 The last wooden merchant ship launched in the River Torridge was the schooner "PT Harris" from the Hubbastone yard of PK Harris & Sons, in 1912.During World War II a "Shoreham"-class sloop was named , also four sixth-rate ships of the line have been named after the town.Nowadays the only shipbuilding in the area is at Appledore Shipbuilders, which has built civilian ships and ships for the Royal Navy and Irish Naval Service.