COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3731

Shipbuilding and Repairing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1904–1970founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBethlehem Steel CorporationFoundedBethlehem Steel Corporation
1904
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedTodd Shipyards CorporationFoundedTodd Shipyards Corporation
1916
FoundedGeneral Dynamics CorporationFoundedGeneral Dynamics Corporation
1925
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedTrinity Industries, IncorporatedFoundedTrinity Industries, Incorporated
1933
FoundedIngalls Shipbuilding, Inc.FoundedIngalls Shipbuilding, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedTenneco Inc.FoundedTenneco Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedLitton Industries, Inc.FoundedLitton Industries, Inc.
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.FoundedMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
1964
FoundedKoninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.FoundedKoninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Bethlehem Steel Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
Bethlehem Steel Corporation is the second largest steel producer in the United States, with control of supply sources,…
Bethlehem Steel Corporation →
Active · founded 1904
Bethlehem Steel Corporation is the second largest steel producer in the United States, with control of supply sources,…
Todd Shipyards Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
Once the largest independent ship building company in the United States, Todd Shipyards Corporation operates one…
Todd Shipyards Corporation →
Active · founded 1916
Once the largest independent ship building company in the United States, Todd Shipyards Corporation operates one…
General Dynamics Corporation →
Active · founded 1925
General Dynamics' contribution to the defense industry, through the production of nuclear submarines and armored…
General Dynamics Corporation →
Active · founded 1925
General Dynamics' contribution to the defense industry, through the production of nuclear submarines and armored…
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Litton Industries, is a leading supplier and servicer of marine vessels to the…
Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Litton Industries, is a leading supplier and servicer of marine vessels to the…
Tenneco Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Tenneco Inc.
Tenneco Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Tenneco Inc.
Litton Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The U.S.
Litton Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The U.S.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · Japan
Since the 1880s the diversified collection of industrial manufacturers now known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)…
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · Japan
Since the 1880s the diversified collection of industrial manufacturers now known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)…
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1970 · Netherlands
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1970 · Netherlands
Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V.
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