Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation

Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Company type	Division of Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Industry	Shipbuilding
Predecessor	Union Iron Works
Founded	1905
Fate	Discontinued shipbuilding operations in 1997
Headquarters	Quincy, Massachusetts (after 1913), later Sparrows Point, Maryland (from 1964), United States
Products	Ships, offshore drilling rigs
Parent	Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division originated in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel from Pennsylvania took over the San Francisco-based Union Iron Works. It was formally incorporated as Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Limited in 1917, with its headquarters relocating to Quincy, Massachusetts after the 1913 acquisition of Fore River Shipyard.

By 1940, Bethlehem Shipbuilding had become the foremost U.S. shipbuilder among the "Big Three," surpassing Newport News Shipbuilding and New York Shipbuilding Corporation in its capacity to construct any type of vessel. The company experienced substantial growth before and throughout World War II, fueled by government initiatives such as the Long Range Shipbuilding and Emergency Shipbuilding programs, which were driven by the U.S. Maritime Commission and military requirements.

In 1964, the corporate headquarters shifted to Sparrows Point, Maryland, following Bethlehem Steel's 1916 purchase of the shipyard near Baltimore. The Quincy/Fore River facility was sold to General Dynamics during the mid-1960s and ceased operations in 1986. The Alameda Works Shipyard shut down in the early 1970s, while the San Francisco Union Iron Works was sold to British Aerospace in the mid-1990s and currently functions as BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair.

Bethlehem Steel discontinued its shipbuilding activities in 1997 to concentrate on its primary steel production business. Notably, the former Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation Hospital located in San Francisco was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2022.

Shipyards

Bethlehem significantly expanded its shipyard portfolio by acquiring United Shipyards on June 2, 1938, for $9.32 million.

New York

Bethlehem Mariners Harbor, Staten Island, New York (1938–1963)
Bethlehem Brooklyn 56th Street, Brooklyn, New York (1938–1963)
Bethlehem Brooklyn 27th Street (1938–1963)
Hoboken Shipyard, Hoboken, New Jersey (1938–1984)

These sites were collectively designated as the Staten Island Works, Brooklyn 56th Street Works, Brooklyn 27th Street Works, and Hoboken Works within Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation’s New York Plant.

Bethlehem Elizabethport, Elizabethport, New Jersey (1916–1921)

Bayonne Naval Drydock, Bayonne, New Jersey – primarily used by Bethlehem for ship repair tasks and staffed predominantly by personnel from the Hoboken Shipyard.

Boston

Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts (1913–1963). Later sold to General Dynamics Corporation.
Victory Plant Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts (1917–1919). Specialized in destroyer construction to allow Fore River Yard to focus on larger vessels including .
Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts (1940–1945).
Bethlehem Atlantic Works, East Boston, Massachusetts (1853–1984).

Baltimore

Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland (1914–1997).
Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore (1940–1945).
Bethlehem Key Highway Shipyard, Baltimore. The upper yard was sold in 1983; today it is home to Ritz Carlton and Harborview residential developments near Baltimore Museum of Industry.
Bethlehem Fort McHenry Shipyard, Baltimore. The lower yard was sold in 1983 and now forms part of the Port of Baltimore terminals.

San Francisco

Union Iron Works, located in San Francisco, California (operational from 1917 to 1981), also referred to as Potrero and Risdon Works.
Alameda Works Shipyard, situated in Alameda, California (active between 1916 and 1956), functioned as part of the Union facility operations.
Hunters Point Drydocks, based in San Francisco, California (1908–1920), subsequently taken over by the U.S. Navy.

Other Locations

Bethlehem Shipbuilding San Pedro, positioned at Terminal Island, previously known as Southwestern Shipbuilding.
Bethlehem Steel Wilmington (Wilmington, Delaware) operated during 1904–1925 and 1941–1945, also identified as Harlan and Hollingsworth.
Bethlehem Beaumont Shipyard, located in Beaumont, Texas (1948–1989), recognized as a major U.S. producer of offshore drilling rigs, with a total of 72 units constructed.
Bethlehem Sabine, based in Port Arthur, Texas (1985–1995), was sold to Texas Drydock Inc. in 1995.

External links