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Gladstone Dock History

Active years - 1927 to present

1908

This is the time of the huge Atlantic liners. Gladstone Dock is designed to receive them but will not be finished for several years. Some of port users think it will be too large for the needs of the port.

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1913

A huge graving dock is completed at Gladstone Dock. It measures 1050ft long and 120ft wide. This is large enough to take the largest transatlantic liners. Gladstone also has a very wide entrance lock - 1070ft long and 130 ft wide. This is the largest on the river. Both will be very valuable during World War II.

1914

The Cunard liner, 'Aquitania', is in Gladstone graving dock when World War I breaks out [image, new window]. She has been damaged off the coast of Ireland in July 1914, and is converted into a trooper carrier while at Gladstone. The war slows the building of the dock.

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1920

Passenger liner companies are putting pressure on the dock company to complete the job at Gladstone Dock. They are in urgent need of suitable space.

1927

Gladstone Dock is finished [image, new window]. There is:

  • a wet dock
  • two branch docks with a river entrance
  • a massive 58 acres of water space
  • three miles of quays
  • single, double and triple floor transit sheds

1939

An anti u-boat fleet is based at Gladstone Dock during World War II. The dock is also a base for transatlantic escorts and minesweepers.

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1968

A container terminal (called Royal Seaforth Dock) is planned for the land downstream of Gladstone Dock. Gladstone graving dock acts as a temporary container terminal during Seaforth's construction [image, new window].

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1971 

The last transatlantic passenger service, a Canadian Pacific Liner, leaves Gladstone Dock for its final journey.

1972

The entrance of Gladstone Dock is big enough for very large ships so becomes the entrance to the new Royal Seaforth Dock and Container Terminal [image, new window].

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Today

Gladstone Dock is still an active dock because it is large and deep enough for modern ships. Being near the river mouth it is less prone to silting than southern docks. It is part of Liverpool Freeport, and ships visiting Royal Seaforth Dock and Container Terminal use its entrance. Part of the dock is used as a depot for scrap metal exports, and the sheds on the south quay have made way for an imported coal depot.

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