Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Hingham Massachusetts

The Hingham, Massachusetts division of Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. was founded at the beginning of World War II by the U.S. Navy. The shipyard spanned 150 acres of land near the harbor, and at the height of production the shipyard employed over 24,000 people and was producing about six ships every four weeks, an outstanding number for a WWII shipbuilding company. Ships built here included the USS Lee Fox, a destroyer completed in 1943.

In 1942 the Navy, along with the federal government, had to reorganize the disposal of sewage at the Hingham location because it had long been disposed of into the harbor and was causing a public health issue. The issue was resolved and the shipyard was allowed to continue business. In fact, business was booming at Hingham, and the shipyard was able to complete some ships in as little as 25 days – prior to WWII, construction on just one vessel could take up to 10 months! The Hingham location prides itself in holding the world record for building a major war vessel in the shortest amount of time, and competitions between shipyards became a fad during the WWII shipbuilding boom of the forties. A total of 100 destroyers and 16 other ships were built here during the WWII years, and the yard earned the letter “E” award from the U.S. Navy, which was given to shipyards that produced the most number of ships in the shortest amount of time.

The Hingham location built a grand total of 227 ships during its operational years and employed 30,000 at its peak. It was closed in 1986 and the location was purchased by Sea Chain, Inc. in 1997 to be used for the development of high-rise condominiums and other residential units, as well as commercial space.

Those who worked at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation’s Hingham, Massachusetts location are known as some of the fastest and most skilled shipbuilders during the World War II shipbuilding boom. However, they faced a great number of occupational hazards, including the risk of asbestos exposure during the construction of various vessels. Asbestos exposure has been linked to the eventual development of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer, and retired workers who were employed at this site should monitor their health and speak to a doctor regarding their likelihood of being diagnosed with this disease.

Ships built by Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard:

Last modified: December 09 2009.