Uraga Dock Company
Encyclopedia
was a major privately owned shipyard
in Uraga
, Japan
, which built numerous warship
s for the Imperial Japanese Navy
.
in 1869. A shipyard had already existed in Uraga from the end of the Edo period
. When Commodore Perry's flagship
anchored off Uraga in 1854, one of the officials of the Tokugawa shogunate
who boarded the American vessel was a trained shipwright, Nakajima Saburosuke. His observation of the ship's interior enabled him to deduce the details of its design and construction, and after the departure of Perry back to the United States
, the government ordered him to start construction of a three-masted barque
, called the Hōō maru. He subsequently participated in the repair of the Dutch
-built Kanrin maru
, during which time he constructed the first dry dock
built in Japan in 1859. However, the Tokugawa government decided to establish its own shipyards at nearby Yokosuka
, and the Uraga facilities went out of business in 1876.
Nakajima died during the Boshin War
of the Meiji restoration
fighting on the Tokugawa side. After the establishment of the Meiji government, his former colleagues Enomoto Takeaki and Arai Ikunosuke
gained important positions in the new administration, and supported the establishment of a modern shipyard on the foundation established by Nakajima. The new facility was inaugurated in 1897, and faced an immediate crisis when Tokyo
-based Ishikawajima Harima opened a rival facility the following year and started to dump prices in an effort to destroy its competition. Uraga Dock Company managed to buy out Ishikawajima in 1902.
In 1907, Uraga Dock Company launched its first destroyer
for the Imperial Japanese Navy
, the Nagatsuki
. Over its subsequent history, the dockyards at Uraga constructed over 1000 vessels, including ferries, passenger liners, training vessels, and warships of various sizes. Numerous vessels were also produced for the export market.
By 1919, Uraga Dock Company was considered one of the largest and best equipped private shipyards in the world. Subsidiary companies were established in Yokkaichi, Mie
and in Tsingtao.
Uraga Dock Company was also characterized by its organized labor force, one of the earliest in Japan, which went on strike
in 1905-1907, 1910-1911, and in 1915.
In post war Japan, Uraga Dock Company was acquired by the Sumitomo group in 1969. It was modernized extensively on several occasions, but increasing competitive pressures from overseas ship builders forced Sumitomo to close down operations in 2003.
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
in Uraga
Uraga, Kanagawa
is a subdivision of the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the south eastern side of the Miura Peninsula, at the northern end of the Uraga Channel, at the entrance of Tokyo Bay.-History:...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, which built numerous warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
.
History
Uraga Dock Company was founded by Enomoto TakeakiEnomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate who fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War...
in 1869. A shipyard had already existed in Uraga from the end of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. When Commodore Perry's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
anchored off Uraga in 1854, one of the officials of the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
who boarded the American vessel was a trained shipwright, Nakajima Saburosuke. His observation of the ship's interior enabled him to deduce the details of its design and construction, and after the departure of Perry back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the government ordered him to start construction of a three-masted barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, called the Hōō maru. He subsequently participated in the repair of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-built Kanrin maru
Japanese warship Kanrin Maru
Kanrin Maru was Japan's first sail and screw-driven steam corvette . She was ordered in 1853 from the Netherlands, the only Western country with which Japan had diplomatic relations throughout its period of sakoku , by the Shogun's government, the Bakufu...
, during which time he constructed the first dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
built in Japan in 1859. However, the Tokugawa government decided to establish its own shipyards at nearby Yokosuka
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was located at Yokosuka city, Kanagawa prefecture on Tokyo Bay, south of Yokohama...
, and the Uraga facilities went out of business in 1876.
Nakajima died during the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
of the Meiji restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
fighting on the Tokugawa side. After the establishment of the Meiji government, his former colleagues Enomoto Takeaki and Arai Ikunosuke
Arai Ikunosuke
was a Japanese samurai of the late Edo period. Prominent as Navy Minister of the Republic of Ezo, he later became famous as the first head of the Japan Meteorological Agency. Also known as or .-Early life:...
gained important positions in the new administration, and supported the establishment of a modern shipyard on the foundation established by Nakajima. The new facility was inaugurated in 1897, and faced an immediate crisis when Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-based Ishikawajima Harima opened a rival facility the following year and started to dump prices in an effort to destroy its competition. Uraga Dock Company managed to buy out Ishikawajima in 1902.
In 1907, Uraga Dock Company launched its first destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, the Nagatsuki
Japanese destroyer Nagatsuki (1926)
was one of twelve destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...
. Over its subsequent history, the dockyards at Uraga constructed over 1000 vessels, including ferries, passenger liners, training vessels, and warships of various sizes. Numerous vessels were also produced for the export market.
By 1919, Uraga Dock Company was considered one of the largest and best equipped private shipyards in the world. Subsidiary companies were established in Yokkaichi, Mie
Yokkaichi, Mie
is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 314,393. The total area is 205.53 km².The closest major city is Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture....
and in Tsingtao.
Uraga Dock Company was also characterized by its organized labor force, one of the earliest in Japan, which went on strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
in 1905-1907, 1910-1911, and in 1915.
In post war Japan, Uraga Dock Company was acquired by the Sumitomo group in 1969. It was modernized extensively on several occasions, but increasing competitive pressures from overseas ship builders forced Sumitomo to close down operations in 2003.