 In 1841 he expanded his company to include an iron shipbuilding yard in Govan and the Parkhead Forge Steelworks, and in 1843 they produced their first ship, the "Vanguard".He also procured a contract with the Royal Navy to produce vessels, notably the "Jackal", the "Lizard", and the "Bloodhound", which became the first iron vessels in the Royal Navy.He allowed naval officers in training to visit the shipyard to familiarise themselves with the new vessels.