The Afterguard

THE AUCTION OF SPARROWS POINT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THAT OF QUINCY IS YET ANOTHER INDICATOR OF OUR INDUSTRY'S DECLINE.

As with Quincy, it can safely be assumed that the upcoming auction of the Sparrows Point shipyard will not result in it being sold as a shipbuilding facility. Like Quincy, it hasn't built ships since the mid-80s, the skills required to build ships are long dispersed, and the markets don't exist any more to support another large-ship shipbuilder. Baltimore Marine Industries tried hard, but never really had a chance.

Sparrows Point may not have been one of the world's great shipbuilders, as Quincy was, but it was a major shipbuilder by anyone's standards and certainly one of the world's great tanker builders. Let me briefly recap its history and see if you don't agree.

The Sparrows Point shipyard was originally built in 1889 - two years before Quincy - by Maryland Steel Company and delivered its first ship in 1891. It was bought by Bethlehem Steel in 1917, at which point it had built 176 ships, almost all commercial, but including three destroyers and six naval colliers. Bethlehem kept building tankers, ore carriers, cargo ships and coastal passenger ships there all through the inter-war years, even when many other big yards were reduced to barge building, and by the time the emergency shipbuilding program started they were up to hull number 327.

The World War II effort saw the Sparrows Point shipyard at its best. In the 8-year period from 1939 through 1946, the yard built 116 ships, made up of 68 tankers, 26 general cargo ships, 10 refrigerated cargo ships, 6 ore carriers and 6 passenger/cargo ships. At its peak in WWII, the yard employed over 20,000 people.

In the post-WWII years, U.S. shipyards struggled to find work but Sparrows Point, like Quincy, kept busy building 128 ships - 83 tankers, 11 ore carriers, 3 lakers, 21 general cargo ships, 7 ammunition ships and 3 miscellaneous types - in the 25-year period between WWII and the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. In the next 20 years, Sparrows Point broadened its horizons, building 21 tankers, 6 containerships, 8 jack-up drilling rigs, 6 tank barges, 3 container barges, 2 survey ships and a dry-dock. In the 1970s, Bethlehem invested heavily in the facility, converting the construction process from the traditional inclined ways to a single very large graving dock, 1200 feet long by 200 feet wide and served by four 200-ton cranes. They built five 265,000-ton tankers in it.

Of the great U.S. shipbuilders of the 20th century, only Newport News is left.

Let's hear some memories of the great days at Sparrows Point.

Lou Chirillo wrote:

My memories of some of the “great days at Sparrows Point,” are gleaned from visits during the seventies and eighties when I was Chairman of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Panel SP-2. With rare exception, the Panel conducted its meetings in shipyards in order to facilitate yard tours by Panel members and participation in the meetings by yard people. I think that other observers would agree that Sparrows Point’s great history is due to having many people who overcame great and numerous challenges. In referring to such people I often described them as John Wayne managers, “Stand back, I’ll handle this!”

The consequence is experience vested in people at the expense of corporate experience. When such people retire, their experiences go with them.

Sparrows Point’s justifiable pride in its history, I believe, also curtailed curiosity about the more-effective shipbuilding systems developed in Japan starting in the 1950s, then later in Korea, and, in China starting in the 1980s. The Sparrows Point managers primarily attributed the successes of the Asian shipbuilders to low-cost labor and subsidies.

Evidence, of their not being receptive to shipbuilding developments by others includes certain events concerning a research project. Per the policy then imposed by the Maritime Administration’s Office of Advanced Ship Development, the research project “Dimensional Control” had to be assigned to a U.S. shipyard for implementation and Panel SP-2 selected Sparrows Point. Someone with in-house dimensional-control experience was appointed as a project manager.

The project specification required the researcher to “…establish a working relationship with at least one major European or Japanese shipyard…whose dimensional-control practice is more sophisticated than current U.S. practice.” The project manager selected Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) of Japan and I accompanied him on visits to that firm’s shipyards. A senior manager, having both World War II and post-war experience in Sparrows Point, tagged along. Regardless of the observations abroad the two Sparrows Point representatives made it clear that the research end product would be a manual that would depict various shipfitting devices. By then I had learned that in the IHI yards, statistics played an important role in eliminating the need for margins on as much as 80% of the erection butts and seams for a typical very-large crude carrier (VLCC). Moreover, I learned that statistics, a branch of mathematics, was a perfect tool for recording corporate experience.

Thus, Sparrows Point was discontinued as the researcher and the project was reassigned directly to IHI. Readers who have access to the U.S. National Shipbuilding Research Program publication, Process Analysis Via Accuracy Control (NSRP-0214) may judge for themselves whether or not Sparrows Point managers chose to ignore a profound shipbuilding development elsewhere.

p.selvakumar wrote:

how many tyes ship in the world whith out using propeller& ruddar,please explain me

C.K. Baumann Sr. wrote:

I am sorry to see The Yard as it is.
I worked as a burner there until it closed, and then again when BMI re opened it and stayed again until shutdown.
What a terriable waste of good manpower and talent as well as a fine shipbuilding and repair yard.
We had some of the very best mechanics in the world.
Thank you for alowing me to post.
C.K. Baumann Sr.

Ron Oyer wrote:

Was a shame to see Sparrows Point close but even more so was the closing of the Key Highway yard. Key Highway was always good for a fast turnaround and had an excellent machinery department as well as electrical. Maryland Drydock was another good yard that has disappeared.

The United States populace in general does not know of the industry both seagoing and shoreside so little effective political support comes to bear for our industry.

Kris sabol the torque machine wrote:

I am I salesman of hydraulic/pneumatic torque wrenches. I am currently selling tools to barelitta?/osprey equipment corp. who now ownes the sparrows point shipyard. I have sold some really big tools in my life. But the size of the tools I have seen there, from bethlehem shipyard, are incredible. I saw a 5 25,000ft lb hydraulic wrenches, and a 50,000 t lb hydraulic wrench. these tools alone would have cost over 125,000dollars. Beth just left them there to rust away.I saw about 2 trucks worth of large sockets 3in to 6 inch across that flats, that I would sell for about 500 - 1500 a piece. The company scraped alot of the equipment. I can only imagine the kind of work that went on there. That is some mind boggleing big stuff. The current owners started a scrap operation. They want to scrap one of the big drydocks because it is worth more money as scrap. Which is not a bad idea, because I don't think it will ever be used again. But I have some current pictures of the yard. Even in its delapaded state its still mind boggleing how large some of the equipment is there. I really hope this facility can turn into a good industrial complex, with many new companies.
Kris Sabol
http://www.maxprocorp.com

Kris Sabol The Torque Machine wrote:

The Current owners of the yard, are bringing in ships to do ship repair. This is great for this yard to see some work again..

Kris Sabol The torque Machine wrote:

Most of the American Made Industrial Torque Tooling is comming from my company.

http://WWW.NIBTORQUE.COM

Jerry Slagle wrote:

I was wondering if any of the former yardworker remember the TEXACO OKLAHOMA and if you do, by any chance have some photos of her. She sank in 1971 during a storm off Cape Hatteras. I have a friend who lost her husband, the 3rd Mate, when she went down. I haven't had any luck chasing down any photographs yet. Thanks for any help or suggestions you might be able to provide

Connie J. Bleinberger wrote:

Can anyone send me a list of ships that were docked for repair at the
Sparrows Point Plant? I'm searching
for the years 1978 thru 1980. Also,
the names of the new ships being built
around that time frame. I've received a list from Bethlehem Steels plant in Ohio. I greatly appreciate your info
Warmly,
Connie

Tom wrote:

I grew up in Baltimore (Northwood), left in 1961 for a career in the Air Force, and am now in Atlanta. I am teaching history of war courses and would like to enhance my block on shipbuilding during WW II. Are there any veterans of the WW II-era from either Sparrows Point, Key Highway or Maryland Drydock who might be reading this?

I am looking for some information on the repair of battle-damaged warships, especially of foreign navies, at these yards. I remember seeing some photos in the Sunday Sun Magazine (the old "brown section") on this after the war and am trying to find more information.

Guillermo Canizales wrote:

Great site. Can anybody provide me with the following information please?
I am looking for the equipments (Boilers, valves, pumps, etc.) that was on the Esso charleston that was built in 1938 at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding in Sparrows Point Plant in Maryland.
Thank you very much in advance

Kathy (Caffrey) Noel wrote:

My grandfather, Harry Caffrey, worked at shipyard from April of 1942, until his death at the age of 54 in February of 1944. Is there any way to find out the ships he worked on? Or any records I can search to find out what he did? My dad was almost 14 when Grandpa died, but doesn't remember much. Appreciate any assistance.

B.K. LEA wrote:

I own the "r/v ridgley warfield" built 1967 hull # 7006. I need the builder certificate from bethlehem sparrows point,md. CAN ANYONE HELP?

B.K. LEA wrote:

Lea Diving and Salvage Co., Inc. has acquired it's Certification of Documentation for the boat from the U.S.Coast Guard.
Thank all of you who answered us back with your help. Our 1,000 ft. 2-man submarine is getting propared for environmental work in the Gulf O Mexico.
Thanks Again !!!

Pitch Black wrote:

Everything on the water front at the port of Baltimore is being offered in a fire sell. Everything must go, also Domino's Sugar plant recently exploded in Baltimore. It's really been incrediable to see so much like Ma Bell site left empty, the huge grain and storage facilty abandoned, the copper refinery closed down, along with shipyards and steel mills. These plants are all being replaced by Chinese and Japanese car facilities, and unloading facilities. All the presidents since Jimmy Carter have been shutting down the water front properties one by one since 1976. Jimmy Carter canceled all Navy ship repair contracts during his presidency. Regan shut down shipyards by passing a law to keep Navy ship repair contracts within 50 miles of home port, effectively eliminating Baltimore shipyards. Mitso*bishi bought out and closed the copper refinery. Well, people think the war is expensive, but when Hillary get's done following suit, it'll be trillions, not hundreds of billions. Most people don't know shutting down waterfront properties is the presidents number one job. For instance, everyone should know Georgia is suing the federal government for diverting it to Flordia. Which in turn is using the water to grow sugar cane. Another huge sugar industry is in the process of being shut down. We'll come out about equal after China rolls into town, but then, say by 2025 they should be taking over our country. Through elections, and getting themselves as foreigners elected, and then dismantaling our military. Most people assuming we'll be nuked by 2056, but not really understanding why.

KRIS SABOL THE TORQUE MACHINE wrote:

WE MAY HAVE TO FACE THE FACT, THE WATERFRONT IS NOT A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL PLAYER. ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE, THE SPARROWS POINT STEEL MILL PRODUCING MORE STEEL THAN EVER BEFORE. THERE ARE NEW WIND TURBINES ERECTED, AND MORE PROPOSED IN BALTIMORE, THERE IS A PROPOSED LIQUID NATURAL GAS PLANT ON THE PORT OF SPARROWS POINT. THERE ARE PLENTY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXES, JUST NOT AS LARGE AS BEFORE. IF WE WANT TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN AMERICA AGAINST ALL THE CHEAP CRAP FROM INDIA, AND CHINA THAT GETS IMPORTED HERE, WE NEED TO STAY ON THE CUTTING EDGE. IF THAT MEANS CUTTING JOBS NOW TO SAVE FUTURE JOBS, THEN SO BE IT. I AM TIRED OF EVERYBODY COMPLAINING. PEOPLE HAVE TO FACE THAT FACT THAT THINGS ARE JUST NOT THE WAY THEY WERE. THE USA IS THE BIGGEST, BUT NOT THE ONLY INDUSTRIAL POWERHOUSE IN THE WORLD.

http://WWW.NIBTORQUE.COM

Elmer Hall wrote:

I have compiled a book about the Sparrows Point Shipyard. It contains 152 pages of photos, maps, diagrams, ads,and personal recollections of former employees and complete roster of every ship built at the yard between 1891 to closing in 2003. Roster includes hull numbers, miltary hull numbers, name when launched, and dispositon of ship now. "Shipbuilding at the Sparrows Point Yard: A Century of Pride and Tradion" sells for $15.00 plus $3.00 to ship.

jim whitley wrote:

i am confused ss matchless/uss aludra PLAQUE ON THE MESS DECK HAD THIS INFO. 1939 BETHLEHEM STEEL MD.
THE NAVY'S STORY THAT THE MATCHLESS WAS BUILT AT TODD SHIPYARD OAKLAND 1944

what do you know contact jyjim at comcast.net i wight out the @ to hid my email from spamers ..jim

S.S.Matchless, R2-S-BV1 -USS ALUDRA AF55
United States Maritime Commission C5 and R (Refrigerated) Type Ships Matchless, R2-S-BV1 Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Sparrows Point, Maryland The R type ships were the first Refrigerated vessels built for that purpose for the U.S. Maritime Commission. THE NAVY'S STORY THAT THE MATCHLESS WAS BUILT AT TODD SHIPYARD OAKLAND IS A ERROR THE PLAQUE ON THE MESS DECK HAD THIS INFO. 1939 BETHLEHEM STEEL MD. http://www.usmm.org/c5ships...

bill painter wrote:

I just find this web site and was reading every one comment. I worked at sparrows point shipyard in 1962 then went to key highway shipyard in 1964 to 1980. If there is anyone that is reading this and worked at the shipyard I would like to hear from you.And I'm looking for a 1940 out side machinist apprentice book if you have one or know where I can get one please let me know.

Patricia Filley wrote:

My father was a welder for Bethlehem Steel and built ships during the war. He retired in 1969 and moved to Kentucky. I have been looking for more info on ships built in the Baltimore shipyards. His name was William B. Combs

Steve Curley wrote:

Any good anecdotes about working at Sparrows Point during the Second World War?

I'd like backgound stories for my a book on the attack transport USS Queens (Hull #4421, 16 December 1944). It was built at the Point as the type C3-S-A3.

Marty Goad wrote:

my dad worked at key highway from 1948 till the late 60s his name is guy goad .i could look out my bedroom window and see the ships in the drydock.
if any one has any pic thay would like to share pls email me many thanks

Bill Owens wrote:

I worked at Sparrows point from 1970 to 1979 when the BIG layoff came. I really miss that place. It was the best job I every had. Not the best paying but the end result of each project was a thrill to me. I worked as a carpenter and was involved in the launchings on the ways. They were long days (launching days) but I enjoyed every minute of it. I have been searching for pictures of the shipyard and havent found many at all on the web.

JIM SIFORD jr. wrote:

I worked right out of U.S.M.C. so did JIM sr. grandfather BEN gr.grand &gr gr grandfather.Dad was a Supt. under JOE STOCKMAN I am now a retired longshoreman,living in Fla.The men Iknew are mostly gone but memories are in my heart forever I am PROUD to have known S.P.S.Y.

B Swan wrote:

Does anyone know anything about the Manager of Sparrow Point ShipYard during World War 2? His name was Frank Hodge.

A Moore wrote:

Does anyone know anything about African American workers at Sparrows Point in and around 1942. I am tracing a family member, Neptune Robert Finley, and read on his WW II registration that he worked for Bethlehem Steel Works.

Catherine Krueger wrote:

Does anyone have a picture of the SS Gulfamerica built in 1942 SHe sank off jacksonville beach fl the local ww11 merchant marine veterns have erected a historical marker but we can find no picture please respond to jaxmarmus@bellsouth.net that is the local maritime museum & we also have an exhibit thank you

Your comment:

Name:
E-mail/HTTP:

Sorry for the log in, but we're trying to cut down on spam.
Enter the string of characters appearing in the picture:
Remember Me