The Manchester Ship Canal Company was responsible for the funding and construction of the canal and the later management of the canal until it was bought by Peel Holdings in 2008. The project began with a meeting organised by Daniel Adamson on the 27th June 1882, at his home in Didsbury. The meeting was attended by several industrialists from across the region, as well as civic leaders. The project progressed but, it did have its detractors amongst them the Port of Liverpool and the railway companies. The Ship Canal was deposited with Parliament in November 1882. The Bill was not successful however, a third Bill was presented to Parliament and this time it made it to the House of Lords where, on the 6th august 1885 it received the royal assent. Some stipulations were put in place amongst them was the company had to but the Bridgewater Navigation Company and raise £5,000,000 prior to any construction starting. The funding was eventually secured by July 1887 and on the 11th November 1887 Lord Egerton cut the first sod. At the peak of the project there were over 16,000 men and boys working on the construction of the canal. As well as digging and carrying large amounts of the soil away by barrow, there were several mechanical diggers, powered by steam used during the project. Eventually after six years the canal was finished and attracted the additional building of a large industrial state, Trafford park along the Manchester end of the canal which was started in 1896. The Ship Canal also extended the docking facilities by building a further Dock No 9 which was opened in 1905. Manchester Docks was the official name given to the Docks at the terminus of the Manchester Ship Canal, the whole length of the Canal being referred to as the Port of Manchester. However, Docks No. 6 - 9 were also known as Salford Docks, due to their location in Salford, whilst Docks No. 1 - 4 were also called Pomona Docks. The formal opening of the canal was conducted by Queen Victoria in May 1894 although the canal had been opened to shipping prior to the official opening.

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 Co Ltd on the 23 January 1906. The Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks 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 Mode Wheel. As 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 docks were built on the Mode Wheel site in 1907 and 1917, as well as having a floating pontoon.