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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248198</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELCH STEPHEN</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11253</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held in Todd 401(k) savings plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>136545</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="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd stock appreciation rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.48</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd restricted stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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="F2">The SARs vest as to 3,333 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2010).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon certain termination events, earlier as to non-vested units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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="F5">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 1200 units on each June 13 commencing in 2009 (through 2013).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on June 13, 2008 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">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="F8">The SARs vest as to 3,333 units on each June 13 commencing in 2009 (through 2011).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 1000 units on each July 6 commencing in 2008 (through 2012).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on July 6, 2012 or, as to non-vested units, upon certain termination events.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen G. Welch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-06-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-06-26
0
0000098537
TODD SHIPYARDS CORP
TOD
0001248198
WELCH STEPHEN
P O BOX 3806
SEATTLE
WA
98124
1
1
0
0
Chief Executive Officer
Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock
11253
I
Held in Todd 401(k) savings plan
Todd Shipyards Corp Common Stock
2009-06-26
4
S
0
5800
17.8
D
136545
D
Todd stock appreciation rights
21.02
Common Stock
10000
10000
D
Todd restricted stock units
Common Stock
6000
6000
D
Todd stock appreciation rights
14.48
Common Stock
10000
10000
D
Todd restricted stock units
Common Stock
4000
4000
D
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 3,333 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 1200 units on each June 13 commencing in 2009 (through 2013).
By virtue of vesting, the RSUs will expire on June 13, 2008 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 $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 3,333 units on each June 13 commencing in 2009 (through 2011).
The RSUs vest and convert to Todd Common Stock as to 1000 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.
Stephen G. Welch
2009-06-29