Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Founder | William Pigott Jr., Paul Pigott |
| Defunct | 1949 |
| Fate | Lease ended; shipyard shut down |
| Successor | Pacific Car and Foundry (acquirer) |
| Headquarters | Everett, Washington , United States |
Area served | United States (primarily US Navy) |
Key people | William Pigott Jr., Paul Pigott |
| Products | Ships, barges, floating dry docks, tugboats |
| Parent | Pacific Car and Foundry (from 1945) |
Everett-Pacific Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company was established in 1942 to address the increased need for ship construction during World War II. Construction of the shipyard commenced on March 1, 1942, with financial backing from the US Navy through the Emergency Shipbuilding Program. Situated on the shores of Port Gardner Bay in Everett, Washington, the firm focused on producing ships and barges to support wartime operations.
In 1945, Pacific Car and Foundry, a leading manufacturer of railcars and trucks with existing barge production facilities in Renton, Seattle, and Tacoma, Washington, acquired Everett-Pacific. The lease for the Everett shipyard concluded in 1949, resulting in its shutdown. In 1972, Pacific Car and Foundry adopted the name Paccar Inc. to better reflect its principal product lines. The former site of Everett-Pacific subsequently became home to Western Gear, a heavy machinery company, before undergoing redevelopment between 1987 and 1992 as part of Naval Station Everett.
The enterprise was founded by William Pigott Jr. and his brother Paul Pigott (1900–1961). Born on August 26, 1895, in Pueblo, Colorado, William Pigott Jr. was a notable figure in Seattle's business community until his passing in 1947. Their effective management established Everett-Pacific as a significant contributor to the US Navy’s wartime shipbuilding capabilities.
Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB)
Large Auxiliary Floating Docks (AFDB), also referred to as Advance Base Sectional Docks (ABSD), were composed of individual sections weighing 3,850 tons each. Each segment measured 93 feet in length, had a beam of 165 feet, and a molded depth of 75 feet. With a lifting capacity of 10,000 tons per section, these units could be assembled to accommodate larger vessels such as battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, and substantial auxiliary ships. For instance, AFDB-1 Artisan consisted of ten sections labeled A through J, providing a combined lifting capacity of 100,000 tons and extending 1,000 feet in length. Constructed between 1943 and 1945, these docks were transported by tow to remote naval installations and operated by crews ranging from 600 to 1,000 personnel. They included self-contained amenities like freshwater distillation systems, steam-driven pumps, two diesel generators rated at 350 kW each per section, and a rail-mounted crane capable of lifting 15 tons within an 85-foot radius. Additionally, each section stored up to 65,000 gallons of fuel oil to service vessels undergoing repairs. Crew quarters were typically provided aboard nearby barracks ships (APL).
- USS Artisan (ABSD-1) (Sections A-J)
Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDM)
The Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDM) produced by Everett-Pacific weighed approximately 8,000 tons and measured 622 feet long. These docks accommodated crews between 140 and 200 personnel and offered an 18,000-ton lifting capacity. Defensive armaments included two 40mm guns alongside four 20mm guns. The structure featured two cranes rated at 7½ tons each and contained sixteen ballast tank compartments. Built in three segments—a long central section flanked by two shorter end sections—AFDMs were also identified by Yard Floating Dock (YFD) classification numbers.
- USS Resourceful (AFDM-5), built by Everett-Pacific as YFD 21; sold into private ownership in 1999
- USS Competent (AFDM-6), constructed at Everett-Pacific as YFD 62; sold privately in 1997
- USS Sustain (AFDM-7), manufactured by Everett-Pacific as YFD 63; leased to BAE Jacksonville in 1997
Net Layer Vessels
Net layer ships were vessels of approximately 1,100 tons and 194 feet in length, primarily constructed to deploy and service steel anti-submarine and anti-torpedo nets around naval ships and harbor areas. Throughout World War II, their operational scope broadened to encompass salvage missions, transportation of troops and cargo, upkeep of buoys, and tugboat functions.
- Vessel - Commissioning date
- USS Ailanthus (YN 57) - 2-Dec-1943 - Redesignated AN 38; lost near Alaska in 1944
- USS Bitterbush (YN 58) - 15-Jan-1944 - Later AN 39; disposed of in 1948
- USS Anaqua (YN 59) - 21-Feb-1944 - Sold in 1946
- USS Baretta (YN 60) - 18-Mar-1944 - Sold in 1947
- USS Cliffrose (YN 61) - 30-Apr-1944 - Transferred to China in 1947
- USS Satinleaf (YN 62) - 8-Apr-1944 - Sold in 1947
- USS Corkwood (YN 63) - 16-May-1944 - Sold in 1947
- USS Cornel (YN 64) - 6-Jun-1944 - Sold in 1947
- USS Mastic (YN 65) - 4-Jul-1944 - Sold in 1947
- USS Canotia (YN 66) - 30-Jul-1944 - Sold in 1947
Harbor Tugboats
Everett-Pacific manufactured small harbor tugboats for the US Navy, each weighing around 70 tons with a length of approximately 66 feet. These Class District Harbor Tugs were equipped with a single-screw diesel engine generating about 300 shaft horsepower. They featured a beam of roughly 17 feet, a draft close to five feet, and accommodated a crew of four.
Highlighted vessels include:
- YTL 422 – Delivered August 1944; sold as Spike in 1986
- YTLs 423–429 – Delivered between August and October 1944; several units later transferred internationally to countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Argentina, and Taiwan during the 1960s and '70s
- YTLs 430–434 and YTLs 550–565 – Delivered mid-1940s; numerous units sold or reassigned globally including destinations like Cambodia, Korea, and France
- YTLs 711–717 – Delivered late in World War II; sold after the war under various names
These tugboats played a vital role supporting US Navy operations worldwide and were frequently repurposed or sold after wartime service, illustrating Everett-Pacific’s contribution to providing adaptable maritime assets with enduring utility.
District Harbor Tug Large (YTB)
The US Navy’s District Harbor Tug Large class vessels weighed approximately 260 tons and measured about 102 feet long. Powered by two Enterprise diesel engines producing a combined output of around 1,270 horsepower, these tugs were notable for their robust performance. Key examples include:
- Sabeata (YTB 287) – Commissioned on June 4, 1944, at Seattle; sold in 1972 under the name Retriever and later renamed Glen Cove
- Saguanash (YTB 288) – Commissioned July 26, 1944; sunk in service during 1946
- Sakaweston (YTB 289) – Commissioned September 13, 1944, at Seattle; sold in 1960 as Lummi Bay and subsequently renamed Lorna Foss, Blackfish, and Rio Cuale
- Canokan (YTB 290) – Commissioned October 21, 1944; sold in 1958 as Canocan with later names including Sea King, Iver Foss, and presently the yacht Tagish
Barracks Barges
Everett-Pacific constructed US Navy Barracks Barges with a displacement of about 1,300 tons and a length of roughly 261 feet. These barges functioned as temporary living quarters for sailors or military personnel awaiting deployment. Significant examples include:
- APL 30 – Launched April 11, 1945; dismantled in 1975
- APL 31 – Launched June14,1945; scuttled off New Jersey coast in2001
Freight Barges (YFN)
The firm also produced non-powered freight barges (YFN), each with a weight of 700 tons and a length of 261 feet. These vessels were designated as Navy Type B class ships. Notable examples include:
- YFN 718 – Launched on January 24, 1945; subsequently redesignated YFNB 8, sold as JMC 24, and dismantled in 1995.
- YFN 719 – Launched December 22, 1944; removed from service in 1946.
- YFN 723 – Entered service in February 1945; later reclassified as YFNB 12, then YDT 11, followed by YRST 1, and currently identified as YR 94.
- YFN 724 and YFN 725 – Both launched in early 1945; lost during the year 1946.