Okhta shipyard

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The W. Crichton Shipyard was the former 'Oktinskaya verf' formed in 1721 or in 1725 in the Saint Petersburg suburb of Okhta. It was purchased in 1880 by the Finnish shipyard W. Crichton.[1] It was nationalized as Petrozavod in 1913 or 'Okhtinskaya verf' ' Admiralteiskogo z-da' till 10/21; munitions (shells) during WWI and till 1924; tugs from 1930; numbered in 1941; evacuated to z-dy 402, 646, and 661 9/41; munitions (mines, shells, and bombs) in wartime; restored in 1944; became part of TsNIITS in 12/68 and part of NPO 'Ritm' 27/8/69 or 1973; now OAO 'Petrozavod'

Background

The yard was situated in an area where small river Okhta flows into river Neva. During the Swedish era there was a fortress called Nyenskans, "Neva fortlet". Since the establishment of Saint Petersburg, the area was serving shipbuilding; in 1712–1713 it was used for storing and drying of logs. The first large sawmills were built in 1717; they delivered wood also to the Russian Admiralty and Particular Shipyard. In 1721 the area was settled under decree of Peter the Great and carpenters were transferred from other Russian governorates. They worked for Particular Shipyard and other important shipyards and by time they fell into serfdom, until they were set free in 1803.[2]

In 1806 the Admiralty bought from Smolna monastery an area, that had used it previously for noble maiden educational community. The purpose was to build a panoptical institute to educate professionals for shipbuilding. The main building was finished in October 1807. The Admiralty suggested, that the institute would start building 16-gun schooners and 14-gun boats in order to teach shipbuilding skills to the students. Shipbuilding began in 12. August 1809. The first ship, schooner Strela (Arrow) was launched in 13. June 1811. In February 1812 the the yard got an order to build 74 gunboats; the serfs, who had been previously released, were now seized again in the yard.[2]

The panoptical institute was destroyed in fire in March 1818, but the shipbuilding premises did not suffer damages. Shipbuilding activity became independent thereafter. In 1822 was started construction of a garrison building for 600 marines on the institute ruins; subsequently, also shops were built, as well as warehouses, sawmill and number of other workshops. The Okhta area was joined to the city of Saint Petersburg in 1829 and in the same year planning of a new shipyard was assigned to V.F. Stoke; the Czar personally ordered, that the yard must have two large cradles for frigates and two smaller ones for brigs and other small vessels. The plans were approved in 1830. The yard operated under the Admiralty and it soon became one of the most important yards for newbuilding and repairing.[2]

By the end of the 1840s the shipbuilding had moved indoors into large sheds designed by architect E.H. Annert supported by naval architect I.A. Amosov, who planned the foundation. The large and showy sheds remained until the early 20th century as a characteristic landmark of the Okhta area.[2]

In 1856 the yard area was enlarged to the lands of previously deceased count E.F. Komarovski. However, soon after this steel started to replace wood as a material and the shipbuilding started to require more complex machinery, and the focus moved to the more modern New Admiralty Yard. Part of the yard area became training field for marines. Two of the cradles became timber stocks in 1861. The last vessels built at the Admiralty Okhta Yard were patrol boat Askold and clipper Jahont. During the following 30 years only the workshops and sawmill were used; they supplied material to the Saint Petersburg harbour workshops. An exception were 20 torpedo boats built in 1878.[2]

During the years 1811–1864 the Okhta yard built 9 battle ships, 28 frigates, 11 patrol boats, 17 brigs and 104 vessels of other types. The most significant ones were sloops-of-war Kamchatka and Predpriyatiye and frigates Pallada and Avrora. The Okhta yard was the most important yard of the Imperial Russian Navy during the years 1811–1864.[2]

In the early 1890s the Admiralty leased the buildings for early aviation experiment purposes; the premises were used for building of hot air balloons for scientific research and under state assignment.[3]

Under ownership of W:m Crichton & Co.

In 1895 the Finnish shipbuilder, Turku located W:m Crichton & Co. started negotiations with Admiralty about torpedo boat building. The initial plan was to build the hulls and other parts in Turku and transfer them to Saint Petersburg for final assembly. The Okhta shipyard was rented to Crichton for this purpose. The contract with validity of 35 years signed in 19 July 1896 included responsibility to invest on the premises and equip them with modern machinery. The plan was to build ships up to 2 000 tonnes and steam engines with output up to 7 000 horsepower. The annual order intake was expected to be 3–4 million ruble. The shipbuilding was scheduled to start in early spring 1897.[3]

The aviation researchers opposed the plan, because they did not want to leave the premises which they had got to use after another contract signed earlier with the Admiralty. The responsible foreman V.S. Kretovich had support of counts Vladimir Alexandrovich and A.S. Apraksin. The plan was not put into practice before Krevovich died in April 1897.[3]

In 1898 two shipbuilding cradles were renovated and new foundry and power plants, as well as carpenter and model workshops were built. In the same year commerce counselor Martinsson, the representative of W:m Crichton & Co., signed contract with Admiralty for four Sokol-type torpedo boats. This was followed by other orders of similar vessels. The yard produced also number of other vessel types and undertook repair projects. The ship drawings and large part of the machinery were made in Turku. In 1906 the yard received an order for four submarines; the yard could not keep the schedule and the vessels were finally finished in 1910.[3]

The shipyard suffered greatly of the indecisive ordering policy of the Admiralty; during some years it did not place any single order. Moreover, W:m Crichton & Co. was suspected to build some of the ordered vessels in Finland and transferring the profit to its Finnish branch. In the subsequent audit it came out that the Okhta yard did not fulfill the terms of the contract; the company had not made the agreed investments on the premises. The yard was declared insolvent in 1912 and the contract was terminated.[3]

Since the beginning of 1915 the Admiralty yard used the premises for artillery ammunition production. The old and decayed cradles and large sheds were torn down in the same August.[3]

Some of the vessels built in 1898–1913

Year of
order 		Project
number 		Name Typ Shipowner
1898 1 444 screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire Russian Customs
1898 1 450 Posylyi screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire Russian Customs
1899 1 451 Kurer screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1899 1 454 screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1902 1 455 Poslushnyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1902 1 456 Podvishnyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1902 1 469 Smetlivyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1902 1 470 Strogyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1902 1 471 Stremitelnyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1902 1 472 Svirpyi torpedo boat, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1903 1 522 N:o 221 torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1903 1 523 N:o 222 torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1903 1 524 N:o 223 torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1901 1 525 Reniy tugboat Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1902 1 557 barge Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1902 1 596 Kroko Baykal screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1903 1 644 Solonbala screw-propelled steamer Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1904 1 657 N:o 212 torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1904 1 658 N:o 213 torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1904 1 659 N:o 214[4] torpedo boat, Cyklon class Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 660 Porochovoy steam cutter Russian Empire (Russian customer)
1905 1 715 Inz. M. Anastasov torpedo destroyer, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 716 Leytn. Maleyev torpedo destroyer, Sokol class Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 731 Drakon submarine hull, Kaiman class Vereinigte Staaten Lake & Co.
1905 1 732 Kaiman submarine hull, Kaiman class Vereinigte Staaten Lake & Co.
1905 1 732 Krokodil submarine hull, Kaiman class Vereinigte Staaten Lake & Co.
1905 1 734 Alligator submarine hull, Kaiman class Vereinigte Staaten Lake & Co.
1905 1 736 motor cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 737 motor cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 738 motor cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1905 1 739 motor cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1907 1 768 Kusnetchicha tugboat Russian Empire Port of Arkhangelsk
1907 1 774 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1907 1 775 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1907 1 776 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1907 1 777 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 783 Tochnyi mine transportation vessel Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1908 1 784 Trevoznyi mine transportation vessel Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1908 1 785 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 786 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 787 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 788 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 789 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 790 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 791 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 792 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 793 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 794 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 795 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 796 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 801 Herkules icebreaker Russian Empire Russian Hydrographic Office
1910 1 802 Silatch icebreaker Russian Empire Russian Hydrographic Office
1908 1 806 mine cutter Imperial Russian Navy
1908 1 807 mine cutter Baltic Shipyard
1908 1 808 mine cutter Baltic Shipyard
1909 1 817 Tverdyi mine transportation vessel Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1909 1 829 lightvessel Russian Empire Russian Hydrographic Office
1909 1 830 lightvessel Russian Empire Russian Hydrographic Office
1909 1 831 Vodolen water transportation vessel Russian Empire Russian Admiralty
1909 1 832 motorboat hull Russian Empire Okhta Shipyard
1909 1 833 Vyetskaya I sand dredger Russian Empire Russian Transportation Ministry
1910 1 837 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 838 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 839 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 840 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 841 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 842 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 843 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 844 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 845 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 846 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1910 1 847 Admiral Zaviko patrol boat Russian Empire Olonets Governorate
1910 1 864 Konvoir convoy ship Russian Empire Russian Admiralty
1910 1 865 Sputnik convoy ship Russian Empire Russian Admiralty
1911 1 876 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 877 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 878 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 879 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 880 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 883 barge Russian Empire Russian Border Guard
1911 1 907 tugboat Russian Empire P. Byelyayeff, Saint Petersburg
1911 1 908 paddle steamer hull Russian Empire Onega Steam Shipping Company
1911 1 910 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 911 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 912 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 913 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 914 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 926 cruiser Russian Empire Russian Border Administration
1911 1 927 cruiser Russian Empire Russian Border Administration
1911 1 928 cruiser Russian Empire Russian Border Administration
1911 1 940 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 941 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 942 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration
1911 1 943 mine motor cutter Russian Empire Russian Electricity Administration

[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Breyer, p. 142
  2. ^ a b c d e f Grönros et al.: Keisarillisen amiraliteetin aika – telakan synty ja kehitys. pp. 92–99.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Grönros et al.: Crichtonin aika – yksityisyritys valtion vuokralaisena. pp. 100–103.
  4. ^ Not sure.
  5. ^ Knorring: Taulukko 7. Crichtonin Ochtan telakalla Pietarissa 1898–1913 rakennettuja aluksia. pp. 76–77.

Bibliography

  • Breyer, Siegfried (1992). Soviet Warship Development: Volume 1: 1917–1937. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-604-3.
  • Grönros, Jarmo; Kujanen, Hannu; Priamursky, G.; Rinta-Tassi, Osmo; Saarinen, Jarmo; Teräs, Kari; Trofimov, S. (1996). Aurajoen rautakourat — Järnnävarna vid Aura Å (in Finnish and Swedish). Turku, Finland: Turun maakuntamuseo — Åbo landskapsmuseum. ISBN 951-595-020-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title= and |month= (help)
  • von Knorring, Nils (1995). Aurajoen veistämöt ja telakat (in Finnish). Espoo, Finland: Schildts Förlags Ab. ISBN 951-50-0735-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
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