Bay Shipbuilding Company facts for kids
Big ships resting for winter at Bay Shipbuilding, 2006
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| Industry | Shipbuilding |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Christy Corporation |
| Founded | 1968 (as Bay Shipbuilding) |
| Headquarters | Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin |
| Parent | Fincantieri Marine Group (2009-) Manitowoc Company (1968–2008) |
Bay Shipbuilding Company (BSC) is a big company that builds and fixes ships. It is located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. As of 2015, Bay Ships is part of Fincantieri Marine Group.
They build special ships like tugs and barges that connect together. They also make ships that carry oil safely and vessels that support offshore oil rigs. The company also fixes large ships that travel on the Great Lakes. The shipyard in Sturgeon Bay has been around since 1918, but it has had different names over the years.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the company built huge ships called "Lake freighters." These ships could carry 40,000 tons of cargo. Even though they can build such large ships, they did not build one over 20,000 tons after 1987. That changed in 2022 when they launched the MV Mark W. Barker. Before becoming Bay Shipbuilding, the shipyard was known as Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding, Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, and Christy Corporation.
Contents
Building Ships: Bay Shipbuilding's Story
Early Years: 1968 to 1979
Bay Shipbuilding Company started in 1968. This happened after The Manitowoc Company bought two shipyards next to each other. These were Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Christy Corporation. The company spent a lot of money to buy and improve these yards.
The 1970s were a very busy time for Bay Shipbuilding. Many companies that owned ships on the Great Lakes wanted new ones. Bay Shipbuilding built 30 ships for them during this period.
In 1975, Bay Shipbuilding had about 800 workers. They planned to hire even more, up to 1,400 people. This was because they got a big job to build four huge 1,000-foot-long Lake freighters. These ships were for the American Steamship Company and Bethlehem Steel. By the end of 1978, nearly 2,000 people worked at Bay Shipbuilding.
Changes in the 1980s and 1990s
After building many Lake freighters, Bay Shipbuilding started making ships for the ocean. By 1984, the number of workers had dropped to about 220. However, they soon won a big contract. They built three large container ships for Sea-Land Service. These ships cost around $180 million.
These were the only Sea-Land ships designed and built in the United States. They were needed for a shipping route from Puget Sound to Alaska. A law called the Jones Act said that ships used on this route had to be made in the U.S. In March 1988, after finishing these ships, Bay Shipbuilding stopped building new ships for a while. This was because there were not enough new orders in the U.S.
In the late 1990s, the shipyard built a few smaller vessels. These included a ferry, two tugboats, and a large tank barge.
Recent Times: 2000s to Today
In the 2000s, Bay Shipbuilding kept building special tank barges. These barges have a "double hull" for safety, as required by a law from 1990. More recently, they have built Articulated tug and barges and Offshore Support Vessels.
In 2008, The Manitowoc Company sold its ship-building business, including Bay Shipbuilding, to Fincantieri Marine Group. Fincantieri invested $26 million to improve the shipyard. They added a new floating dry dock and modern computer-aided equipment.
In 2021, the shipyard launched the 639-foot freighter MV Mark W. Barker. This was the first new Lake freighter built by a U.S. shipyard in 40 years. Other large barges, up to 740 feet long, have also been built here in the 21st century.
In February 2021, a large Lake ship called the MV Roger Blough had a fire. It was resting at Bay Shipbuilding for the winter. No one was hurt, but the ship was damaged.
On July 1, 2022, the MV Mark W. Barker was floated out of its building dock. It started regular service on July 27. The ship was officially named on September 1 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Older Shipyards That Became Bay Shipbuilding
Before Bay Shipbuilding, there were other shipyards in the same spot. These older companies helped create the shipyard we know today.
Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
This company was formed in 1926 when two smaller shipyards joined together. They built fishing boats, tugboats, and ferries. During World War II, they built many ships for the U.S. Army. These included retrieving vessels, supply boats, and tugs.
After the war, they continued to build smaller vessels. By 1949, about 225 people worked there. In the 1950s, they built 20 tugboats for pushing barges on the Mississippi River. In the 1960s, they built fishing trawlers for the New England fishing industry. In 1968, the Manitowoc Company bought this shipyard, and it became part of Bay Shipbuilding.
Christy Corporation
Christy Corporation started after World War II. It came from a company called Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding. During World War II, Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding was very busy. They built many different types of ships for the war effort. These included submarine chasers and frigates. They also built net laying ships and water tankers. During the war, they delivered a new ship about every 20 days. At its busiest, about 5,000 people worked there.
As Christy Corporation in the 1950s, they built ferries that traveled between Wisconsin and Michigan. They also built ships for the U.S. Navy, like tank landing ships and landing craft. In the 1960s, Christy built many different kinds of ships for research and other purposes. In 1970, the Manitowoc Company bought Christy Corporation's shipyard. It was then combined with Bay Shipbuilding.
See also
- Marinette Marine, another company owned by Fincantieri Marine Group.
- Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, a company that closed to help form Bay Shipbuilding.
- Fraser Shipyards, another big shipyard on the Great Lakes.
Images for kids
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A drawing of Bay Shipbuilding, around 1985.
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A view of Bay Shipbuilding from Potawatomi State Park, July 2008.
