When I was growing up in Kittery,
the bellowing sound of the Shipyard whistle that marked the
changing shifts served as a constant and comforting reminder
of the Yard’s presence. The Shipyard was the center of the
local community and even the greater region for all who lived
and worked there. For many it still is. I remember my dad
leaving early and returning by the sound of the whistle each
day. Many of my friend’s fathers also worked at the Shipyard.
The sense of camaraderie was tangible throughout the community.
The town of Bath,
like Kittery, also has a proud legacy in shipbuilding. Bath
Iron Works has a shipbuilding legacy that spans more than
120 years, from clipper ships to the next generation modern
navy, as reflected by the DDG
1000, the United States Navy's 21st Century multi-mission
destroyer. While the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard provides much
needed maintenance of our submarine fleet, Bath builds new
destroyer class vessels.
The history of BIW is the first impression one gets when
touring the shipyard, as I did recently along with about fifty
members of the Manufacturers Association of Maine. The significant
role that BIW has played in the development in of our Navy
is something we should all be proud of. Consider, if you will,
the Naval domination that the country we broke free from,
England, once had on the globe. At its peak during WWII, BIW
was launching a new destroyer every 17days. It is only by
touring the facility, seeing the operation and hearing it
first hand from those who work there that one can grasp the
enormity of the project. The pride with which they work, the
sense of mission that they share with our fighting forces
is visible everywhere throughout the yard. For me this was
crystallized by the sight of a lone welder created an arc
of shooting sparks on a platform that was soon to be the deck
of a destroyer, high above the Kennebec despite the single
digit temperature and the even more unbearable wind chill.
Our tour guide told us that the welder’s shift was just beginning
and that he would be out there most of the night. A collective
sense of humility came over the group.
Having been in business, I am familiar with the manufacturing
process. Particularly the manufacturing of micro-electronics,
which can be completed in a relatively small area. To say
that it is a bit different for a naval destroyer would be
a gross understatement. Imagine the raw materials involved.
Now imagine moving the individual pieces of the ship from
stage to stage, connecting all the systems form section to
massive section all the way to completion to the very last
details of coffee pots and latrines. Now imagine that being
completed in a mere 43 months! For me, one who struggles with
the assembly of my sons Lego Star Wars vehicles, I was amazed
at the minds and hands that make this process possible. It
is truly a miracle of logistics, labor and American engineering.
To those of you reading this, contact the Manufacturers Association
of Maine and ask to go on the BIW tour. I assure you will
gain a renewed appreciation of one of Maine’s most valuable
resources – our shipbuilders.
To all those who pass through the gates of Bath Iron Works
– my hat is off to you for all you do! They mean it when they
say, “Bath Built is Best Built!”
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