Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

For decades, shipyard workers were heavily exposed to asbestos during the construction, maintenance, and repair of both military and civilian vessels. A diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis among former shipyard workers is often directly linked to years of working around asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) used in nearly every part of a ship’s structure. These workers now have legal rights to pursue compensation through lawsuits and asbestos trust funds, which currently hold over $32 billion for qualified victims.

How Shipyard Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

Shipyards were among the most hazardous environments for asbestos exposure. From the 1930s through the late 1980s, asbestos was widely used throughout ship construction, maintenance, and dismantling. Workers handled these materials daily—often without respiratory protection or proper warnings—especially in the tight, poorly ventilated compartments below deck.

Common Asbestos-Containing Materials Included:

• Pipe Insulation
  Miles of shipboard steam and water lines were wrapped in asbestos insulation. When these materials cracked or were removed, asbestos fibers filled the air in confined workspaces like engine rooms and bilges.

• Boiler Linings
  Boilers were lined with asbestos bricks, panels, and blankets. Boilermakers and firemen were exposed during installation, cleaning, and repair, often in extreme heat and limited ventilation.

• Gaskets and Valves
  Asbestos was used in packing and gaskets for steam systems, engines, and pumps. Workers exposed themselves to dangerous dust when cutting gaskets, sanding old parts, or performing valve maintenance.

• Fireproof Bulkheads
  Walls separating compartments were lined with asbestos panels for fire safety. Any damage, retrofitting, or removal of these panels stirred up asbestos dust.

• Pumps and Turbines
  Machinery like pumps and turbines used asbestos for insulation and friction control. Engineers and repair crews inhaled fibers while dismantling or rebuilding systems.

• Electrical Wiring and Panels
  Asbestos-insulated wires and fireproof panels were common. Electricians were at risk while stripping cables, drilling panels, and rewiring ship systems.

• Cement and Adhesives
  Adhesives, mastics, and caulks containing asbestos were used throughout ships. Over time, these hardened materials crumbled and released fibers during repairs.

• Spray-On Insulation and Hull Coatings
  Spray-on asbestos mixtures were applied to hull interiors, decks, and structural supports. The spraying process created airborne dust, and later scraping or sanding disturbed these coatings again.

Shipyard Jobs with High Asbestos Exposure Risk:

• Insulators – Wrapped asbestos around pipes, tanks, and exhaust systems.

• Boilermakers – Handled high-temp asbestos linings in boilers and valves.

• Pipefitters & Plumbers – Removed and replaced asbestos-insulated pipe systems.

• Electricians – Drilled, cut, and stripped asbestos-laced electrical systems.

• Welders & Metalworkers – Burned through asbestos insulation during fabrication.

• Maintenance Crews – Performed repairs in dusty, confined asbestos-laden spaces.

• Shipbreakers – Disassembled vessels, disturbing deteriorated asbestos in nearly every system.

Tight shipboard quarters meant asbestos dust had nowhere to go—making inhalation extremely common. Many workers unknowingly brought fibers home on their clothes, exposing family members secondhand.

Common Shipyards Where Workers Faced Asbestos Exposure

Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Virginia)

Workers routinely overhauled ships packed with asbestos insulation in piping, boiler rooms, and mechanical compartments. Maintenance and repair operations released fibers in tight, high-exposure areas.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Washington)

Known for large-scale Navy repairs, this shipyard exposed workers to asbestos during dismantling of older ships, engine retrofits, and insulation removal from steam lines and equipment.

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (California)

Workers here faced exposure during nuclear cleanup, ship scrapping, and equipment overhauls. Asbestos dust lingered across facilities long after materials were disturbed.

Boston Naval Shipyard (Massachusetts)

Electricians, welders, and pipefitters were regularly exposed while working in fireproofed compartments and asbestos-lined mechanical rooms of destroyers and submarines.

Ingles Shipbuilding (Mississippi)

Asbestos exposure occurred in brake pads, engine insulation, gasket replacements, and more. Workers often handled ACMs directly during ship construction and repair.

Newport News Shipbuilding (Virginia)

This massive shipyard built carriers and submarines filled with asbestos. Pipe insulation, floor tiles, and bulkheads exposed both shipbuilders and administrative personnel on-site.

Bath Iron Works (Maine)

Engine and boiler rooms on destroyers were lined with asbestos. Exposure occurred during initial builds and ongoing dry dock maintenance by multiple trades.

Legal Options for Shipyard Workers Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

If you’ve received a diagnosis of mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease, you may qualify to:

• File a personal injury lawsuit against manufacturers or contractors.

• Submit a claim to asbestos trust funds (over $32 billion currently available).

• Pursue wrongful death claims for deceased loved ones.

• Apply for VA disability benefits if exposure occurred during military service.

How to Start a Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit or Claim

1. Get a Medical Diagnosis
   A formal diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis is required to begin a legal claim.

2. Document Your Work History
   Employment records, co-worker statements, and shipyard assignments help trace exposure.

3. Identify Asbestos Products
   Attorneys investigate which asbestos materials and brands were present during your time on-site.

4. File a Legal Claim
   Lawyers experienced in mesothelioma cases manage filings in court or with trust fund administrators.

5. No Upfront Cost – No Fees Unless You Win
   Claims are handled on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered.

Get Help Filing a Claim Today

If you are a former shipyard worker diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease, don’t wait. Statutes of limitations apply, and early filing improves your chance of success.

Our legal team is here to guide you step by step—with no upfront costs. We’ll help uncover your exposure history, identify responsible parties, and pursue maximum compensation from lawsuits or trust funds.

👉 Start your free case review now to learn if you qualify for a claim.