29.5.2025 | History

New Book Published on the History of Noblessner Harbour

Text Susanna Poikela 
Photos Egert Kamenik

Did you know that over a hundred years ago, Noblessner Harbour served as a tsarist submarine shipyard, where the cutting-edge marine technology of the time was manufactured in large limestone factory halls? The Estonian Maritime Museum has published a new book about this period, presenting the history of the Noblessner submarine shipyard with rare photographs.

The book, “Noblessner. Metamorphoses of a Submarine Shipyard 1912–1940” (Estonian Maritime Museum, 2025) offers a unique photographic overview of the shipyard’s history, complemented by views of today’s Noblessner.

“This is not just a historical work, but a unique visual journey through one of Estonia’s most significant industrial and maritime historical sites,” says Urmas Dresen, one of the book’s authors.

The work discusses the establishment of the Noblessner submarine shipyard, the development of Estonian industrial architecture in the early 20th century, and highlights significant companies that operated in the area, such as the Bank of Estonia and Oskar Kilgas‘s hosiery and lace factory.

At the heart of the book is a tsarist-era photo album donated to the museum in 2020. It contains 80 exceptionally well-preserved silver gelatin prints from 1913–1916, offering detailed views of the construction of the shipyard, the ceremonial opening with dignitaries, and the production of submarines. It also includes previously unpublished photographs.

In the book, the shipyard era is intertwined with photographer Tõnu Tunnel‘s contemporary photographs of Noblessner. In this way, two eras, separated by a hundred years, meet in a visually impressive way.

The book is written by Urmas Dresen, Andres Eero, Henry Kuningas, Tõnis Liibek, and Arto Oll. Eva-Maria Maiste was responsible for compiling it, and Hille Saluäär for editing.

The book has been published both in Estonian and English, and is available at the Estonian Maritime Museum’s stores in the Seaplane Harbour Museum and Fat Margaret Tower, as well as in major bookstores around Estonia.