At the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake , the coastal passenger liner '' Columbia '' of the San Francisco and Portland Steamship Company had been undergoing a refit at the yard 's hydraulic drydock . The earthquake caused the iron hulled '' Columbia '' to shift off her supports and roll onto the drydock on her starboard side . This rendered the drydock , a key feature of the yard , damaged beyond economic repair . The '' Columbia '' on the other hand , despite being partially flooded and damaged , was repaired and returned to service in January 1907 . In 1908 , Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation bought the Hunters Point , San Francisco , California drydocks . In the pre-World War I era , Union Iron Works built several navy ships that became internationally famous due to the Spanish – American War including Commodore Dewey 's flagship the Olympia . After 1905 , the shipyard operated as part of Bethlehem Steel , and produced both warships and merchant ships
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Union Iron Works