Shipbuilding has been a way of life along the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, since 1762. The Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard, located on the west bank of the Kennebec is the namesake of an iron foundry established in 1826.

Brevet General Thomas W. Hyde, US Army took over the foundry in 1865, following service with the 20th Maine Regiment during the Civil War. Nearly two decades later, he incorporated his diversified marine business interests as Bath Iron Works, Limited in 1884, before expanding into shipbuilding in 1888.

The first BIW-built vessel was a coastal passenger ship named Cottage City built for the Maine Steamship Co. Since the completion of Hull #1 in 1890, BIW has been awarded more than 425 shipbuilding contracts, including 245 military ships (mostly destroyers and frigates for the US Navy) and over 160 private yachts and commercial vessels. BIW became a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics in September 1995.

BIW is a yard with a history, and a bright future. Throughout Navy circles - and especially with their current and former crews - it's generally recognized that "Bath Built Is Best Built," a phrase first heard in the early 1900s, and every bit as true today as when it was first said.

Information Provided by http://www.gdbiw.com/