Todd Pacific Shipyard

Todd Pacific Shipyard has been in operation since 1916 and was formerly known as Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. The William Todd Company bought the company from the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company. This earned them the recognition of being the first iron and steel shipbuilding yard ever in the Pacific Northwest. At the company's inception,, the biggest contract was to build submarines for the Electric Boat Company.

Like most shipyards of the time, World War II was a time of economic boom for Todd. During this time, the company expanded to eleven shipyards all over the US. These yards were responsible for constructing or repairing over 23,000 ships for the war. The Seattle shipyard made and delivered 126 ships of different sizes in a 36-month period during the Second World War. Productivity was so high that the yard was able to handle up to ten hulls on the shipways at any one time.

However, just like all shipyards, the end of World War II meant that some changes had to be made. The demand for ships dramatically declined at the end of the war, so Todd had to reorganize its business strategy. It continued to operate seven of the eleven original shipyards. The 1950's, 1960's and 1970's were a tumultuous time for Todd, as business was up and down with frequent fluctuations. In the 1970's, the Seattle shipyard was contracted to build Washington State's largest double-ended ferries. They were called the Spokane and the Walla Walla.

It were also building ships for the Navy at this time as well. A few of the more prominent ones include four Charles Adams Class Guided Missile Destroyers, seven Knock Class Frigates, thirteen Oliver Hazard Perry Class Guided Missile Frigates as well as many other ships. They were also doing commercial work on top of the work for the Navy. They made seven tug supply boats during this time as well for a commercial interest.

The boom of the 1970's was soon followed by the bust of the 1980's. There was a decline in the need for ships on a worldwide basis and many shipbuilding companies were forced to close. They filed for bankruptcy protection in 1986. This was a time for a massive reorganization of the company. Four years later, the company had downsized to one facility on Harbor Island in Seattle. That is where Todd is still located today and is prospering as the Northwest's largest ship repair and construction yard.

Another setback for the company occurred when people started to get sick in the 1980's after being exposed to asbestos on the jobsite. Asbestos was used by most shipyards throughout history, and countless employees were exposed to it. Exposure to asbestos can lead to asbestosis and mesothelioma. However, asbestos is only harmful if it is broken and the particles become airborne. Once the particles are airborne they are inhaled, which leads to respiratory disease. Welders, pipe fitters and electricians were the most likely to be in contact with asbestos on a frequent basis.

However, the 1990's saw some better times for the shipyard. One of the major contracts at Todd Pacific Shipyard was the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization of eight Coast Guard High Endurance Cutters. It was also responsible for the first ever open top conversion of a container ship. It also built three Jumbo Mark Two car ferries which are the largest in the country.

Todd continues to prosper today and is working closely with the US Navy. It does the non-nuclear repairs on Puget Sound class aircraft carriers. It is also contracted to fix submarines, destroyers and frigates as well as maintaining its commercial interests.

There aren't many shipyards that were operational during the Second World War that are still prospering today. However, due to the level of experience that they have dealing with large ships, small ships, submarines and everything in between, they can guarantee a quality ship even today. Additionally, steps have been taken to remove the asbestos, promising workers a safe working environment today.

Ships built by Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard:

Last modified: December 28, 2010.