Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation

Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation was a shipyard located in Brooklyn, New York. It was located off 23rd Street in Greenwood Heights/Sunset Park, in the Tebo Basin.[1] Sullivan DD&RC built Submarine chasers (PC boats), and altered, repaired and converted ships for various branches of the US military during World War II.

Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation
IndustryShipbuilding and Ship repair
HeadquartersBrooklyn, New York

Origins

In 1937 Fred B. Sullivan, president, acquired Tebo Yacht basin from Robins Dry Dock Company and began operating there as the Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation. The Sullivan Company originated in 1871 with the Sullivan-Boyd Machine shop, which became the John W. Sullivan Company which designed and built marine steam engines for tug boats and steamers. Six months prior to the lease of Tebo basin, Sullivan operated a shipyard at Erie Basin.[2][3] Sullivan's head, millionaire Fred B. Sullivan, committed suicide 30 August 1938. At that time Sullivan Drydock and Repair was described as "one of the oldest firms on the South Brooklyn waterfront."[4]

The Sullivan Drydock and Repair Corporation began building ships in the Tebo Yacht Basin in the build up before World War II. Tebo Yacht Basin was used to build minesweepers during World War I. In March 1941, it was reported Sullivan had $4 million in defense contracts. When the keel was laid for USS PC-488 it was the first new construction in the basin since 1930. Sullivan's first defense job was to convert the 333 ft yacht Orion to USS Vixen (PG-53). It was said to be the world's largest yacht and had been owned by the recently deceased millionaire Julius Forstmann (1871–1939).[5]

At Tebo basin, Sullivan had three ways to launch ships backwards and another three for sideways launches. Sullivan also had 4 floating dry docks and five piers for repairs. Prior to moving to Tebo basin, Sullivan operated in Manhattan, but had to move due to East River Drive. 800 men on two shifts were working 48 hours a week in March 1941.[5]

Fraud issues

Five shipyard officers were indicted on charges of fraud in July 1943. Attorney General Francis Biddle did not give an exact amount for the fraud, but said it was more than $100,000.[6] On 6 August 1943, five Sullivan officials were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges in July. Sentences ranged from 9 months to 2 years imprisonment and fines between $1,000 and $5,000. According to their defense attorney, Restitution of between $75,000 and $100,000 had already been made. Sullivan DD&RC was also fined $5,000.[7]

Supreme Court decision

Sullivan was the defendant in 1946 United States Supreme Court case, Fishgold v. Sullivan Drydock, which first articulated an "Escalator Principle." That principle held that drafted service members returning to work would receive seniority and benefits as though their service at the company was uninterrupted.[8] In 1994, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act eventually codified that principle into law, but in 1946 Fishgold lost the appeal and was not entitled to seniority. However, the right of reemployment under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was affirmed.[9]

List of ships built or converted

A list of some of the ships built by Sullivan DD&RC.[1]

  • USS Vixen (PG-53), converted from yacht Orion for $1.25 million[5]
  • USS PC-488
  • USS PC-489
  • USS PC-552
  • USS PC-553
  • USS PC-554
  • USS PC-555
  • USS PC-1167
  • USS PC-1168
  • USS PC-1169
  • USS PC-1170
  • USS PC-1231
  • USS PC-1232
  • USS PC-1233
  • USS PC-1234
  • USS PC-1235
  • USS PC-1236

See also

References
  1. "Sullivan Drydock & Repair, Brooklyn NY". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  2. "Robins Lease Yacht Basin to Sullivan". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 1 October 1937. p. 24.
  3. "Tebo Yacht Basin Leased". Motorboating: 109. November 1937.
  4. "Dock Magnate Is Gas Suicide". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. 30 August 1938. p. 1.
  5. "Shipyard Builds again after Decade Layoff". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. p. 16.
  6. "Dry Dock Firm Indicted". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. 14 July 1943.
  7. "5 Sentenced for Defrauding Gov't". The Lewiston Daily Sun. AP. 7 August 1943.
  8. Silverberg, Dean L.; Cullen, Tracey A. (2006). Employer's Guide to Military Leave Compliance. Thompson Publishing Group. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-930872-77-6.
  9. "Union Rights Win in Supreme Court". The Free Lance-Star. AP. 27 May 1946.

Further reading

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