Construction of a yard with six shipways began on February 3, 1941. Four workmen then used axes to cut the ropes holding the steamer on the shipways. The new construction required expanded shipways for launching ships. The completed Swan Island yard began production in July 1942 with eight shipways. At its peak, it employed 12,000 people, working on eight shipways on the 95-acre facility. There were major docks and shipways that faced to the east. Twenty-four acres of additional land were acquired and three more shipways were added. It were marine railway, a powerhouse, sawmill, joiner loft, warehouse, shipways. The shipways were used to launch dreadnoughts, large battleships with heavy guns.