New York Shipbuilding Corporation

Company founded 1899 by Henry G. Morse, located in Camden, N.J. Held numerous government contracts during both World Wars, also many private commissions. Built ships for U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Emergency Fleet Corporation and Department of Commerce, Reading Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, Standard Oil, and American Export Lines, among others. Closed in 1967.

Shipbuilders, of Camden, N.J.; founded ca. 1889; closed 1967.

Shipbuilding company in Camden, N.J.; founded ca. 1889; closed in 1967; during World War I employed over 4000 workers.

Shipbuilding company in Camden, N.J.; founded ca. 1889; closed in 1967.

The New York Shipbuilding Corporation (NYS) was founded in 1899 by Henry G. Morse (1850-1903), who served as the company’s first president. The name reflects its originally intended location on Staten Island; although the name was already incorporated, land was cheaper in Camden, New Jersey, so Morse built the shipyard there instead. According to the history of the first fifty years of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, "at the outset, it was decided to break away from the old century's accepted practices of ship building and build a yard in which could be applied the most up-to-date labor-saving machinery and advanced methods of structural steel construction," (NYS, page 11). As a result, "a revolutionary idea of connecting all the parts of the yard with overhead cranes, making the transportation of materials significantly easier," (ELSLAW) was implemented. During its tenure, the New York Shipbuilding Corporation constructed over 500 ships.

The company held significant government contracts during both World Wars, and built ships for the US Navy, the Coast Guard, the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Department of Commerce and Labor. However, NYS did not rely only on governmental commissions. During the 1930s the company was responsible for the completion of luxury ocean liners, such as the Manhattan and the Washington, both of the United States Lines, and also built ships for Pennsylvania Railroad, Reading Railroad, Standard Oil and American Export Lines. In addition to American contracts, some notable commissions came from international clients. NYS built a battleship for Argentina, a fuel ship for Japan, and a Protected Cruiser for Greece.

Merritt-Chapman & Scott, a marine salvage and construction firm, acquired NYS in 1953. The shipyard completed its last ship in 1967 and went out of business shortly thereafter.

The New York Shipbuilding Corporation (NYS) was founded in 1899 by Henry G. Morse (1850-1903), who served as the company’s first president. The name reflects its originally intended location on Staten Island; although the name was already incorporated, land was cheaper in Camden, New Jersey, so Morse built the shipyard there. According to the history of the first fifty years of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, “at the outset, it was decided to break away from the old century’s accepted practices of ship building and build a yard in which could be applied the most up-to-date labor-saving machinery and advanced methods of structural steel construction,” (NYS, page 11). As a result, “a revolutionary idea of connecting all the parts of the yard with overhead cranes, making the transportation of materials significantly easier,” (ELSLAW) was implemented. During its tenure, the New York Shipbuilding Corporation constructed over 500 ships.

The company held significant government contracts during both World Wars, and built ships for the U. S. Navy, the Coast Guard, the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Department of Commerce and Labor. However, NYS did not rely only on governmental commissions. During the 1930s the company was responsible for the completion of luxury ocean liners, such as the Manhattan and the Washington of the United States Lines, and also built ships for Pennsylvania Railroad, Reading Railroad, Standard Oil and American Export Lines. In addition to American contracts, some notable commissions came from international clients. NYS built a battleship for Argentina, a fuel ship for Japan, and a Protected Cruiser for Greece.

NYS completed its last ship in 1967 and went out of business shortly thereafter.