Gulf Marine Repair
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Tampa Foundry & Machine Co. |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Defunct | 1947 |
| Fate | Shut down |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
Key people | George B. Howell (owner after Maritime Commission intervention) |
| Products | Naval auxiliary vessels, cargo ships, Type C2 ships, PCE-842-class patrol craft escorts, s, motor boat tenders, repair ships, attack cargo ships, stores ships |
Number of employees | 16,000 (peak wartime employment) |
Tampa Shipbuilding Company, commonly referred to as TASCO, was a prominent shipyard located in Tampa, Florida that operated from 1917 until its shutdown in 1947. The premises are currently occupied by Gulf Marine Repair, which operates floating dry dock facilities.
Origins
Established in 1917 under the name Tampa Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, TASCO constructed vessels as part of the United States Maritime Commission's pre-war initiatives. Also identified as Tampa Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, it utilized the infrastructure previously owned by Tampa Foundry & Machine Co., a firm founded in 1892 and incorporated in 1905.
World War II mobilization
In 1938, the company obtained a $750,000 loan from the Public Works Administration to build a 10,000-ton dry dock. Upon its completion in 1939, TASCO secured an $8 million contract to produce four cargo ships. This expansion generated roughly 2,000 jobs, boosting employment locally. Nevertheless, financial challenges restricted output to only one vessel, the .
Due to ongoing financial troubles, ownership was transferred following intervention by the Maritime Commission and Reconstruction Finance Corporation. George B. Howell of Exchange National Bank purchased the company for $500 amid accusations of illicit sales and excessive charges to the US Navy, although no legal action ensued. Subsequently, the shipyard was renamed Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO).
World War II activities
During the Second World War, TASCO stood as Tampa’s largest shipyard among four significant yards including Bushnell-Lyons, Tampa Marine, and Hooker's Point Yard (established by Matthew H. McCloskey, Junior). The company produced a wartime newsletter titled Tascozette.
The workforce composition reflected wider industry patterns: African American workers were predominantly excluded from union membership and confined to non-union roles such as cooks and janitors; their efforts rarely received public recognition. Women made up 17% of TASCO’s labor force—twice the national average.
To enhance employee morale and retention, TASCO provided various recreational activities including bowling, softball, basketball leagues, swim and fencing clubs, along with volleyball, tennis, and badminton. Additionally, management created a radio program broadcast via RCA recordings from the yard’s Morale Department that featured music requested by employees starting in October 1944.
Ships built during World War II
Before and during America’s involvement in Second World War, Tampa Shipbuilding (TASCO) specialized in constructing U.S. Navy auxiliary vessels. Notable outputs included s and Type C2 cargo ships, such as , , and . The company also contributed to delivering crated P-40 aircraft to Java; however, these were destroyed to avoid enemy capture. TASCO built s including , , and . At its peak wartime employment, TASCO was Tampa’s largest employer with a workforce of 16,000. The company ceased operations in 1947 with only limited portions of its original facilities remaining.
Key wartime production comprised:
- 9 out of 72 s
- From to
- 24 out of 123 vessels
- From to
- 3 out of 5 s
- Including and
- All 7 s (Type C2 ship)
- Additional construction included motor boat tenders, repair ships, attack cargo ships, stores ships (converted), and other auxiliary vessels.
This wartime production strategy highlighted TASCO’s pivotal role in naval shipbuilding leadership, making a substantial contribution to U.S. naval strength and supporting regional economic development during WWII.