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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248196</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARSH MICHAEL G</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>Secretary and General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corporation Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corporation Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Corporation Common</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Todd Shipyards Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>14500</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.85</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael G. Marsh</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-03-23
0
0000098537
TODD SHIPYARDS CORP
TOD
0001248196
MARSH MICHAEL G
P O BOX 3806
SEATTLE
WA
98124
0
1
0
0
Secretary and General Counsel
Todd Shipyards Corporation Common
2005-03-23
2005-03-23
4
S
0
100
19.47
D
1500
D
Todd Shipyards Corporation Common
2005-03-23
2005-03-23
4
S
0
400
19.35
D
1500
D
Todd Shipyards Corporation Common
2005-03-23
2005-03-23
4
S
0
300
19.45
D
1500
D
Todd Shipyards Corporation Common
2005-03-23
2005-03-23
4
S
0
200
19.3
D
1500
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2002-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
14500
80000
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2003-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
14500
80000
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2004-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
14500
80000
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2002-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
12166
80000
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2003-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
12167
80000
D
Todd Shipyards Stock Option
6.85
2005-03-23
4
S
0
0
6.85
A
2004-03-22
2006-03-23
Common Stock
12167
80000
D
Michael G. Marsh
2005-03-24