1747

Hydro engineer Daniel Thunberg (1712–1788) started the planning of Europe’s most modern dock for the fortress.

1750

The construction of the large dock basin begun with a dam (#1 on the maps) built between two small islands. At first, the basin was emptied with the aid of a windmill (#2 on the maps).

1756

The Swedish Archipelago Fleet was established, with the fortress serving as one of its bases.

1762

Shipbuilder Fredrik Henrik Chapman started to design new kinds of manoeuvrable low-draft vessels for the Swedish Archipelago Fleet.

1764

The first vessels built in the galley dock (#4 on the maps) were launched through the dock’s new lock gate (#5 on the maps). The blasting and masonry work at the ship dock (#7 on the maps) were started but left unfinished.

1775 - 1783

The galley dock was finalized and divided into two parts: the smaller for a repair dock (#6 on the maps) and the larger (#4 on the maps) for vessels being built.

1789

A total of 33 gunboats and six Turuma frigates were built in the galley dock (#4 on the maps). The winter 1789–1790 was full of constant shipbuilding and repair activity.

1790

The Swedish Archipelago Fleet defeated Russia at the Battle of Svensksund.

1809

The territory that now constitutes Finland was transferred from Sweden to Russia and the fortress became a Russian garrison.

1855

The fortress was bombed during the Crimean War and many dock buildings were damaged. The dock basins were filled with seawater for decades.

1917

During the First World War, the dock underwent modifications and was refitted into a naval port. The large basin (#4 on the maps) was deepened, and the old repair dock (#6 on the maps) was filled. A pump room and machine shop hall, equipped with electricity, built on top of the old repair dock.

1918

After Finland became independent, the fortress was renamed Suomenlinna and became a Finnish garrison.

1922

The Finnish Defence Forces built airplanes in the dock area in the 1920s. The dock also served as a base for the Finnish submarine fleet.

1933

The outer basin (#7 on the maps) of the dock was refurbished into its current form and the first crane was acquired for the dock.

1945 -

After the Second World War, Finland paid war reparations to the Soviet Union and the dock built ships for this purpose.

1952

The first Suomenlinna ferry was completed in the dock and started operating the same year, the year of the Helsinki Olympics.

1985

The dock came under the management of the Governing Body of Suomenlinna.

Today

The dock is in active use. Nowadays, wooden vessels are repaired in the dock’s inner basin using traditional methods. The dock is also home to a smithy, a sail making room and a boatbuilding workshop. In the area, you can also find a dock for small vessels and a guest harbour with associated services.