This list of Danish shipbuilders , arranged by year, presents builders of Danish warships from the late 17th century to mid-19th century. [1] It names the Heads of Naval Construction (Fabrikmester) and includes lesser shipbuilders to the Danish Royal Navy. It does not include purely commercial shipbuilders.
Rubbens (senior and junior) built HDMS Sophia Amalia launched in 1650 in Christiana (Oslo). [2]
From 1824 to 1830 ten steam-powered warships entered service. [12]
See Orlogsværftet for history after 1830.
In Danish Konstruktionskommissionen [13]
Prior to 1739 all warship design in the Danish Naval dockyards at Holmen, Copenhagen, required royal approval. Shipbuilding was considered an art rather than a science.
Part of the committee's remit was to ensure the proper education of promising young naval officers in all aspects of ship construction and, to this end, the commission would send officers on extended study tours to the other naval powers of Europe to learn not only of recent advances in ship building but also harbour design and maintenance, defence works, dykes, and flood management. Other scientific advances, mechanical and technical inventions not directly related to naval matters were also noted [13] - occasionally, a little espionage was required. [14]
In 1742 the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences was established in Copenhagen to which the educated officer corps of the Danish navy contributed much useful debate.
Apprentice ship builders would return from their foreign tours often to become members of the Construction Committee and to lecture at the Sea Cadet Academy on shipbuilding. [13] Some would eventually become the head of naval construction, Fabrikmester, a position which required not only professional expertise but also political and personal qualities of leadership. Criticism on grounds of seaworthiness or cost of the designs, or loss of political support made the position of Fabrikmester very stressful for some of the incumbents.