New England Shipbuilding Corporation

New England Shipbuilding Corporation

Company type	Corporation
Industry	Shipbuilding
Predecessor	Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corporation, South Portland Shipbuilding Corporation
Founded	1943
Defunct	1946
Headquarters	South Portland , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Cargo ships, Liberty ships, Destroyers
Number of employees	30000

The New England Shipbuilding Corporation was established in South Portland, Maine during 1943 through the consolidation of the Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corporation—a collaboration between Todd Shipyards and Bath Iron Works—and the South Portland Shipbuilding Corporation to address the heightened shipbuilding needs of World War II. It secured the 97th position among American companies in terms of military production contracts during the conflict. Both facilities ceased operations following the conclusion of the war.

A total of 266 vessels were constructed, with 154 produced at the East Yard and 112 at the West Yard. The initial 30 ships from the East Yard were British Ocean class cargo ships. Subsequent production consisted of Liberty ships, which were modeled on the Ocean design and commissioned by the United States Maritime Commission. Among these, the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, now preserved as a museum ship in San Francisco, remains operational and meets all current U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping regulations, offering periodic voyages.

On August 16, 1942, a remarkable mass launching took place featuring five British Ocean vessels—Ocean Wayfarer, Ocean Stranger, Ocean Traveller, Ocean Seaman, and Ocean Gallant—alongside two destroyers, , , and a Liberty Ship. These ships engaged in a speed contest, with Natasha Allen emerging as the winner.

At its production height, the combined shipyards employed approximately 30,000 workers.