The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Company Limited opened the first dry dock facility at the Port of Manchester on the 14 February 1894. The company incorporated on the 14 October 1891 eventually changing its name to The Manchester Dry Docks Company Limited on the 23 January 1906.

The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Dock Company Limited had been started by George Renwick a ship owner from Newcastle-upon-Tyne after he had paid a visit to the Manchester Ship Canal during its construction. Realising the potential for a dry dock facility on the new canal he approached the Manchester Ship Canal Company and an agreement was reached to provide him with land at Mood Wheel.

Because the ship canal was not fully opened a floating pontoon was built in 1893 to operate at the company’s other site at Ellesmere Port. As the work to construct the Manchester Ship Canal progressed George Renwick began construction of the first dry dock at Mode Wheel to be operational on the 14 February 1894, the day the ship canal was officially opened. A further two dry dockswere built on the Mode Wheel site in 1907 and 1917 as well as having a floating pontoon.