Bath Iron Works

Bath Iron Works (BIW) is a historic American shipyard on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine. Established in 1884 by Thomas W. Hyde, the company developed from a local manufacturer of windlasses and iron hardware into a builder of iron and steel vessels. Its early work combined naval contracts with commercial ships, yachts, lightships, fishing vessels, and other craft, but U.S. government orders gradually became the central foundation of the business. BIW won its first complete-vessel Navy contract in 1890 for two iron gunboats, including USS Machias, and later built USS Georgia, the only battleship constructed at Bath. The yard also produced cruisers, destroyers, patrol vessels, yachts, passenger steamers, and other commercial craft during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Between 1905 and 1917, Navy contracts represented most of the value of the company’s new business, reinforcing its long-term specialization in defense shipbuilding. The company experienced financial difficulties and entered receivership in the 1920s, but returned to naval construction after a 1926 acquisition. During the Second World War, BIW reached exceptionally high output, launching a destroyer approximately every 17 days during the 1943–1944 production peak. It built large numbers of destroyers across several classes, helping establish the yard’s reputation as a major U.S. Navy supplier. Commercial work continued periodically; the last commercial vessels built by BIW were two tankers ordered in 1981. In the postwar period, the shipyard continued constructing and modernizing naval vessels. A notable engineering achievement followed the 1986 mine damage to USS Samuel B. Roberts. BIW replaced the frigate’s damaged engine-room section by fabricating a large replacement module at Bath, transporting it to Portland, and integrating it into the ship in dry dock. General Dynamics acquired Bath Iron Works in 1995, making the yard part of one of the United States’ largest defense companies. The shipyard subsequently invested in modern production infrastructure, including the Land Level Transfer Facility completed in 2001. This system enabled hulls and ship modules to be assembled horizontally and moved by rail onto a floating dry dock, reducing reliance on traditional sloped launching ways. BIW remains focused primarily on U.S. Navy surface combatants, especially Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. Its work has included new-construction contracts, ship sustainment support, structural fabrication, outfit fabrication, engineering, planning, and logistics. The company operates the main Bath yard and supporting facilities in nearby West Bath and Brunswick, Maine. Its workforce is represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. A 63-day strike in 2020 ended with a three-year labor agreement. Dirk Lesko, president from 2016, resigned in April 2022, and Charles F. Krugh was appointed president the following month. BIW’s current identity is therefore that of a specialized defense-industrial brand whose importance rests less on consumer recognition than on its long production history, specialized facilities, skilled workforce, and continuing role in the U.S. Navy’s surface-fleet industrial base.

Bath Iron Works was incorporated in 1884 on the Kennebec River by Thomas W. Hyde, a Bath native and Civil War veteran. Hyde had acquired a local shop producing windlasses and iron hardware for wooden ships and expanded it into iron shipbuilding as the industry changed. The company secured its first complete-vessel Navy order in 1890, building two iron gunboats. USS Machias became the first vessel launched by the yard. BIW soon diversified: its 1892 commercial order was the steel passenger steamer City of Lowell, while the 1890s also brought yacht construction. In 1899, Hyde’s sons Edward and John assumed management as his health deteriorated. That year the yard began Georgia, a Virginia-class battleship launched in 1904 and the only battleship built at Bath. The project imposed unusual demands because of the ship’s armor and armament, but Georgia achieved a high speed during trials. Navy work became increasingly important. From 1905 through 1917, government contracts accounted for most of the value of new orders, although BIW continued to build fishing trawlers, freighters, yachts, and other commercial vessels. The business entered receivership in 1925 and 1926, then was acquired by a conglomerate in 1926 and returned to naval shipbuilding. Before that recovery, its work included notable yachts such as Hi-Esmaro, Aras I, Aras II, Caroline, and Corsair IV. During the Second World War, the yard reached its historic production peak. In 1943 and 1944 it launched destroyers at roughly 17-day intervals and ranked among the leading American corporations by the value of wartime military contracts. BIW constructed vessels in numerous destroyer classes, as well as patrol craft and other naval ships. After the war, the company remained associated with U.S. Navy construction while periodically accepting civilian work. Two tankers ordered by Falcon Transport in 1981 were the final commercial vessels built by the yard. In 1986, BIW undertook an unusually complex repair of USS Samuel B. Roberts after a mine explosion damaged its engine room. The damaged section was removed, a 315-ton replacement was fabricated in Bath, transported to Portland, and fitted into the frigate in dry dock. General Dynamics acquired Bath Iron Works in 1995. Under the new ownership, the shipyard modernized its production methods. The Land Level Transfer Facility, completed in 2001 after a four-year construction effort, allowed ship hulls to be assembled on a large horizontal platform and transferred by rail to a moveable dry dock, replacing much of the work associated with launching ships from a sloping way. In the twenty-first century, BIW’s principal business has been U.S. Navy surface combatants, especially Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The yard has also supported maintenance and sustainment work for Independence-class littoral combat ships constructed by Austal USA. Its industrial footprint includes the Bath main yard, a warehouse in West Bath, and structural fabrication, outfit fabrication, and technology facilities in Brunswick. Labor relations have periodically affected operations. In 2020, around 4,300 unionized workers struck for 63 days before returning under a three-year agreement. Leadership changed in 2022 when president Dirk Lesko resigned and Charles F. Krugh was appointed to succeed him. BIW continues to function as a major component of the U.S. naval shipbuilding base and as a longstanding employer in Maine.

1. 2022Presidential transition

   Dirk Lesko resigned in April, and Charles F. Krugh became president in May.

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2. 2020Union strike ends after 63 days

   Unionized workers returned after agreeing to a three-year labor pact.

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3. 2015Arleigh Burke-class and sustainment contracts

   BIW signed Navy contracts for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and sustainment support for Independence-class littoral combat ships.

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4. 2001Land Level Transfer Facility completed

   The new facility introduced horizontal assembly and rail transfer to a moveable dry dock.

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5. 1995Acquisition by General Dynamics

   General Dynamics acquired Bath Iron Works, which became one of its shipbuilding subsidiaries.

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6. 1986Major USS Samuel B. Roberts repair

   BIW engineered and installed a replacement engine-room module after the frigate was damaged by a mine.

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7. 1981Last commercial vessels

   BIW built two tankers for Falcon Transport, its last reported commercial vessels.

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8. 1943Wartime production peak

   During the Second World War production peak, the yard launched destroyers at approximately 17-day intervals.

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9. 1926Return to naval shipbuilding after financial difficulties

   Following receivership, BIW was acquired by a conglomerate and resumed naval construction.

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10. 1904USS Georgia launched

    The yard launched Georgia, the only battleship built at Bath.

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11. 1892First commercial ship contract

    The yard received an order for the steel passenger steamer City of Lowell.

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12. 1890First complete-vessel Navy contract

    BIW won an order for two iron gunboats, including USS Machias, the first vessel launched by the yard.

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13. 1884Bath Iron Works is incorporated

    Thomas W. Hyde incorporated the shipyard on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine.

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Specialized, high-complexity U.S. naval shipbuilding and sustainment

• Arleigh Burke-class destroyersGuided-missile destroyers

  BIW’s principal contemporary product line is the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. The yard has received construction work for multiple ships in the class, including USS Rafael Peralta, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Daniel Inouye, USS Carl M. Levin, USS John Basilone, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., and USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. The line represents the shipyard’s modern specialization in complex, high-value surface combatants.

• DestroyersNaval vessels

  Throughout the twentieth century, BIW built destroyers in many U.S. Navy classes, including Wickes, Clemson, Fletcher, Allen M. Sumner, Gleaves, Sims, Mahan, Somers, and other classes. Wartime destroyer production formed a central part of the yard’s industrial identity and made Bath one of the important American naval construction sites.

• Early naval vesselsGunboats, cruisers, battleships, and patrol vessels1890

  BIW’s early naval portfolio included the gunboat USS Machias, the naval ram USS Katahdin, monitor USS Nevada, cruiser USS Cleveland, battleship USS Georgia, and numerous patrol vessels. These projects marked the yard’s transition from iron hardware production into full-scale military shipbuilding.

• Commercial vessels and yachtsCommercial and leisure vessels1892

  The shipyard has built passenger steamers, freighters, fishing trawlers, tankers, lightships, and yachts. Notable historical yacht projects included Aphrodite, Ranger, Aras II, Corsair IV, and other vessels for private owners. Commercial construction continued intermittently, with two tankers built in 1981 identified as the last commercial vessels constructed by BIW.

• Ship sustainment supportMaintenance and lifecycle services2015

  In addition to new construction, BIW has undertaken maintenance and sustainment support. Its 2015 Navy work included support for Independence-class littoral combat ships built by Austal USA, demonstrating that the company’s defense role extends beyond vessels constructed at its own yard.

• 2020Labor agreement after strikeOther

  Negotiations between the shipyard and its unionized workforce failed to produce an acceptable new labor contract.

  What changed. Approximately 4,300 workers struck for 63 days before accepting a three-year agreement and returning to work.

  Aftermath. The settlement ended the work stoppage and restored shipyard operations.

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• 2015Expansion of destroyer and sustainment workStrategy

  The U.S. Navy continued procuring Arleigh Burke-class destroyers while requiring lifecycle support for littoral combat ships.

  What changed. BIW entered contracts for new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and maintenance sustainment support for Independence-class littoral combat ships.

  Aftermath. The contracts reinforced BIW’s role as a major Navy surface-combatant builder and broadened its work into support for ships built by another yard.

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• 2001Adoption of horizontal ship transferStrategy

  Traditional ship launching from a sloped way created substantial handling and launch work.

  What changed. BIW completed the Land Level Transfer Facility, enabling horizontal assembly and rail movement of hulls onto a moveable dry dock.

  Aftermath. The facility reduced the work associated with launching ships and became a defining element of the modern yard’s production system.

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• 2022Dirk Lesko resigns as Bath Iron Works president

  Dirk Lesko unexpectedly left the presidency on April 7, 2022, on the same day that the union local announced an agreement with the shipyard.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Charles F. Krugh appointed president

  Charles F. Krugh was appointed president of Bath Iron Works on May 5, 2022.

  Leadership change
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• 2020Bath Iron Works workers begin a 63-day strike

  Approximately 4,300 employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers struck after negotiations over a new labor agreement failed. Workers returned after accepting a three-year contract.

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• 2016Bath Iron Works receives contract modification for USS John Basilone

  The shipyard received a $610.4 million modification connected with construction of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Basilone, under a broader Navy destroyer procurement arrangement.

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1. Bath Iron Works
2. Bath Iron Works official website