The
Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works (founded in 1871), was a major late–19th-century American shipyard located on the
Delaware River in
Chester, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the industrialist
John Roach and is often referred to by its parent company name of
John Roach & Sons, or just known as the Roach shipyard. For the first fifteen years of its existence, the shipyard was by far the largest and most productive in the
United States, building more tonnage of ships than its next two major competitors combined, in addition to being the
U.S. Navy's largest contractor. The yard specialized in the production of large
passenger freighters, but built every kind of vessel from warships to
cargo ships,
oil tankers,
ferries,
barges,
tugs and
yachts.