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Shipbuilding
industry being revived at Trinity
Trinity, Trinity Bay, once one of
the major shipbuilding communities in Newfoundland, is witnessing a
resurgence of the shipbuilding industry.
One June 9 of this year, two 58
foot longliners were launched at Henry Vokey’s shipyard and are being
completed for their owners- Capt. Matthew Whelan of St. John’s and
William Short of Harbour Grace.
The keels for the two vessels were
laid in July, 1970.
Another 45 foot longliner is almost
completed and the yard is starting to build three more 50 footers.
Mr. Vokey said that within the next
few months, a total of six longliners will be under construction at his
shipyard.
The Trinity shipyard is the biggest
single industry in the community. It employs 14 men, including Mr.
Vokey’s three sons and his father.
Mr. Vokey moved to Trinity some
years ago from Little Harbour. However, he is carrying out a family
tradition in shipbuilding which goes back several generations.
Workmen at the yard skillfully
fashion and shape the frames of the vessel cut from local wood.
The planking and other wooded
material for the vessels are sawn up at the sawmill at the shipyard.
However, there is one break here
with the traditional methods of building ships in Newfoundland. The
wood- apart- from that used for the frames- is imported from the
mainland.
Iron work for the vessels built at
Mr. Vokey’s shipyard is turned out by the local blacksmith, Cyril
Hiscock, who is also chairman of the Trinity Community Council.
Another longliner is also under
construction at Trinity. The vessel is being built by Samuel Vokey,
Henry Vokey’s brother. |
