BATH – John “Dugan” Shipway will retire this spring after nearly six years as president of Bath Iron Works, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced on Wednesday.

Shipway became president of BIW in the spring of 2003, announcing at the time that boosting efficiency at the shipyard, one of Maine’s largest employers, would be among his primary goals.

In 2005, Shipway incurred the wrath of employees when he announced a plan to replace union maintenance workers with contracted help from out of state. The plan was later abandoned and the 4,000-member union signed an agreement aimed at finding ways to cut the costs of materials and consumer goods used throughout the Bath shipyard.

Shipway was credited with helping BIW land contracts. In late 2008, BIW received a $45.8 million contract option to provide services associated with the design and construction of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer.

Shipway, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral with 35 years of service, served in a succession of high-level posts.

Collins said Wednesday that Shipway has done an extraordinary job and that she will miss his expertise. The two had worked together on Navy shipbuilding contracts at the shipyard.

There was no word Wednesday night on who might be tapped to replace Shipway, who took over for former BIW President Allan C. Cameron. He had held the position since 1996.

Following his retirement from active duty, Shipway joined Electric Boat, which like BIW, is a General Dynamics Corp. subsidiary, as special assistant to the president in July 2000, a position he retained until he was appointed president of BIW.

Shipway’s jobs have included director of Strategic Systems Programs, commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, deputy commander for submarines at Naval Sea Systems Command and program executive officer for submarines