I never realised just how big Palmers No 2 dock was!


Aerial view, and I think thats the Polish ship they built in the dock

Hudson Point in Mercantile dry dock

A classic view from Brigham and Cowans yards, I wish I had a pound for every time I stood there, I see more ships than we have in a week now, spot the whaler in Middle docks, the Strict line boat at Readheads, the Fred Olsen ferry at the Tyne Commissioners quay and not sure but looks like one of Everets boats at the buoys.


Pictures from the Norman Dunn Collection

Palmers No 2 was 850 feet on the bottom with an entrance width of 145 feet.
Depth on Sill at MHWS was 35 feet.
The next largest was Swan's No 4 wich weighed in at 715 ft x 105 ft x 29 ft.

Mercantile Dry Dock No 4.

600 ft x 85 ft x 23" 6'

When did it open?

In the 1959 Port Handbook No 4 Dock is under construction and in the 1961 Handbook it says "The Mercantile Dry Dock Co Ltd have recently opened their new No 4 Dock."

So must have been late 1960 ish..........

Best one can do, young Sir!