Atlantic Basin Iron Works
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Basin Iron Works was an ironworks that operated in Brooklyn, New York, in the early to mid-20th century. It built U.S. Navy warships during World War I and II.
Founded before 1910, the yard had its headquarters at 18-20 Summit Street. By 1920, the yard was known for its construction and repair of oil-fired boilers, diesel engines, and refrigeration units.
During World War II, the company specialized in ship conversion and repair, and like most US shipyard
s at the time, it was heavily contracted for work by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and Maritime Commission.
In 1941-42, the company converted a 9,300-ton passenger/cargo ship into a light aircraft carrier for the British Royal Navy,
The company's owner, Bernard A. Moran, was strongly anti-union
and had defied attempts by the CIO
's Marine and Shipbuilding Workers Union to secure a contract with the company since November 1938. His approach became problematic during the war after the Roosevelt administration
's War Labor Board ordered Moran under its broad war powers to sign a union security (maintenance-of-membership) contract. In spite of warnings that he might lose all his government contracts or have his company seized, Moran remained intransigent, and after three months of legal wrangling, the government made good on its threat and seized the company in September 1943, taking direct control of its management.
Today, the site is used by the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
.
Founded before 1910, the yard had its headquarters at 18-20 Summit Street. By 1920, the yard was known for its construction and repair of oil-fired boilers, diesel engines, and refrigeration units.
During World War II, the company specialized in ship conversion and repair, and like most US shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s at the time, it was heavily contracted for work by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and Maritime Commission.
In 1941-42, the company converted a 9,300-ton passenger/cargo ship into a light aircraft carrier for the British Royal Navy,
The company's owner, Bernard A. Moran, was strongly anti-union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and had defied attempts by the CIO
Congress of Industrial Organizations
The Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by John L. Lewis in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear that they were not...
's Marine and Shipbuilding Workers Union to secure a contract with the company since November 1938. His approach became problematic during the war after the Roosevelt administration
Roosevelt Administration
There have been two Presidents of the United States with the surname "Roosevelt":*Theodore Roosevelt Administration, the 26th President of the United States, 1901 - 1909*Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration, the 32nd President of the United States, 1933 - 1945...
's War Labor Board ordered Moran under its broad war powers to sign a union security (maintenance-of-membership) contract. In spite of warnings that he might lose all his government contracts or have his company seized, Moran remained intransigent, and after three months of legal wrangling, the government made good on its threat and seized the company in September 1943, taking direct control of its management.
Today, the site is used by the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is one of three terminals for ocean-going cruise ships in the metropolitan New York City area. The terminal is located at Red Hook Pier 12, which forms the south side of the Atlantic Basin at Pioneer and Imlay Streets in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, New York. The...
.