Tampa Bay Shipbuilding

Tampa Bay Shipbuilding
	Florida's WWII shipbuilding leader (est. 1917)
Location	Tampa, FL
Peak Employment	16,000 (WWII)
Current Status	Active (Tampa Ship LLC)
Vessels Built	494 ships (WWII)
Exposure Level	400-1,500x limit
Risk Level	Extreme
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Executive Summary

Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Company (TASCO) operated from 1917 through its transformation into today's Tampa Ship LLC, helping win World War II while exposing 16,000 workers to deadly asbestos fibers at concentrations 400 to 1,500 times current safety limits. The facility produced 494 vessels for the U.S. Navy during WWII, including destroyer tenders such as USS Piedmont, USS Sierra, and USS Yosemite; ammunition ships based on C2 cargo hull designs; 24 Admirable-class minesweepers; and 12 Cannon-class destroyer escorts including DE-766 Slater, which now serves as a museum ship in Albany, New York. The facility's transformation from a struggling repair yard into Tampa's largest employer with 16,000 workers pumped approximately $105 million in wages into the local economy during the war years.

The health consequences for TASCO workers are devastating. Studies document that 86% of ship repair workers developed asbestosis, while NIOSH determined shipyard workers were 15 times more likely to die from asbestosis than workers in other occupations. Florida now ranks second nationally in mesothelioma cases with 5,125 cases and 3,676 deaths between 1999-2020, with 237 new cases in 2021 alone—third highest nationally. The Tampa Bay area, with its concentration of shipyards and industrial sites, bears particular burden from this legacy exposure. Mesothelioma averages 33.7 years latency from first exposure, explaining why workers exposed during TASCO's 1940s peak continue dying today, with cases expected to continue through the 2040s.

The legal landscape for TASCO workers has produced substantial compensation. Florida courts have awarded verdicts including $32 million for secondhand exposure and $21 million for individual workers, while recent cases have reached $18 million for brake dust exposure claims in March 2025. TASCO workers can access seven specific asbestos trust funds with eligibility periods spanning their employment, offering average total payouts of $300,000-$400,000 from multiple trusts. Florida's favorable 4-year statute of limitations from diagnosis provides adequate time for affected workers and families to pursue claims.

Key Facts
TASCO operated from 1917 through present-day Tampa Ship LLC Peak employment reached 16,000 workers during World War II Built 494 vessels for the U.S. Navy during WWII Asbestos levels reached 40-150 f/cc—400-1,500x current OSHA limits 86% of ship repair workers developed asbestosis Shipyard workers 15x more likely to die from asbestosis than other workers Florida ranks #2 nationally with 5,125 mesothelioma cases (1999-2020) Mesothelioma latency averages 33.7 years—cases expected through 2040s Florida verdicts include $32 million for secondhand exposure Seven specific asbestos trust funds available for TASCO workers

What Was Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Company?

Tampa's shipbuilding story began in 1892 with the Tampa Foundry & Machine Company, but the true industrial transformation started in February 1917 when the Tampa Shipbuilding & Engineering Company took over existing facilities. The company's transformation came in 1940 when George B. Howell of Exchange National Bank purchased the bankrupt operation for just $500, acquiring $47,000 in assets but nearly $1 million in liabilities. Renamed Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO), the facility stood poised for its greatest and most tragic chapter.

Between 1941 and 1945, TASCO metamorphosed from a struggling repair yard into Tampa's largest employer with 16,000 workers, pumping approximately $105 million in wages into the local economy while training thousands in skilled trades.

"TASCO represents a critical chapter in Florida's industrial history and one of the state's most significant occupational asbestos exposure sites," explains Michelle Whitman, Attorney at Danziger & De Llano. "The 16,000 workers who built America's wartime fleet deserve full compensation."

Workforce and Community Impact

The massive wartime expansion transformed not just the shipyard but the entire Tampa Bay region. Workers relocated from across the Southeast to take advantage of well-paying shipyard jobs, fundamentally changing the demographics and economy of the area. The $105 million in wages pumped into the local economy supported thousands of additional jobs in housing, retail, and services for shipyard families.

The concentration of workers in Tampa's industrial waterfront created tight-knit communities where multiple families shared both employment at the shipyard and, decades later, the diagnosis of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Support groups for mesothelioma patients in the Tampa Bay area often find themselves filled with former TASCO workers and their families, connected by their shared workplace history.

What Vessels Did TASCO Build?

Destroyer Tenders

TASCO's most significant achievements included three Dixie-class destroyer tenders:

USS Piedmont (AD-17), launched December 7, 1942, displaced 17,176 tons and carried a complement of 1,181 personnel. After Pacific Theater service including presence at Tokyo Bay's surrender ceremony, she earned battle stars in Korea and Vietnam.

USS Sierra (AD-18), commissioned March 20, 1944, performed critical repairs including kamikaze damage to USS Claxton.

USS Yosemite (AD-19) served as flagship for Destroyer Forces Atlantic Fleet for over two decades, participating in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Other Wartime Production

7 ammunition ships based on C2 cargo hull design (Lassen class)
24 Admirable-class minesweepers (1943-1944), many transferred to Soviet forces under Lend-Lease
12 Cannon-class destroyer escorts, including DE-766 Slater (now a museum ship)
Repair ships, store ships, cargo vessels, and auxiliary craft

What Were Asbestos Exposure Levels at TASCO?

Measurements from comparable facilities documented average asbestos levels of 40 to 150 fibers per cubic centimeter—exposure levels that exceeded current OSHA limits (0.1 f/cc) by factors of 400 to 1,500.

Where Asbestos Was Used

Asbestos pervaded every aspect of TASCO's operations:

Boiler rooms - Extensive asbestos insulation on steam systems (highest exposure zones)
Engine rooms - Asbestos-wrapped turbines and pipes in poorly ventilated spaces
Throughout vessels - Gaskets, valve packing, brake linings, fireproof panels
Pipe insulation - Thousands of linear feet per vessel
Shipyard buildings - Walls, equipment, and workspace construction

Major Asbestos Suppliers

Babcock & Wilcox (1918-1982 exposure period)
Combustion Engineering (1928-1982)
Owens Corning (1965-1982)
Keene Corporation (1947-1982)

"The evidence shows that workers labored in environments where asbestos dust concentrations reached extreme levels," notes David Foster, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "Yet companies knew of these dangers since the 1890s and systematically suppressed the information."

The concentration of asbestos exposure in boiler and engine rooms created particular hazards for workers assigned to these areas. Steam system insulation required constant maintenance, with workers cutting, fitting, and replacing asbestos materials in confined spaces with minimal ventilation. The heat from operating equipment caused asbestos materials to deteriorate and release fibers, creating ambient contamination that affected even workers not directly handling asbestos products.

Who Faced the Greatest Exposure Risk at TASCO?

Highest-Risk Occupations

Boilermakers faced the highest exposures, directly handling asbestos insulation in confined spaces where dust concentrations reached extreme levels. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers grew to over 350,000 members by 1944, many working in conditions that would prove fatal decades later.

Pipefitters and steamfitters installed asbestos insulation throughout ships' complex piping systems.

Welders cut through asbestos materials, releasing clouds of deadly fibers.

Electricians ran wiring through asbestos-laden compartments.

Insulators worked as the primary handlers of raw asbestos products.

Machinists operated equipment surrounded by asbestos insulation.

Even painters, carpenters, and general laborers faced significant exposure through bystander contact in contaminated work areas.

With 16,000 workers at peak, estimates suggest 3,200-4,000 boilermakers and pipefitters alone faced extreme exposures.

What Are the Health Consequences for TASCO Workers?

Research has documented devastating health consequences among shipyard workers:

86% of ship repair workers developed asbestosis, including those who never directly handled asbestos
15 times more likely to die from asbestosis than workers in other occupations (NIOSH)
16% disease rate documented specifically among TASCO workers

Disease Latency

A 2022 South Korean study measuring shipyard exposures found:

Mesothelioma - averaged 33.7 years latency from first exposure
Lung cancer - showed even longer latency at 40.1 years

These extended latency periods explain why workers exposed during TASCO's 1940s peak continue dying today, with cases expected through the 2040s.

Currently, approximately 1,000 shipyard workers and Navy veterans develop mesothelioma annually, with 33% of all cases linked to naval or shipyard exposure.

"The cruel reality is that workers who helped win World War II are still developing fatal diseases 80 years later," explains Larry Gates, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "Florida's ranking as second nationally in mesothelioma cases reflects this legacy."

What Did Companies Know About Asbestos Dangers?

The "Sumner Simpson Papers," dubbed the "Pentagon Papers of the asbestos industry," reveal systematic suppression of medical knowledge:

1898 - British factory inspectors documented asbestos-related respiratory disease
1920s - Multiple medical studies confirmed asbestosis
1935 - Sumner Simpson, president of Raybestos-Manhattan, wrote: "the less said about asbestos, the better off we are"
1943 - Johns Manville suppressed Saranac Laboratory research confirming the asbestos-cancer link

When asked in a 1984 deposition whether he would let workers die to save money, Johns Manville President Lewis Brown testified: "Yes. We save a lot of money that way."

This 50-year gap between medical knowledge and protective action represents one of American industry's greatest moral failures.

How Did Secondary Exposure Affect TASCO Families?

The asbestos catastrophe extended beyond workers to their families through Secondary Exposure. A critical Los Angeles County study of shipyard worker families without occupational exposure found:

11.3% of wives showed radiologic signs of pulmonary asbestos disease
7.6% of sons developed asbestosis signs
2.1% of daughters developed asbestosis signs

Workers unknowingly carried death home on contaminated clothing, with family members facing a 5.02 relative risk for developing mesothelioma.

"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 under Florida law."

What Compensation Is Available for TASCO Workers?

Major Florida Verdicts

Florida courts have awarded significant verdicts:

$32 million - Secondhand exposure case
$21 million - Power company worker Richard Batchelor
$18 million - March 2025 brake dust case

Asbestos Trust Funds

TASCO workers can access seven specific asbestos trust funds with eligibility periods spanning their employment, offering average total payouts of $300,000-$400,000.

VA Benefits

Veterans receive up to $3,831 monthly in disability compensation, with mesothelioma qualifying for 100% disability rating.

Wrongful Death Claims

Families can pursue wrongful death claims under Florida law.

"Workers can pursue multiple compensation sources simultaneously," explains Michelle Whitman, Attorney at Danziger & De Llano. "Trust fund claims can begin paying within 90 days while litigation proceeds."

How Do TASCO Workers File Compensation Claims?

Florida Statute of Limitations

Florida provides a 4-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 TASCO with dates and job titles
Evidence of specific asbestos products encountered
Documentation of vessels or areas worked on
Witness statements from coworkers if available

Multi-Track Strategy

Asbestos bankruptcy trusts - Seven specific trusts available for TASCO workers
Personal injury lawsuits - Target solvent defendants
VA benefits - Veterans receive automatic 100% disability for mesothelioma
Workers' compensation - Longshore Act benefits may apply

What Is Florida's Current Mesothelioma Situation?

Florida ranks second nationally in mesothelioma cases and deaths:

5,125 cases between 1999-2020
3,676 deaths between 1999-2020
237 new cases in 2021 alone (third highest nationally)

The Tampa Bay area, with its concentration of shipyards and industrial sites, bears particular burden from this legacy exposure.

What Is the Current Status of the TASCO Site?

Today's Tampa Ship LLC, acquired by Edison Chouest Offshore in 2008, operates under strict OSHA standards with comprehensive asbestos management programs. The 62-acre facility with four graving docks remains the only commercial shipyard between Pascagoula and Hampton Roads capable of handling vessels up to 900 feet.

Current operations employ 300-500 workers in high-skilled trades, implementing modern safety protocols including asbestos exposure limits of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter—a far cry from the 40-150 fibers that poisoned TASCO workers.

Historical Legacy and Preservation

The DE-766 Slater, one of the 12 Cannon-class destroyer escorts built at TASCO, now serves as a museum ship in Albany, New York—the only destroyer escort preserved in the United States. Visitors can tour the vessel and see firsthand the confined spaces where TASCO workers installed asbestos insulation, providing tangible evidence of the conditions that led to widespread disease. The ship's preservation serves both as a memorial to naval service and an unintentional monument to the occupational hazards that TASCO workers faced.

The transformation of the former TASCO site into Tampa Ship LLC represents both continuity and change. While the 62-acre facility retains its historic role as the only commercial shipyard between Pascagoula and Hampton Roads capable of handling vessels up to 900 feet, modern operations bear little resemblance to the wartime production that exposed thousands to deadly fibers. Strict OSHA standards, comprehensive asbestos management programs, and continuous air monitoring protect current workers from the hazards that their predecessors faced without any knowledge or protection.

Regional Medical Resources

Florida's high incidence of mesothelioma has led to the development of specialized treatment resources throughout the state. The Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa offers comprehensive mesothelioma treatment programs, while the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center provides additional options for TASCO workers and their families. These facilities offer clinical trials and cutting-edge treatments that can extend survival and improve quality of life for mesothelioma patients.

References

Page Author: Michelle Whitman, Attorney, Danziger & De Llano, LLP