In 1941, BIW constructed the Boiler Shop which was designed to support the assembly/erection of steam boilers for U.S. Navy WWII destroyers. It continued to be used to assemble boilers for steam-powered U.S. Navy and commercial ships until 1980. The last Bath-built, steam-powered ship, Hull 401 Resolute (American Export Lines containership), was delivered February 22, 1980.
The building had a steel frame on a concrete foundation, infilled with a 6-foot high, brick knee wall topped by continuous rows of glass windows on all sides, separated by one row of metal panels. Interior columns were designed to support two, 20-ton bridge cranes (w/ 5-ton auxiliary lift). In 1942, a new building, used as a propeller finishing shop was attached to the south side. This building was wood-framed, infilled with wooden siding, with individual windows on three sides. Another attached structure, which was used to fabricate non-structural, interior bulkhead panels (Nomex), was added on the west side in the 1990s.
Although BIW has demolished the Boiler Shop to facilitate construction of the multi-story Pier Support Center, the attached adjacent buildings have been retained and will be upgraded.
