Bethlehem Steel Company's Staten Island Shipyard Bethlehem Steel Company's Staten Island Yard was founded in 1895, as the Port Richmond Iron Works. It was originally a machine shop. The Burlee Drydock Company was started at about the same time. In 1898 the two firms consolidated under the Burlee name at Port Richmond, Staten Island. Some of Burlee's owners started a shipyard for the construction of wooden vessels. The firm's name was changed in 1907 to Staten Island Shipbuilding Company. Steel ship construction began in 1916 when a foundry was added. In 1925 activities shifted from Port Richmond to Mariners Harbor. In 1929 the yard consolidated with another and began operations under the name United Drydocks Company. The name changed to United Shipyards, Incorporated, in 1938. The yard was bought by Bethlehem Steel Company in 1938.   Both Bethlehem and the U.S. Navy made substantial additions to the yard during World War II. The yard built vessels up to 416 feet in length and did repairs on even larger ships. Post-war construction focused on barges and tanker and harbor craft repairs. During World War II, there were 47 destroyers, 75 landing craft, 5 cargo vessels, and 3 ocean-going tugs were built at Bethlehem's Staten Island Yard. (List of destroyers.) Text copyright 2000 Tin Can Sailors. All rights reserved. Photos (taken in 1952) of the Bethlehem Staten Island Yard Aerial view of the shipyard Aerial view of the shipyard Aerial view of the shipyard Joiner Shop Fabricating Shop Shape Stock Yard Machine Shop Pattern Shop Foundry Propeller Shop