New York Shipbuilding

Executive Summary

The New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, New Jersey built over 670 vessels during its 68-year history from 1899 to 1967, at one point becoming the world's largest and most productive shipbuilding facility with over 30,000 workers at its World War II peak. Founded by Henry G. Morse with revolutionary vision, the facility applied assembly-line production and interchangeable parts concepts to shipbuilding decades before other yards adopted similar methods. By 1921, 30% of all battleships in commission in the U.S. Navy^[3] were New York Ship products, including legendary vessels such as USS South Dakota, USS Indianapolis, and USS Saratoga—the Navy's first "fast" carrier capable of 33.91 knots.

The facility created what industrial hygienists describe as "an asbestos den" where workers couldn't see across rooms due to dust thickness. A landmark epidemiological study found shipyard workers have 5.07 times higher mesothelioma mortality risk compared to the general population, with risk increasing to 6.27 times for those employed ten years or longer. Pipefitters and insulators worked in average airborne fiber concentrations of 4-20 fibers per cubic centimeter—40-200 times current OSHA safety limits^[4]—with 21.2% showing lung abnormalities. An Italian shipyard study found an asbestosis standardized mortality ratio of 2,277, meaning workers were over 2,000 times more likely to die from asbestosis than the general population.

The legal landscape for New York Shipbuilding workers has produced substantial compensation. Major verdicts include $25 million for a Virginia shipfitter and $115 million for 21 steelworkers with asbestos-related illnesses. Corporate documents revealed shocking callousness, with Johns Manville's president stating in the 1940s that the company saved money by letting workers "work until they dropped dead." Over 60 active bankruptcy trusts contain more than $30 billion for victims, while New Jersey's 2-year statute of limitations from diagnosis preserves legal options for workers developing symptoms decades after exposure.

Key Facts
New York Shipbuilding operated from 1899-1967 in Camden, New Jersey Peak employment reached over 30,000 workers during World War II Built 670+ vessels including battleships, carriers, and cruisers By 1921, 30% of all U.S. Navy battleships were New York Ship products Workers face 5.07x higher mesothelioma risk than general population Risk increases to 6.27x for workers employed 10+ years Pipefitters/insulators faced 4-20 fibers/cc—40-200x current OSHA limits 21.2% of pipefitters and insulators showed lung abnormalities Asbestosis mortality 2,277x higher than general population Over $30 billion available in 60+ bankruptcy trusts

What Was New York Shipbuilding Corporation?

Henry G. Morse, an accomplished engineer with 25 years of experience building iron bridges, railroad tunnels, and other infrastructure projects, founded the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in 1899 with a revolutionary vision: applying assembly-line production and interchangeable parts concepts to shipbuilding. After securing substantial financing from Pittsburgh's industrial elite—including Andrew Mellon as primary investor, Henry Clay Frick, and steel magnates Henry and Jay Phipps—Morse established the facility in Camden, New Jersey.

Camden proved an inspired choice, offering established iron industry infrastructure, strategic Delaware River access directly across from Philadelphia, abundant land for future expansion, and excellent rail connections to the national network. Morse's groundbreaking approach included applying bridge construction methods to shipbuilding, introducing assembly-line production with interchangeable parts, building covered shipways for all-weather construction, and connecting all yard sections with overhead cranes.

By 1917, New York Shipbuilding had become the world's largest shipyard. By 1921, 30% of all battleships in commission in the U.S. Navy were New York Ship products, including 25% of first-line battleships and 43% of second-line battleships.

"New York Shipbuilding represents one of the most significant occupational asbestos exposure sites in American history," explains Paul Danziger, Founding Partner at Danziger & De Llano. "The 30,000+ workers who built America's naval supremacy deserve full compensation for the diseases they developed."

Economic and Community Impact

At its peak, New York Shipbuilding employed over 30,000 workers—approximately 25% of Camden's total population of 118,000—making the shipyard the dominant employer in the region. The facility's payroll supported not just workers and their families but also thousands of local businesses, from restaurants to rooming houses to retail stores.

The concentration of workers created tight-knit communities throughout Camden and surrounding South Jersey towns, where multiple generations of families worked at the yard. When asbestos diseases began manifesting decades later, entire neighborhoods experienced the loss of fathers, grandfathers, and neighbors to mesothelioma and asbestosis. The closure of the shipyard in 1967, combined with the delayed health impacts that followed, fundamentally transformed Camden from a prosperous industrial city into one struggling with economic decline.

Today, the former shipyard's transformation into the Port of Camden's Broadway Terminal represents an economic revival, while USS New Jersey—berthed at the site since 1999—serves as a memorial to the workers who built her and the many who died from the exposure they suffered during construction.

What Vessels Did New York Shipbuilding Build?

The shipyard's production roster reads like a who's who of American naval history.

Battleships

USS South Dakota (BB-57), commissioned March 20, 1942, served with distinction throughout the Pacific War, downing 26 Japanese aircraft at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands.

USS Oklahoma (BB-37), part of the revolutionary Nevada-class as America's first oil-burning dreadnoughts, met tragedy at Pearl Harbor when five torpedoes caused her to capsize in just 20 minutes, with the loss of 429 crew members.

Heavy Cruisers

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) served as Admiral Raymond Spruance's flagship from 1943-1945. In July 1945, she delivered atomic bomb components to Tinian, but on July 30, Japanese submarine I-58 torpedoed her, resulting in the worst naval disaster in U.S. history—only 316 of 1,196 crew members survived.

Aircraft Carriers

USS Saratoga (CV-3) became the U.S. Navy's first "fast" carrier, capable of 33.91 knots. She survived the entire war—one of only three pre-war carriers to do so.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) represented the pinnacle of conventional carrier design, serving 48 years until decommissioning in 2009.

WWII Production

Nine Independence-class light carriers
All three Alaska-class "large cruisers"
Four Baltimore-class heavy cruisers
98 Landing Craft Tank vessels (many participated in D-Day)

What Asbestos Products Were Used at New York Shipbuilding?

Asbestos pervaded every shipboard system built at New York Shipbuilding, creating what one report called "an asbestos den" where workers couldn't see across rooms due to dust thickness.

Specific Materials

Boiler rooms contained insulation with approximately 15% asbestos content, with walls, ceilings, doors, and floors all insulated with asbestos materials.

Steam pipes throughout ships were wrapped with felt insulation containing 5-50% asbestos.

Electrical panels were made with asbestos cement and ebonized asbestos lumber, with wire insulation containing 75-85% chrysotile asbestos.

Arc chutes in circuit breakers contained approximately 36% asbestos.

Transite asbestos cement provided structural fire protection throughout vessels.

Over 300 different ship parts contained asbestos components.

"The evidence typically shows that companies knew of asbestos dangers decades before workers were warned," notes David Foster, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "Internal documents revealed Johns Manville President Lewis Brown stating in the 1940s that the company saved money by letting workers 'work until they dropped dead.'"

Who Faced the Greatest Exposure Risk?

Highest-Risk Occupations

Pipefitters and insulators worked in average airborne fiber concentrations of 4-20 fibers per cubic centimeter—twice as high as non-shipyard settings and 40-200 times current OSHA limits. Studies found 21.2% showed lung abnormalities.

Boilermakers faced perhaps the worst conditions. One report stated "no profession was more exposed to asbestos than boilermakers." They worked in confined boiler rooms where asbestos dust accumulated to dangerous levels.

Electricians faced 16 times higher mesothelioma risk than the general population according to a 2018 study. They handled asbestos-containing wire insulation and electrical components throughout vessels.

Welders inhaled toxic smoke from asbestos-coated welding rods that broke down during use, in addition to ambient exposure from nearby insulation work.

Scale of Exposure

During peak operations, over 30,000 workers—approximately 25% of Camden's total population of 118,000—labored in environments saturated with deadly fibers.

"We've observed that workers in virtually every trade developed asbestos-related diseases from New York Shipbuilding," explains Anna Jackson, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "The confined nature of ship construction meant that everyone was exposed."

What Are the Health Consequences for New York Shipbuilding Workers?

The health consequences documented among New York Shipbuilding workers are devastating:

Mesothelioma - 5.07 times higher risk, increasing to 6.27x for workers employed 10+ years
Lung cancer - Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.26
Asbestosis - Italian shipyard study found SMR of 2,277 (over 2,000 times higher than general population)

Approximately 86% of ship repair workers in one analysis developed asbestosis, while 60% of mesothelioma patients also had mild asbestosis. The World Health Organization estimates over 200,000 annual deaths globally from occupational asbestos exposure, representing 70% of all work-related cancer deaths.

"The latency period of asbestos diseases means that workers exposed in the 1940s through 1960s are still developing fatal diseases today," notes Larry Gates, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "The good news is that compensation remains available."

What Did Companies Know About Asbestos Dangers?

Perhaps most disturbing is the extensive documentation proving companies knew of asbestos dangers decades before workers were warned:

1932 - Metropolitan Life documented 20% asbestosis rates at Johns Manville factory
1933 - When a plant physician requested asbestos warning posters, management rejected them due to "legal situation" concerns
1930s - Industry-funded studies linked cancer to asbestos, but this information was deliberately suppressed
1943 - Navy issued "Minimum Requirements for Safety" recognizing asbestos respiratory risks
1944 - U.S. Maritime Commission released a report on known asbestos risks in shipbuilding

Internal corporate documents revealed shocking callousness. A Bendix Corporation memo cynically noted, "If you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products, why not die from it." Dow Chemical conducted a "cost per cancer" analysis, determining that continuing asbestos use was more profitable than a $1.2 billion plant conversion.

What Legal Verdicts Have Workers Received?

Major verdicts demonstrate the significant compensation available:

$25 million - Virginia shipfitter
$115 million - 21 steelworkers with asbestos-related illnesses
$8.45 million - Plumber exposed to boiler asbestos

Over 60 active bankruptcy trusts contain more than $30 billion for victims, with multiple trusts recognizing New York Shipbuilding as a confirmed exposure site.

"Workers can pursue both trust fund claims and lawsuits against solvent defendants simultaneously," explains Paul Danziger, Founding Partner at Danziger & De Llano. "This multi-track approach maximizes total compensation."

How Do Workers File Compensation Claims?

New Jersey Statute of Limitations

New Jersey provides a 2-year statute of limitations from diagnosis for personal injury claims. The discovery rule starts the clock at diagnosis rather than exposure date.

Required Documentation

Successful claims require:

Medical records confirming asbestos-related disease diagnosis
Employment records from New York Shipbuilding with dates and job titles
Evidence of specific asbestos products encountered
Documentation of specific vessels worked on
Witness statements from coworkers if available

Multi-Track Compensation Strategy

Asbestos bankruptcy trusts - File against Johns-Manville, Owens-Corning, and other suppliers
Personal injury lawsuits - Pursue solvent defendants for additional compensation
VA benefits - Veterans receive automatic 100% disability for mesothelioma ($4,044.91+ monthly)
Workers' compensation - Longshore Act benefits may apply

"Time is critical in asbestos cases," emphasizes Michelle Whitman, Attorney at Danziger & De Llano. "We work on contingency with no upfront costs."

What Is the Current Status of the Site?

Today, the former shipyard site operates as the Port of Camden's Broadway Terminal, handling over 2 million tons of cargo annually since reopening in 1971. The 180-acre complex ranks among America's largest ports, with storage capacity exceeding 1.1 million square feet.

USS New Jersey arrived on Veterans Day 1999 to serve as a museum ship, drawing 50,000 onlookers. Opening October 15, 2001, the battleship attracted over 500,000 visitors in its first three years and continues offering daily tours.

Historic Preservation

The Camden County Historical Society maintains 31 linear feet of New York Shipbuilding Corporation records. In 2015, the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office deemed the shipyard eligible for National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.

Fairview (formerly Yorkship Village), America's first federally funded planned community built in 1918 to house shipyard workers, received listing on National and New Jersey State Registers of Historic Places in 1974.

How Did Secondary Exposure Affect Families?

Workers' families faced significant secondary exposure from contaminated work clothing and equipment. Studies documented that workers brought asbestos home daily on clothing, shoes, hair, and personal items.

Research on shipyard workers' families found:

11% of wives developed lung abnormalities
7.6% of sons showed asbestos-related disease
2.1% of daughters developed asbestos-related disease

"We've represented numerous family members who developed mesothelioma from secondary exposure," notes Yvette Abrego, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "These cases require documentation of the household exposure pathway, but they remain fully compensable."

The secondary exposure problem was compounded by the shipyard's failure to provide any decontamination facilities or work clothes cleaning services during its peak asbestos use period. Workers wore their contaminated clothing home, embraced family members, and sat on household furniture—all while covered in invisible asbestos fibers. Wives who laundered these garments faced particularly concentrated exposure, shaking out dust-laden clothes that released millions of microscopic fibers into the home environment. The fibers embedded in carpets, upholstery, and ventilation systems, creating long-term household contamination that continued exposing family members for years.

References

Page Author: Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano, LLP

↑ Mesothelioma, National Cancer Institute
↑ Maritime Industry, OSHA
↑ VA Asbestos Exposure, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
↑ Asbestos, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[1] Mesothelioma, National Cancer Institute

[2] Maritime Industry, OSHA

[3] VA Asbestos Exposure, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

[4] Asbestos, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[3]

[4]