History
Shipbuilding on the Kennebec River
Shipbuilding has been a way of life along the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, since 1762, when the sailing ship Earl of Bute was launched on the site of present-day Bath. Over the years, many shipyards have called Bath home, but Bath Iron Works remains the only shipyard that remains active today.
Our Beginnings
Bath Iron Works was the namesake of a brass and iron foundry established in 1826. Brigadier General Thomas W. Hyde took over the foundry in 1865, following service with the 20th Maine Regiment during the Civil War. Nearly two decades later, he incorporated his diversified marine business interests as Bath Iron Works, Limited in 1884 before expanding into shipbuilding with the acquisition of the Goss Marine Iron Works in 1888.
The first vessel delivered by BIW was a coastal passenger ship named Cottage City built for the Maine Steamship Co. Since the completion of Hull #1 in 1890, BIW has been awarded more than 430 shipbuilding contracts, over 260 military ships (mostly destroyers and frigates for the U.S. Navy) and over 160 private yachts and commercial vessels. BIW became a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics in 1995.
Lead Shipyard for DDG 51 Destroyers
In 1985, BIW won the competition for detail design and construction of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), the Lead Ship for the Navy’s most capable class of AEGIS guided missile destroyers and the Workhorse of the Navy.
The DDG 51 program has become one of the longest-running shipbuilding programs for surface combatants in U.S. Navy history.
Innovating Naval Shipbuilding
Bath-Built Ships
Since the 1890s, Bath Iron Works has been building ships. From our earliest days, we established a reputation for quality and as an industry leader in innovative maritime engineering and construction.
Building for a Better Tomorrow
Modernizing Our Shipyard
Under General Dynamics’ ownership, BIW teamed up with the City of Bath and the State of Maine to support a long-term capital investment plan which included the Land Level Transfer Facility, which was completed in 2001. These improvements enabled us to build the DDG 1000 class of destroyers, the Zumwalt class, the most technologically-advanced ship in the world.
Today, we continue to modernize our shipyard so that we can offer improved productivity, and affordability to our customer and continue delivering high-quality Bath-built ships.
Our Timeline
A more granular look at Bath Iron Works’ history is contained in our shipyard retrospective. Major milestones in the company’s progress is outlined in this timeline.
The New Nation – 1826
Bath Iron Foundry is founded on Water Street in Bath, Maine
Industrialization – 1865
Brigadier General Thomas Worcester Hyde, a civil war hero, purchases C. Bartlett Foundry and renames it Bath Iron Foundry
Industrialization – 1872
General Hyde changes the name Bath Iron Foundry to Bath Iron Works
Industrialization – 1884
On October 20, the company is incorporated and becomes Bath Iron Works Ltd.
Industrialization – 1888
General Hyde acquires Goss Marine Iron Works, enabling Bath Iron Works to expand and break into steel shipbuilding
Industrialization – 1890
Passenger steamer Cottage City is the first hull delivered by Bath Iron Works Ltd.
Industrialization – 1893
USS Machias, a patrol gunboat, is the first BIW-built US Navy ship
Industrialization – 1894
City Of Lowell is the first BIW-built commercial steel vessel
Industrialization – 1895
General Hyde creates Hyde Windlass Co., which built ship machinery
Progressive Era – 1901
BIW is acquired by United States Shipbuilding Trust, which fails a year later and BIW declares bankruptcy while still continuing its operations
Progressive Era – 1905
John S. Hyde, eldest son of General Hyde, purchases BIW from bankruptcy court
Progressive Era – 1906
USS Georgia, the only BIW-built battleship, is delivered
WW1 and Roaring 20s – 1917
BIW is sold to a syndicate of Maine investors upon the death of John Hyde
WW1 and Roaring 20s – 1925
BIW declares bankruptcy and operations are idled. Plant equipment is sold at a public auction and the company is sold to Keyes Fiber Co.
WW1 and Roaring 20s – 1927
BIW is purchased by William S. Newell and a group of investors, business is restarted as BIW Corporation
Great Depression and WW II – 1939-1946
BIW delivered 89 destroyers to the US Navy (19% of DDs built during WWII)
Post War America – 1940
BIW Structural Fabrication Facility (Harding) is built in East Brunswick, ME
Great Depression and WW II – 1940-1945
BIW builds two new shipyards in South Portland, ME which later merges into one company (New England Shipbuilding Co.), building a total of 274 liberty ships
Great Depression and WW II – 1942-1945
BIW delivered 67 destroyers over 3+ years (1156 days), an average of 1 ship every 17 days
Post War America – 1955
First of a new class of Navy destroyers, USS Forrest Sherman, is delivered
Post War America – 1956
BIW opens first Structural Assembly Building
Modern Era – 1967
Bath Industries, Inc. is established as a holding company for BIW, Pennsylvania Crusher and the Hyde Windlass Co.
Modern Era – 1968
Bath Industries, Inc. acquires Congoleum-Nairn, a manufacturer of home furnishings
Modern Era – 1971
BIW completes first section of Main Assembly Building and installs 220-ton level-luffing No.11 Crane
220-ton level-luffing No. 11 Crane during construction.
Modern Era – 1973
BIW wins competition to design and build lead ship of the FFG Oliver Hazard Perry Class
Modern Era – 1975
Bath Industries, Inc. changes its name to Congoleum Corporation
Modern Era – 1977
Lead ship of a new class of US Navy guided missile frigates, USS Oliver Hazard Perry, is delivered
Modern Era – 1981
BIW completes third and final section of the Main Assembly Building that included a new panel line
Modern Era – 1983
The BIW Portland Ship Repair Facility is opened in Portland, ME
Modern Era – 1984
Tanker Falcon Champion is the last BIW-built commercial ship delivered
Modern Era – 1985
BIW wins competition to design and build lead ship of DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Class
Modern Era – 1986
BIW is acquired by Gibbons, Goodwin, Gibbons, Green, van Amerongen Ltd; principal shareholder is Prudential Insurance
Modern Era – 1987
Final Oliver Hazard Perry class ship, USS Kauffman, is delivered
Modern Era – 1987
First BIW-built guided missile AEGIS cruiser, USS Thomas Gates, is delivered
Modern Era – 1989
BIW opens the Outfit Fabrication Facility
Modern Era – 1991
The lead ship of a new Navy class of guided missile AEGIS destroyers, USS Arleigh Burke, is delivered
Modern Era – 1993
Final BIW-built AEGIS cruiser, USS Lake Erie, is delivered
Modern Era – 1995
Bath Iron Works is purchased by General Dynamics Corp.
Modern Era – 1998
Groundbreaking for Land Level Transfer Facility (LLTF)
Modern Era – 2001
Dedication ceremony for Land Level Transfer Facility (LLTF) and the Manufacturing Support Center (MSC)
Modern Era – 2001
BIW Launches Mason (DDG 87), the last ship to slide down the inclined ways at BIW
Modern Era – 2006
BIW awarded contract to complete class detail design of Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class destroyers
Modern Era – 2008
BIW awarded construction contract for DDG 1000 lead ship of Zumwalt Class
Modern Era – 2008
BIW opens the Ultra Hall, a large new climate controlled facility on the LLTF, capable of constructing ship sections weighing over 4,000 tons
Modern Era – 2010
US Navy announces that DDG 51 Arleigh Burke class construction will be restarted and DDG 1000 Program will be limited to three hulls (all built by BIW)
Modern Era – 2012
Fabrication begins for first of the DDG 51 restart ships, Rafael Peralta (DDG 115)
Modern Era – 2012
Heaviest crane lift recorded at BIW – DDG 1000 Deckhouse (4 Cranes/1000 tons)
Modern Era – 2016
Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is delivered to the Navy
Modern Era – 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic shuts down much of the world, but as Critical Infrastructure, BIW continues operations throughout the pandemic.
Modern Era – 2020
Fabrication begins for BIW’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke class destroyer Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126)
Modern Era – 2022
The last of the Zumwalt-class destroyers, Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), sails away from BIW
Our Storied History
BIW Legacy Vault
The BIW Legacy Vault is a lasting archive of photographs, plans and ephemera that chronicles our contribution to American shipbuilding and celebrates the unique place that BIW holds for the people of our state and our country.
The latest from BIW
Check out the latest BIW News.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Celebrates Start of Fabrication for Thomas G. Kelley (DDG 140)
BATH, Maine – General Dynamics Bath Iron Works celebrated the start of fabrication of the future USS Thomas G. Kelley (DDG 140) today, May 21 at the shipyard’s Structural Fabrication…
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Celebrates Start of Fabrication for J. William Middendorf (DDG 138)
BATH, Maine – General Dynamics Bath Iron Works celebrated the start of fabrication of the future USS J. William Middendorf (DDG 138) today, May 19 at the shipyard’s Structural Fabrication…
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Breaks Ground on Workforce Housing
BATH, Maine –General Dynamics Bath Iron Works formally broke ground today on a workforce housing development at 150 Congress Avenue in Bath, Maine. With funding support from the United States…
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr.
BATH, Maine – On Saturday, September 27, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works christened the U.S. Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, the future USS Louis H. Wilson (DDG 126). The ship,…
BIW Employees Ride Metro BREEZ for Free until Sept. 30
Bath Iron Works teamed up with MaineDOT, Greater Portland Metro and the City of Bath to formally launch commuter bus transportation between Portland and Bath. In celebration, Metro Executive Director Glenn Fenton announced…
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Awarded Contract for Additional DDG 51 Destroyer
BATH, Maine – General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), announced today that the U.S. Navy has exercised an option to add an additional DDG 51…
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