Frequently Asked Questions

 

Question

Answer

Do you offer tours of your facilities? We do not offer tours. Because Bath Iron Works is a secure defense industrial site, public access is not allowed.

To learn more about our shipyard, we suggest visiting the Maine Maritime Museum.

Can I tour a ship? Bath Iron Works is a secure defense industrial site. Ship tours are not permitted for the general public. Only invited business visitors and guests of the Navy may tour a ship at any stage of completion.

How do I submit my resume or employment-related question?

BIW does not accept paper or emailed applications or resumes from external applicants. Please email any employment-related questions to        employment@gdbiw.com or call 800-453-0604.
What is your mailing address? GD Bath Iron Works, 700 Washington St, Bath, ME 04530.
What are your telephone and FAX numbers? General access numbers are: 207-442-3311 (phone); 207-442-1567 (Fax).

Please go to Contact Us for numbers to specific departments and more.

Do you sell ship-related items — caps, t-shirts, lithographs, etc.? No. GDBIW does not sell any Navy-related items or emblematic wear. These items are sold by the
ship crew and the small profit goes to a good cause.
How can I get information on Bath Iron Works built ships – facts, photos, etc.? Our website provides photographs and basic public information on ships built by Bath Iron Works. For security reasons, we do not release additional information.

We often share facts and photos on our social media sites:

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

How do I find out about an older BIW-built ship? We do not employ an archivist or a company historian. For more on our ship history, go to our Bath Built Ships section. There are other public-domain sources we would also recommend. One is the online Dictionary of US Naval Fighting Ships, another is the Naval Historical Institute in Washington DC.

Many older ships have active Ship’s Associations. The Tin Can Sailors’ Association is well-informed about BIW ships. The Destroyer History Foundation specializes in US Navy vessels.

How can my company do business with Bath Iron Works? Check the Suppliers section of this website. If you have further questions, please contact our Purchasing Department at 207-442-1382.
Where do I send general questions about Bath Iron Works? For questions please refer to the Contact Us section of this site.
Do you respond personally to email messages? We route all messages for appropriate consideration. However, because of the large number of messages we receive, we don’t guarantee a personal response. We do filter for spam, unwanted attachments, etc.
Can I attend a christening? Christenings are a private event and each guest needs a ticket to attend. We also require a positive ID and compliance with a security check on entry. No liquid containers are permitted. BIW is a tobacco-free environment and visitors are expected to comply with this and other regulations. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult.

Even on a christening day, remember that you are still in a manufacturing environment. Avoid sandals, flip-flops, high-heeled shoes, shorts or other unsuitable footwear or clothing. Observe all safety warnings, and follow the instructions of BIW staff.

How do I get a seat at a christening? Some open seating is provided. Arrive early!

However, for visitors who have a medical requirement for seating, please contact biwchristening@gdbiw.com well in advance so we can formally invite you by mail, and assign a seat on receiving your RSVP.

How can I attend a keel-laying or a mast-stepping? These are private Navy events and attendance is by invitation only.
Didn’t BIW build Liberty ships during World War II? The Bath yard was dedicated to destroyer work. BIW and Todd Shipbuilding operated a jointly-owned yard in South Portland, ME where these ships were constructed. That yard was demolished after 1945.
Doesn’t BIW have a yard in Portland, ME? This facility centered on a dry dock which was used to mount sonar domes on the bow of naval vessels after launch from a conventional inclined slipway.

The Portland yard closed when BIW expanded its Bath facility in 2001, and we began building complete ships on the horizontal Land Level Transfer Facility.

Why don’t you launch ships in the conventional inclined slipway fashion anymore? It’s not cost-effective. And it’s not that conventional any more, either. You’ll find that few shipyards do so. BIW is a world leader in naval shipbuilding technology and has moved on. Our modular techniques and the use of the land level transfer facility since 2001 have significantly increased efficiency and reduced costs.
Did the actor John Wayne really launch a ship at Bath? John Wayne attended the launch and christening of the frigate Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) on September 25, 1976. She was the lead ship of a class that is still in service with the US Navy and others. He was a platform guest because he was a board member of one of the major sub-contractors. As sometimes happened, the ship did not immediately begin to move after the champagne bottle broke on the bow, and the final wedges were removed. In response to a joking call from the crowd for the brawny film star to lend a hand, Mr Wayne pushed on the bow of the ship. It began moving. And another shipbuilding folk tale was born.
What was your peak employment? Back in 1944, when we employed 12,000 workers. 82 destroyers were built at Bath during the Second World War, totaling more than the entire Japanese wartime output.
Do the multi-colored helmets of the workers at GDBIW mean anything? Yes, they are coded by trade and profession, so that workers can identify each other at a distance. There’s a list of what the helmet colors mean, right here.