The '' ' Halifax Graving Dock Company ' '' was formed by English investors who constructed the graving dock for $ 1 million , opening on September 21 , 1889 on the western shore of Halifax Harbour in the community of Richmond . The following year on August 22 , 1890 the Halifax Graving Dock Company purchased the Chebucto Marine Railway Company Limited located in Dartmouth Cove , at the mouth of the former Shubenacadie Canal in Dartmouth . The yard built a small steam tug for its own use in 1915 , the tug '' Sambro '' . During World War I , the Halifax Graving Dock Company 's facilities on the Halifax side of the harbour were badly damaged by the December 6 , 1917 Halifax Explosion , which occurred north of the graving dock . Many yard workers were killed and '' Sambro '' was sunk . The graving dock was quickly repaired and planning began to add building slips and plating shops for a modern ship yard to construct the first steel-hulled ships in Atlantic Canada . '' Sambro '' was raised and renamed
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Shipyard