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| Minesweepers under construction during the 1950s |
Fort Lauderdale's Dooley’s Basin and Dry Dock, established in 1937 by Paul Dooley, built nearly 100 ships for the armed forces in World War II: two 110-foot sub chasers, 48 harbor patrol boats and 45 sea-air rescue craft. It was one of 21 shipyards across the nation approved for such construction.
Broward Marine was established in 1948 by Frank Denison when he bought Dooley's Basin and Dry Dock. During the 1950s, about 10 minesweepers (see photo) were constructed at the company for the U.S. and Dutch navies. Ross Petrie was Broward Marine's naval architect.
Ownership has changed a few times for the shipyard located along the New River, east of I-95. It is now the site of Lauderdale Marine Center, the largest boat repair facility in the country. See: http://www.lauderdalemarinecenter.com/ft-lauderdale-marina.html.
For a list of boats/ships built at Broward Marine, see:
Fort Lauderdale News, May 3, 1940
Fort Lauderdale News, Oct. 30, 1952
Tags: Broward County history, south Florida shipbuilding history, South Florida employers during the 1940s, 1950s, minesweepers, Fort Lauderdale history