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| Keel laying of the USCGC Southwind (WAG/WAGB-280), 20 July 1942. During and after World War II, the yard built "Wind" class icebreakers, "Owasco" class Coast Guard cutters, "Bourge" Class escort carriers, and numerous transports and cargo ships for the US and British Royal Navies. (US Coast Guard History Office) |
Los Angeles and entered into a contractual arrangement with Western Pipe and Steel on 5 March 1941.
The site was used by Western Pipe and Steel Company to fill ship building orders for the Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Naval vessels manufactured include a group of Landing Craft
Transports (LCTs). Coast Guard vessels included Cutters and Ice Breakers. There are no further records which confirm additional shipbuilding activity on this site.
The shipbuilding facilities associated with Western Pipe and Steel Company were reportedly dismantled after World War II. There are no references to contracts dated after World War II. The Navy Department's (after 1947, Department of the Navy) use permit under the Board of Harbor Commissioners Order (BHCO) No. 1830 was not terminated until 30 June 1960. The site has since been thoroughly redeveloped. The property is still owned by the City of Los Angeles, and leased to Western Fuel Oil (Berth 120), the American President Lines Container Terminal (Berths 125 and 126), and the Yang Ming Container Terminal (Berths 127 through 131). The site is still being used beneficially by the Port of Los Angeles for fuel storage and maritime purposes. Based on information provided by the Port of Los Angeles, any environmental restoration that may have been needed on the site has already taken place. In addition, information provided by the County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services suggests that no contamination is attributable to this site.
Site History: The site was owned by the City of Los Angeles and under the jurisdiction of the Harbor Department prior to Navy use. The Navy Department acquired a use permit under Board of Harbor Commissioners Order (BHCO) No. 1830 for Berths 120 and 125-131. Western Pipe and Steel entered into a contractual agreement with the Navy on 5 March 1941 to use the berths for shipbuilding activities.
Records obtained from the National Archives indicate that Western Pipe and Steel Company's shipbuilding activities included contracts with the Navy for Landing Craft Transports (LCTs). In addition, Western Pipe and Steel built Cutters CR105 through CRl15 and Ice Breakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. There are no records to indicate that additional shipbuilding occurred on this
site during World War II, but it is possible, given reports of extreme activity in the area.
There is no record of the Navy Department terminating its contract with Western Pipe and Steel Company. However, the company's facilities were reportedly dismantled at the end of World War II. The Navy Department's use permit was terminated 30 June 1960. There is no record as to the nature of the Navy's post-war use of the berths.
Portions of the site were filled in and redeveloped as recently as 1983. The Port of Los Angeles continues to own the site and currently leases the berth areas. Western Fuel Oil Company leases Berth 120 and maintains a tank farm/fuel terminal facility. American President Lines leases Berths 125 and 126, and the Yang Ming Container Terminal leases Berths 125 through 131. American President Lines and Yang Ming have developed modern container terminals and both lessees have provided extensive container storage areas, cranes and loading equipment. The lessees have also built administrative offices and security facilities onsite.
There is no evidence of any structures or facilities on the berths that could be attributable to Western Pipe and Steel's shipbuilding activities. Furthermore, there is no evidence of any structures or facilities that could be attributable to any onsite use prior to the termination of the Navy's use permit in 1960.
