Lake Union Drydock
On November 11th, 1889, the state of Washington joined the Union, establishing an already important Northwestern territory in statehood. Key to the state's development was its natural harbor in and around Seattle, which would become a key link for the burgeoning shipping industry in the Pacific Northwest. The ports of the Pacific Northwest were becoming an important link between the continental United States and the growing trade relations with Japan, China, and other developing commercial economies in Asia.
These important ports required strong a strong shipping infrastructure with which to operate. One of the earliest shipping institutions in Seattle was the Lake Union Drydock. Established in 1919 as the Lake Union Drydock and Machine Works in Seattle's Eastlake area, it was an important building block of the Seattle shipping industry. In its infancy the shipyard was responsible for the construction of several ‘roaring 20's' era vessels such as the Principia, the Electra, and the M/V Catalyst. Like most of the country's industrial complex, through WWII, the Lake Union Drydock focused upon wartime production, including several lucrative U.S. Navy contracts. While naval production and government contracts still form a fraction of their production today, the company now focuses on large scale repairs to commercial cruise lines and restructuring and modernization of the Seattle fishing industry's vessels.
While in recent years some mid-size dock and vessel repair companies have struggled in the region, the Lake Union Drydock has managed to avert a similar due mainly to its continued government contracting and similar agreements with major commercial fishing operations.
Even in the modern industry, the Lake Union Drydock facility still maintains the distinction of being the only "all-wooden" dock in the city. Their capabilities include but are not limited to, certified welding, major electrical installations, ventilation duct construction, and wooden keel replacement. The facility occupies a 12 acre freshwater site that features three drydocks of up to 410' in length and nearly 3000' of linear pier-space, all of which is complimented by a full range of utilities. The Lake Union Drydock facility is located near downtown Seattle on the East side of Lake Union, accessible to the Puget Sound via a series of locks.
Like any shipyard, the Lake Union Drydock company's employees come face to face with dangerous circumstances each day. Some dangers these workers face are more easily detected than others. One of the more prevalent dangers that shipyard workers face each day is exposure to carcinogens that may be construction components of older vessels, including asbestos. If you or someone you know was a shipyard employee who may have been exposed to these dangerous toxins, it is important that you be examined by a physician as soon as possible.
