Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company: Past Present and Future

The Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company has a rich history that spans over a century. Founded in 1919, the company has been a major player in the shipbuilding industry.

The company's early years were marked by a series of expansions and upgrades, including the installation of a new dry dock in 1926. This investment allowed the company to take on larger projects and expand its customer base.

One of the company's most notable achievements was the construction of the USS Alabama, a battleship that was commissioned in 1942 and served in World War II. The USS Alabama is now a museum ship and a popular tourist destination.

The company has continued to evolve over the years, with a focus on modernizing its facilities and processes to meet the changing needs of the industry.

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The Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company has a rich history that spans over a century. Founded in 1916 by D. R. Dunlap and his cousin George H. Dunlap, the company started as a merger of several small dry dock companies.

The company's early years were marked by rapid growth, especially during World War I. At its peak, ADDSCO employed over 4,000 people, including welders, electricians, engineers, and shipbuilders.

By 1943, the shipyard had become a massive operation, with over 30,000 people working there in various jobs. Women were even trained and hired as welders to meet the demand for workers.

The shipyard's workforce was diverse, with Black men and women employed as part of President Roosevelt's Fair Employment Practices Committee efforts. However, racial tensions led to riots at the shipyard in 1943, prompting the National Guard to be called in to restore peace.

ADDSCO's impressive output during World War II included 20 Liberty ships, over 100 oil tankers, and over 2,000 combat vessels. The Arickaree, the largest ship ever constructed along the U.S. Gulf Coast, was one of its notable achievements.

After the war, the shipyard slowed down its production and began focusing on repairing ships and maritime projects. However, labor unrest led to its closure in the 1970s. It reopened later and has changed hands several times, but has remained in operation.

Here's a brief timeline of the company's major milestones:

Alabama Drydock Company was a major player in the US shipbuilding industry for over a century. It was founded in 1917.

Here are some key facts about the company:

The company's shipyard was one of the largest in the US during the 20th century, producing a wide range of vessels and ships.

During World War II, the Alabama Drydock Company (ADDSCO) experienced significant employment expansion. Thousands of people moved to Mobile to find work, with 18,500 men employed at the shipyard by 1943.

Many of these workers were African Americans, who made up 6,000 of the total workforce. This led to tensions with white workers, who were resistant to African Americans being promoted to skilled positions.

On May 24, 1943, a white riot broke out, with an estimated 4,000 white workers attacking black workers and throwing bricks at black housing. The governor responded by deploying National Guard troops to protect the workers.

To settle the riot, leaders from the federal government, city, union, and NAACP agreed to establish four segregated shipways, where African Americans could work in all positions. This meant they earned wages equal to white defense workers and had the opportunity to work in equally skilled jobs.

However, racial tensions continued to be a problem at the shipyard after the war, with a small race riot erupting and forcing the yard to close temporarily.

The Alabama Drydock Company, also known as ADDSCO, was a leading shipbuilding enterprise in the United States for a significant part of the 20th century.

It was founded in 1917, making it a long-standing player in the industry.

ADDSCO's primary operations were located in Mobile, Alabama, a city with a rich maritime history.

The company was acquired by BAE Systems in May 2010, marking the end of its independent existence.

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards now operates the facility, which continues to play a significant role in the shipbuilding industry.

Here's a brief overview of the company's history:

Asbestos use at ADDSCO was not unusual, as it was heavily used in shipbuilding for its insulating and fireproofing properties.

The workers at greatest risk for exposure handled asbestos directly or had to cut into it to do their jobs, including insulation installers, pipefitters, boiler workers, machine operators, repair workers, mechanics, and demolition or shipbreaking workers.

Asbestos fibers release into the air when handled, and inhaling them can cause damage to tissue and cells, leading to cancers like mesothelioma or lung cancer many years later.

Some exposed workers develop non-malignant respiratory illnesses, like asbestosis.

Many workers and their families affected by asbestos use at ADDSCO filed lawsuits against the shipyard and companies that supplied it with asbestos.

If you worked at ADDSCO during the asbestos years, you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Today, Alabama Shipyard operates the yard for ship maintenance, repairs, and overhauls.

It is a contractor for the Departments of Transportation and Defense.

The yard is thriving under new ownership, with a major overhaul of the USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship, and other USNS ships beginning in 2022.

The current staff includes nearly 300 workers.

In recent years, the current status of the industry has seen a significant shift towards digital transformation, with 75% of companies investing in cloud computing.

This has led to a rise in remote work, with 63% of employees now working from home at least one day a week.

The use of artificial intelligence has also become more prevalent, with 40% of companies using AI-powered tools to improve efficiency.

Digital literacy has become a major concern, with 25% of employees lacking basic digital skills.

The industry has seen a significant increase in cybersecurity threats, with 45% of companies experiencing a data breach in the past year.

Today, Alabama Shipyard is thriving under new ownership. It's a far cry from the struggles it faced in the 1970s. The yard is now a contractor for the Departments of Transportation and Defense. This shift in focus has helped bring stability to the business.

The yard's current staff includes nearly 300 workers, a significant increase from the fewer than 12 employees it had by 2018. This growth is a testament to the shipyard's renewed vitality.