<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098537</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TODD SHIPYARDS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TOD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368464</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DODGE BERGER A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 3806</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>360</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5760</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd stock appreciation rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>360</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>360</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1440</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd stock appreciation rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.48</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F14"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd stock appreciation rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.98</value>
                <footnoteId id="F15"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F16"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F17"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F18"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received upon vesting/conversion of restricted stock units previously awarded under Incentive Stock Plan.  No consideration was paid to Todd either at time of award or at time of conversion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $21.02, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The SARs vest as to 1,000 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2010).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Upon certain termination events, earlier as to non-vested units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Todd Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in the grant agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 360 units each July 1 commencing in 2009 (through 2013).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 1, 2013 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Granted under the Todd Shipyards Incentive Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $14.48, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">The SARs vest as to 1,000 units each July 1 commencing in 2009 (through 2011).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 1,600 units on each July 6 commencing in 2007 (through 2011).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 6, 2011 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 300 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2012).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 6, 2012 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F15">Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $16.98, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F16">The SARs vest as to 1,000 units on each July 6 commencing in 2010 (through 2012).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F17">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 360 units each July 1 commencing in 2010 (through 2014).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F18">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 1, 2014 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Berger A. Dodge</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-07-01
0
0000098537
TODD SHIPYARDS CORP
TOD
0001368464
DODGE BERGER A
P.O. BOX 3806
SEATTLE
WA
98124
0
1
0
0
Chief Financial Officer
Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock
2009-07-06
4
M
0
1900
A
5400
D
Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock
2009-07-01
4
M
0
360
A
5760
D
Todd stock appreciation rights
21.02
Common Stock
3000
3000
D
Todd restricted stock units
2009-07-01
4
M
0
360
D
Common Stock
360
1440
D
Todd stock appreciation rights
14.48
Common Stock
3000
3000
D
Todd restricted stock units
2009-07-06
4
M
0
1600
D
Common Stock
1600
3200
D
Todd restricted stock units
2009-07-06
4
M
0
300
D
Common Stock
300
900
D
Todd stock appreciation rights
16.98
Common Stock
3000
3000
D
Todd restricted stock units
Common Stock
1800
1800
D
Received upon vesting/conversion of restricted stock units previously awarded under Incentive Stock Plan.  No consideration was paid to Todd either at time of award or at time of conversion.
Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $21.02, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.
The SARs vest as to 1,000 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2010).
Upon certain termination events, earlier as to non-vested units.
Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of Todd Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in the grant agreement.
The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 360 units each July 1 commencing in 2009 (through 2013).
By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 1, 2013 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.
Granted under the Todd Shipyards Incentive Stock Plan.
Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $14.48, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.
The SARs vest as to 1,000 units each July 1 commencing in 2009 (through 2011).
The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 1,600 units on each July 6 commencing in 2007 (through 2011).
By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 6, 2011 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.
The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 300 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2012).
By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 6, 2012 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.
Upon exercise of the SARs, the holder is entitled to receive value equal to the number of rights being exercised times the then current fair market value reduced by $16.98, the fair market value on date of grant.  Such value will be paid, net of withholding taxes, in shares of Todd Common Stock.
The SARs vest as to 1,000 units on each July 6 commencing in 2010 (through 2012).
The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 360 units each July 1 commencing in 2010 (through 2014).
By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 1, 2014 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.
Berger A. Dodge
2009-07-06