Why Shipyards Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Shipyards used asbestos more heavily than almost any other industrial setting, putting workers at risk. Asbestos was an inexpensive, fire-resistant and highly effective thermal insulator, which made it valuable in the confined, high-heat environment of a ship’s engine rooms and boiler rooms. Such enclosed workspaces led to the concentration of airborne fibers, especially where ventilation was poor, allowing asbestos dust to linger long after the material was disturbed.
Asbestos in Shipyards
- Pipe and boiler lagging and block insulation
- Gaskets, valve packing and pump packing
- Fireproofing materials and refractory cement
- Sprayed insulation applied to bulkheads and overhead surfaces
- Insulating cloth, rope and welding blankets
Asbestos use in American shipbuilding peaked between World War II and the 1970s. During this period, the Navy specified the use of asbestos-containing materials in shipbuilding and repair.
Shipyard Trades at Highest Risk
Workers in nearly every trade in a shipyard came into contact with asbestos. Some tradespeople worked directly with asbestos-containing materials day after day, cutting insulation, installing fireproofing material or handling gaskets as part of the job. Others came in contact with asbestos indirectly, via poorly ventilated shared workspaces.
Ships undergoing construction or repairs often had people from multiple trades working in the same confined spaces simultaneously. Fibers disturbed by one worker’s task could easily travel to another worker nearby who was doing something entirely different. This means that shipyard workers who directly handled asbestos could have been exposed by being present in the shared workspaces.
| Trade | How they were exposed | Primary asbestos source |
|---|---|---|
| Insulators and laggers | Cutting, mixing and applying insulation | Block and pipe insulation, asbestos cement |
| Boilermakers and boiler tenders | Building, lining and repairing boilers | Refractory cement, gaskets, block insulation |
| Pipefitters and steamfitters | Installing and insulating piping | Pipe lagging, gaskets, valve packing |
| Welders and burners | Cutting and joining near insulated surfaces | Welding blankets, disturbed insulation |
| Machinists and machinist’s mates | Servicing pumps, turbines and valves | Gaskets, packing |
| Electricians | Running wiring through insulated spaces | Disturbed insulation, fireproofing |
| Painters and tapers | Surface prep near insulation | Airborne fibers, joint compound |
| Shipfitters and joiners | Fitting structures and cabins | Fireproofing, insulating board |
Shipyards Known for Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used in every major shipyard in the United States until the 1970s. Many shipyards operated for decades under different owners and, in some cases, different names, as private companies were acquired, contracts shifted between wartime and peacetime production, and Navy yards were realigned or closed.
Shipyards Known for Exposure
- Northeast: Brooklyn Navy Yard (New York), Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (New Hampshire and Maine), Fore River Shipyard (Quincy, Massachusetts), Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point and Key Highway (Baltimore, Maryland), Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (Pennsylvania), Electric Boat (Groton, Connecticut)
- Southeast and Gulf Coast: Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Newport News Shipbuilding (Virginia), Charleston Naval Shipyard (South Carolina), Naval Air Station Pensacola (Florida)
- West Coast and Pacific: Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, and other San Francisco Bay Area shipyards (California), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Washington), Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (Hawaii)
A worker’s exposure history may span more than one name for the same facility, or more than one facility entirely, depending on when and where they were employed. The shipyards listed are among the most documented in litigation and historical records.
Navy and Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
Few work environments in American history relied on asbestos as heavily as naval vessels and the shipyards that built and maintained them. A veteran who served aboard ships or who spent years repairing and overhauling them may not see the effects of that exposure until decades after leaving the service. An asbestos-related illness, like mesothelioma, can take decades to surface.
For much of the 20th century, the U.S. Navy mandated the use of asbestos in the standards that shipyards and their workers were required to follow. The Navy stopped specifying that thermal insulation contained asbestos in 1973, but some ships were already under construction at that time, resulting in new ships having asbestos materials until 1978. Existing asbestos-containing materials were not necessarily replaced during this time period. This meant that repair, maintenance and other work on vessels built before the phase-out took full effect resulted in continued exposure for years afterward.
A Navy veteran diagnosed with a service-related illness may have legal options against the companies that manufactured and supplied the asbestos-containing products used aboard ships and in shipyards. Veterans may also be eligible for VA disability benefits. Pursuing legal action or a VA claim does not require giving up the other, and many veterans pursue both at the same time. Our lawyers have recovered millions for Navy and Naval shipyard workers who were exposed to asbestos.
Navy or shipyard veteran? Speak with an attorney experienced in Navy asbestos cases.Take-Home (Secondhand) Asbestos Exposure
Take-home or secondhand exposure put spouses and children at risk simply because they lived in the same household as a shipyard worker. Workers carried home the toxic fibers on their clothing, skin and hair, exposing the people closest to them without anyone realizing it. The family member responsible for doing the laundry was especially at risk.
Secondhand asbestos exposure is a recognized cause of mesothelioma, but it remains one of the more overlooked ways asbestos-related diseases arise. Our firm has represented families affected by secondhand asbestos exposure, including in a case that resulted in a $32M verdict.
Diseases Linked to Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a carcinogen, meaning it is linked to several thoracic diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. No level of exposure is considered safe. Even a brief or indirect encounter with asbestos fibers can lead to serious illness decades later, and risk increases based on how frequently a person was exposed and the amount of time they spent around the asbestos-containing materials. Shipyard work regularly placed employees in close, poorly ventilated spaces filled with airborne fibers. Because of these conditions, shipyard workers report some of the highest documented rates of asbestos-related disease of any occupation.
Diseases linked to shipyard asbestos exposure include:
- Mesothelioma: an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen, caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.
- Lung cancer: risk increases substantially for shipyard workers who also smoked.
- Asbestosis: scarring of lung tissue caused by the buildup of asbestos fibers over time.
- Other conditions: including pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and cancers of the throat and colon associated with asbestos exposure.
Research has shown elevated rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases among shipyard workers for decades, and this body of research continues to grow as new cohorts are studied.
How Long After Shipyard Exposure Do Diseases Appear?
Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases typically take between 20 and 60 years to develop after exposure. This long latency period explains why workers employed in shipyards during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s continue to receive diagnoses today. A diagnosis received now does not mean the underlying cause is lost to time. Shipyard employment records, union documentation and product history often make it possible to trace a current illness back to work performed years or even decades ago, establishing the connection needed to pursue compensation.
Compensation for Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
If a shipyard worker or one of their family members is diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness linked to workplace exposure, they may have a basis for a legal claim. The right path forward depends on work history, exposure and the companies involved. Sometimes more than one option is available at the same time.
Compensation may cover medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering, with additional damages available in wrongful death cases depending on state law. Trust fund claims often resolve faster than lawsuits, since payouts follow a set schedule rather than a trial. Lawsuits can take longer but may result in a larger recovery, depending on the case.
Our firm works on a contingency basis, so you owe nothing unless the case results in a recovery. An early case evaluation can help identify which combination of routes fits a specific diagnosis and work history.
| Route | What it is | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsuit against manufacturers | A personal injury or wrongful death claim against the companies that made or sold asbestos-containing products | Most shipyard workers and their families |
| Asbestos trust funds | Claims filed against trusts established by manufacturers that went through bankruptcy | Cases involving a manufacturer with an existing trust |
| VA benefits | Disability compensation and healthcare coverage for service-connected exposure | Navy and shipyard veterans, alongside a lawsuit rather than in place of one |
Statute of Limitations: Do Not Wait
The statute of limitations for asbestos lawsuits varies by state. If you worked in a shipyard decades ago, it may not be too late to file a claim. In most places, the date you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, not the dates of exposure, determines how long you have to file. Wrongful death claims generally run from the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis.
Because these deadlines vary widely from state to state and can be easy to miss during an already difficult time, getting a case evaluation of a potential claim as soon as possible is recommended.
Why Meirowitz & Wasserberg
Asbestos litigation calls for a specific kind of experience, one built on trying cases rather than simply filing them, including cases involving shipyard and Navy workers. Our lawyers have won cases that other firms have declined to take.
Our Notable Results:
- $5.4M for a pipefitter exposed at a Houston ship channel refinery
- $5.5M for a Navy boiler tender
- $5.1M or more for a Navy machinist’s mate
- $3.6M and $3.4M for two Navy boiler tenders
- $32M or more in a secondhand asbestos exposure case
Our office works on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients owe nothing unless we win. Case evaluations are available at any time, and intake is offered in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian and Tagalog. We have offices in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, Florida, California, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Daniel Wasserberg
Founding Partner
Licensed in Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois
National Asbestos Practice Lead
Frequently Asked Questions
Were shipyard workers exposed to asbestos?
Yes, shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos. In fact, shipyards were among the most asbestos-heavy workplaces in American industry, especially until the late 1970s, exposing workers across nearly every trade through insulation, boilers and gaskets.
What is the average payout for shipyard asbestos exposure?
There is no single average payout for shipyard asbestos exposure. Compensation depends on the diagnosis, exposure history, and the path (lawsuit, trust fund or VA benefits) followed. Our firm has recovered substantial compensation for shipyard and Navy workers, and a free evaluation can clarify what may apply to your specific case.
Will a short period of shipyard asbestos exposure cause harm?
There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Even limited exposure can lead to mesothelioma decades later, though risk generally increases with the duration and intensity of exposure.
Which shipyards used asbestos?
Essentially all major United States shipyards used asbestos through the 1970s, including Navy shipyards, Bethlehem Steel facilities, Pearl Harbor, Newport News and many others.
Do Navy veterans qualify for compensation for shipyard asbestos exposure?
Possibly. Veterans may pursue VA benefits and lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Filing a claim does not mean suing the military.
How long after shipyard asbestos exposure does mesothelioma develop?
Typically, mesothelioma takes 20 to 50 years to develop. Diagnoses made today often trace back to shipyard work performed decades earlier.
How much does a shipyard asbestos lawyer cost?
Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we win. A free, confidential case review is available at any time.
About The Author
Daniel Wasserberg
Founding Partner
Daniel Wasserberg, a founding partner of Meirowitz & Wasserberg, is a Best Lawyers-recognized and Super Lawyers-rated mesothelioma attorney with over 20 years of experience. Named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Top 10 Asbestos-Mesothelioma Lawyer, he leads the firm's national asbestos practice.
