Todd Shipyards

Todd Shipyards
America's largest independent shipbuilder (1916-2011)
Location	12+ U.S. facilities
Peak Employment	57,000 (WWII)
Current Status	Bankrupt (1987)
Vessels Built	1,000+ ships
Asbestosis Risk	22x higher
Risk Level	Extreme
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Executive Summary

Todd Shipyards Corporation exposed tens of thousands of workers to deadly asbestos fibers across its century-long operations (1916-2011), operating 12+ major shipyards nationwide from Brooklyn, New York to Seattle, Washington and building over 1,000 vessels while using 24-465 tons of asbestos per ship. Founded through William H. Todd's 1916 acquisition of multiple existing yards, including the historic Erie Basin facility in Brooklyn where the USS Monitor's engines were built, Todd became America's largest independent shipbuilder with facilities spanning both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. During World War II, Todd employed 57,000 workers at peak, building over 1,000 vessels including 45 destroyers, 56 escort carriers, and 208 Liberty ships while repairing 23,000 additional ships, ranking 26th among U.S. corporations in wartime production value.

Workers face devastating health consequences from Todd exposure. Epidemiological studies document a 22-fold increased risk of asbestosis death and 6-fold increased risk of mesothelioma among shipyard workers. Insulators faced fiber concentrations of 2-20 fibers per cubic centimeter—up to 200 times current OSHA limits—while even laborers tasked with cleanup faced the highest exposures among non-specialist trades at 2-10 fibers/cc. The company's 1987 bankruptcy filing demonstrated the massive financial impact of asbestos liabilities, with the company facing almost 500 asbestos claims by 2010 and eventual acquisition by Vigor Industrial for $130 million in 2011.

Multiple compensation pathways remain available for Todd workers. VA benefits provide up to $3,938.58 monthly for mesothelioma, while asbestos trust funds exceeding $30 billion offer average total recoveries of $300,000-$400,000 from multiple trusts. Third-party lawsuits average $1-5 million for mesothelioma cases, with the landmark George Kraemer case resulting in a $10 million award for secondary exposure from a father's work clothes at Todd Seattle during the 1940s. Maritime workers can pursue Jones Act claims if they spent 30%+ time on vessels, accessing full damages without compensation caps.

At a Glance

• 22-fold higher asbestosis death rate — Todd shipyard workers died of asbestosis at 22 times the rate of the general U.S. population, far exceeding the 6-fold increase seen in general manufacturing workers
• 200 times today's legal limit — insulator fiber concentrations at Todd facilities reached 2-20 fibers/cc, compared to OSHA's current permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibers/cc
• Laborers more exposed than electricians — cleanup laborers at Todd inhaled 2-10 fibers/cc from sweeping settled fibers, roughly 5 times the peak exposure documented for electricians in the same yards
• 465 tons per battleship vs. 24 tons per destroyer — Iowa-class battleships built at Todd contained nearly 20 times more asbestos than WWII destroyers, reflecting the scale of exposure across vessel classes
• $10 million for take-home exposure — the Kraemer secondary exposure verdict was roughly 3 times the average mesothelioma jury award, setting a benchmark for household contact cases nationwide
• 4 out of 115 household contacts died — NIOSH documented mesothelioma deaths among family members who never entered a Todd shipyard, a mortality rate far above the expected background incidence
• 90-day trust fund payouts — asbestos bankruptcy trusts typically pay within 90 days of claim approval, compared to 2-4 years for the average mesothelioma trial verdict
• 57,000 workers at peak — Todd's WWII workforce was roughly equal to the entire population of a mid-size American city, all working in asbestos-contaminated environments simultaneously

Key Facts: Todd Shipyards and Asbestos Exposure

Metric	Finding
Years of operation	1916-2011 across 12+ major U.S. facilities
Peak WWII employment	57,000 workers simultaneously, ranked 26th in U.S. wartime production value
Wartime vessel output	1,000+ ships built and 23,000 repaired, including 45 destroyers and 208 Liberty ships
Asbestos per destroyer	24-30 long tons of thermal insulation per WWII destroyer
Asbestos per battleship	Nearly 465 long tons on Iowa-class battleships
Asbestosis mortality risk	Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 2,277 — a 22-fold increase
Mesothelioma mortality risk	SMR of 575 — a 6-fold increase among shipyard workers
Insulator fiber exposure	2-20 fibers/cc — up to 200 times OSHA's current 0.1 f/cc limit
Bankruptcy filing	Chapter 11 on August 17, 1987 due to asbestos liabilities
Landmark verdict	George Kraemer: $10 million for secondary take-home exposure
Trust fund availability	Over $30 billion across 60+ active bankruptcy trusts

What Was Todd Shipyards Corporation?

Todd Shipyards Corporation emerged as America's largest independent shipbuilder through William H. Todd's strategic 1916 acquisition of multiple existing yards, including the historic Erie Basin facility in Brooklyn where the USS Monitor's revolutionary engines were built during the Civil War.

The 12+ Facilities

• Brooklyn, New York (1916-1986)
• Hoboken, New Jersey (1916-1980s)
• Seattle, Washington (1916-present as Vigor)
• Tacoma, Washington (1917-1952)
• Los Angeles, California (1917-1989)
• San Francisco, California (1940-1956)
• Houston, Texas (1941-1987)
• Galveston, Texas (1934-1990)
• New Orleans, Louisiana (1934-1987)

During World War II, Todd employed 57,000 workers at peak, ranking 26th among U.S. corporations in wartime production value.

"Todd Shipyards represents one of the most geographically widespread asbestos exposure events in American history," explains David Foster, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "Workers at facilities from Brooklyn to Seattle all faced similar deadly exposures."

The geographic diversity of Todd's operations created unique challenges for workers seeking compensation, as statutes of limitations and legal requirements vary significantly between states. However, this also means that workers may have options to pursue claims in jurisdictions with more favorable laws, depending on where their exposure occurred and where they currently reside.

Financial pressures mounted through the 1980s, and the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 17, 1987. Vigor Industrial acquired the remnant company for $130 million in 2011, continuing operations at the Seattle facility under modern safety protocols.

What Vessels Did Todd Build?

Todd constructed virtually every class of naval vessel during its operations:

WWII Production

• 45 destroyers - Gleaves, Fletcher, and Gearing-class ships
• 56 escort carriers at Tacoma
• 208 Liberty ships at Houston
• All four Klondike-class destroyer tenders
• Three of four Vulcan-class repair ships

Post-War Production

• 18 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates at Los Angeles
• Coast Guard icebreakers
• Washington State ferries
• Commercial tankers and cargo vessels
• Even Disneyland's Mark Twain riverboat hull (1955)

What Asbestos Products Were Used at Todd Shipyards?

Todd Shipyards used asbestos-containing materials extensively from the 1930s through the early 1980s, with peak usage during World War II when naval specifications mandated asbestos in virtually every ship system.

Scale of Use

• WWII destroyers - 24-30 long tons of thermal insulation per ship
• Iowa-class battleships - nearly 465 long tons

Major Suppliers

• Johns-Manville - $2.5 billion trust
• Owens-Corning - $3.42 billion trust (with Fibreboard)
• Babcock & Wilcox
• Combustion Engineering
• Fibreboard Corporation

Where Asbestos Was Found

Boiler and engine rooms contained the highest concentrations—steam pipe lagging, turbine insulation, valve gaskets, and pump packings. Living quarters proved equally contaminated: steam pipes ran inches above sailors' bunks, mess halls featured asbestos-lined walls and ceilings, and vinyl asbestos floor tiles covered administrative areas.

"The evidence shows that workers applied asbestos through multiple hazardous methods including mixing loose fibers with water to create cement, spray-applying materials to hulls, and mechanically fastening pre-formed blocks," notes Anna Jackson, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano.

Who Faced the Greatest Exposure Risk at Todd?

Highest-Risk Occupations

Insulators faced the highest risks, experiencing fiber concentrations of 2-20 fibers per cubic centimeter—up to 200 times current OSHA limits. A Puget Sound Naval Shipyard study found 21% of pipe coverers showed pulmonary abnormalities, the highest rate among all trades.

Boilermakers and pipefitters formed the second tier, regularly encountering 2-8 fibers/cc in confined boiler compartments. Recent measurements showed boilermaker slag removal operations generated 1.171 fibers/mL—exceeding OSHA's limit by tenfold.

Electricians drilling through asbestos panels encountered 0.5-2 fibers/cc during short-duration peaks.

Welders using asbestos-coated welding rods faced 0.5-3 fibers/cc from coating breakdown.

Laborers tasked with cleanup faced particularly high exposures of 2-10 fibers/cc—the highest among non-specialist trades—as sweeping re-suspended settled fibers.

Even supervisors and inspectors accumulated substantial exposures of 0.01-0.8 fibers/cc through decades of walking through contaminated areas.

What Are the Health Consequences for Todd Workers?

Epidemiological studies of Todd Shipyards workers demonstrate catastrophic health impacts:

• 22-fold increased risk of asbestosis death (SMR 2,277)
• 6-fold increased risk of pleural mesothelioma (SMR 575)
• 54% increased lung cancer risk (SMR 154)
• 22.6% of lung cancer deaths resulted directly from asbestos exposure

Latency Period

Mesothelioma cases show typical latency periods of 34-42.8 years, with some cases emerging over 70 years after initial exposure. The disease remains universally fatal—median survival is 6-18 months without treatment.

Synergistic Smoking Risk

Workers who both smoked and experienced asbestos exposure showed 25-90 times higher lung cancer risk than unexposed non-smokers, following a multiplicative rather than additive model.

"The devastating statistics confirm that Todd Shipyards workers faced some of the highest occupational asbestos exposure risks in American industrial history," explains Paul Danziger, Founding Partner at Danziger & De Llano.

How Did Secondary Exposure Affect Todd Families?

Secondary Exposure created an additional victim population never employed by Todd Shipyards.

The George Kraemer Case

The landmark case exemplifies this tragedy—exposed as a toddler to asbestos on his father's work clothes from Todd Seattle (1941-1945), George Kraemer developed mesothelioma in 2021 at age 79 and received a $10 million award against Lone Star Industries.

Family Studies

Los Angeles County studies documented:

• 11% of shipyard workers' wives showed asbestos-related lung changes
• 7.6% of sons showed changes from household exposure

NIOSH documented four deaths from pleural mesothelioma among 115 household contacts studied, demonstrating that family members faced measurable mortality risk despite never entering a shipyard.

"We've represented numerous family members who developed mesothelioma from secondary exposure," notes Yvette Abrego, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "These cases are fully compensable."

What Did Todd Know About Asbestos Dangers?

Todd Shipyards operated with knowledge of asbestos dangers that the broader industry possessed by the 1940s-1950s, yet continued extensive use through the 1970s:

• 1930 - UK Parliament report conclusively connected asbestos to lung disease
• 1940s - U.S. Navy correspondence acknowledged health risks
• 1950s-1960s - Medical experts issued specific warnings about shipyard dangers

Despite this evidence, Todd provided:

• No warning labels
• No respiratory protection
• No training programs
• No decontamination procedures

OSHA documented four citations between 1973 and 1993 for violations of asbestos guidelines, demonstrating workers continued facing dangerous exposures years after regulations became mandatory.

What Compensation Is Available for Todd Workers?

VA Benefits

Veterans exposed on Todd-built vessels can access:

• $3,938.58 monthly for mesothelioma (100% rating)
• Additional amounts for dependents
• Free VA medical care at specialized treatment centers
• Aid & Attendance benefits

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

Over $30 billion available across 60+ active trusts. Key trusts for Todd workers include:

• Johns Manville - $2.5 billion
• Owens Corning/Fibreboard - $3.42 billion
• U.S. Gypsum - $3.96 billion
• Armstrong World Industries - $2.1 billion

Average total recoveries from multiple trusts range from $300,000-$400,000, with high-end cases reaching $1-2.4 million.

Third-Party Lawsuits

• Mesothelioma verdicts average $1-5 million
• Lung cancer settlements reach $500,000-$2 million
• Asbestosis claims settle for $100,000-$500,000

Maritime workers can pursue Jones Act claims if they spent 30%+ time on vessels, accessing full damages without compensation caps.

"Workers can pursue multiple compensation sources simultaneously," explains Rod De Llano, Founding Partner at Danziger & De Llano. "Trust fund claims can pay within 90 days while litigation proceeds."

Do Todd-Built Vessels Still Pose Exposure Risks?

Yes. Todd-built vessels continue creating asbestos exposure risks, with ships constructed before 1983 still containing original asbestos materials.

High-Risk Vessels

• Older aircraft carriers
• Destroyers and frigates built 1940s-1970s
• Support vessels
• Submarines with extensive engine room insulation

Current At-Risk Workers

• Ship repair and maintenance workers
• Navy boiler technicians, hull maintenance technicians, machinist's mates
• Demolition and shipbreaking workers
• Museum ship maintenance volunteers

Museum ships like the USS Intrepid in New York contain significant asbestos materials requiring special protocols.

Asbestos Management in Museum Ships

The preservation of Todd-built vessels as museum ships creates ongoing challenges for managing legacy asbestos contamination. These ships, constructed during eras when asbestos was mandatory in naval specifications, contain original insulation materials that pose risks to maintenance workers, volunteers, and potentially visitors if disturbed. Museum operators must balance historical preservation with modern safety requirements, often at considerable expense.

The USS Intrepid, maintained as a museum on the Hudson River in New York City, exemplifies these challenges. The aircraft carrier's extensive asbestos materials require continuous monitoring and periodic abatement when deterioration occurs. Similar challenges face the SS Lane Victory in San Pedro and the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in San Francisco—both Liberty ships that contain original asbestos insulation from their 1940s construction.

Geographic Diversity of Todd Claims

The nationwide distribution of Todd facilities means that workers from coast to coast faced similar exposures but may pursue claims under different state laws. Each state where Todd operated has its own statute of limitations, procedural requirements, and legal precedents that affect compensation outcomes. This geographic complexity requires experienced legal counsel who understand the variations between jurisdictions and can identify the most advantageous venue for each worker's specific situation.

Workers who transferred between Todd facilities—a common practice during the company's century of operations—may have exposure claims spanning multiple states. These multi-state exposure histories can strengthen claims by demonstrating consistent exposure patterns across facilities while also creating opportunities to pursue claims in jurisdictions with more favorable laws.

How Do Todd Workers File Compensation Claims?

Statutes of Limitations

Vary by state where exposure occurred or where worker resides. Most states provide 2-3 years from diagnosis.

Required Documentation

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

Multi-Track Strategy

1. VA benefits - No statute of limitations for veterans
2. Asbestos bankruptcy trusts - 60+ trusts available
3. Third-party lawsuits - Against solvent manufacturers
4. Jones Act claims - For maritime workers (30%+ time on vessels)
5. Longshore Act benefits - For dock workers and shipyard employees

"Time is critical in asbestos cases," emphasizes Larry Gates, Client Advocate at Danziger & De Llano. "Strict statutes of limitations require immediate action upon diagnosis."

The combination of VA benefits, multiple trust fund claims, and potential lawsuits means that Todd workers can pursue comprehensive compensation through multiple channels simultaneously. Trust fund claims often pay within 90 days, providing immediate financial relief while longer-term litigation proceeds. Veterans additionally benefit from VA's recognition that shipyard workers faced significant asbestos exposure, which can support disability claims.

Families of deceased Todd workers can pursue wrongful death claims, which often result in substantial compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and the loss of companionship. These claims remain available even after the worker's death, providing a pathway for surviving spouses and children to receive compensation for their loved one's exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after working at Todd Shipyards can mesothelioma develop?

Mesothelioma typically develops 20 to 50 years after the first asbestos exposure, with the average latency period for shipyard workers documented at 34 to 42.8 years. Cases have been diagnosed more than 70 years after initial exposure at Todd facilities. There is no safe minimum exposure threshold — even brief work at a Todd yard during asbestos-intensive operations could lead to a diagnosis decades later.

Can family members of Todd workers file asbestos claims?

Yes. Family members who were exposed to asbestos fibers carried home on workers' clothing, skin, and hair can file their own independent claims. The George Kraemer case established a $10 million benchmark for secondary exposure from a Todd Seattle worker's contaminated clothing during the 1940s. Spouses, children, and other household members who developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases from take-home fibers have the same legal rights as directly exposed workers.

What compensation is available for veterans who served on Todd-built ships?

Veterans can pursue multiple compensation sources including VA disability benefits up to $3,938.58 per month for mesothelioma at 100% disability rating, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving spouses, asbestos bankruptcy trust fund claims averaging $300,000-$400,000 in total recoveries, and third-party lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers. VA claims have no statute of limitations and qualify for expedited processing.

Is Todd Shipyards still liable for asbestos exposure claims?

Todd Shipyards filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1987, and claims against Todd directly are addressed through the bankruptcy process. However, workers retain the right to file claims against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at Todd facilities — companies like Johns-Manville, Owens-Corning, and others — many of which have established multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy trusts specifically for these claims.

How much asbestos was in ships built at Todd Shipyards?

The amount varied dramatically by vessel class. WWII-era destroyers contained 24-30 long tons of asbestos insulation, while Iowa-class battleships carried nearly 465 long tons — roughly 20 times more. Asbestos was used in pipe insulation, boiler lagging, turbine wrapping, gaskets, valve packing, deck tiles, and bulkhead panels throughout the ships.

What are the first steps after a mesothelioma diagnosis for a former Todd worker?

Former Todd workers diagnosed with mesothelioma should immediately consult an experienced asbestos attorney to protect their legal rights before any statute of limitations expires. They should gather employment records, military service documentation, and medical records while filing for VA disability benefits if they are veterans. An attorney experienced with shipyard cases can identify all applicable trust funds and initiate multiple claims simultaneously to maximize total compensation.

Do current workers at the former Todd Seattle site face asbestos risks?

Vigor Industrial, which acquired Todd's Seattle facility in 2011, operates under modern OSHA safety protocols that include asbestos monitoring, personal protective equipment, and regulated work areas. However, workers performing maintenance, renovation, or demolition in older sections of the facility may still encounter legacy asbestos materials installed during earlier decades. These workers are protected by current federal regulations requiring proper abatement procedures.

Can I file a claim if I do not remember which asbestos products were used at Todd?

Yes. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys maintain detailed databases of which asbestos products were used at specific Todd facilities during specific time periods. Employment records, union documents, co-worker testimony, and product identification databases can establish the specific products a worker encountered even decades after exposure occurred. The burden of product identification typically falls on the legal team, not the individual claimant.

Quick Statistics

• Todd's 12+ facilities spanned 6 U.S. states across three coastlines — Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf — making it one of the most geographically distributed asbestos exposure sources in American history
• Ship repair operations at Todd exposed workers to pre-existing asbestos insulation aboard 23,000 vessels serviced during WWII alone, in addition to new-construction exposure
• OSHA's current permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibers/cc was not enacted until 1994 — decades after the heaviest exposures at Todd facilities had already occurred
• The multiplicative smoking-asbestos interaction means Todd workers who also smoked faced up to 90 times the lung cancer risk of unexposed non-smokers
• Todd's 1987 bankruptcy filing was one of hundreds in the asbestos industry, contributing to the creation of a trust fund system now holding over $30 billion for victim compensation
• 21% of pipe coverers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard — which served alongside Todd's nearby Seattle yard — showed pulmonary abnormalities on radiographic screening
• Los Angeles County health studies found measurable lung changes in 11% of shipyard workers' wives and 7.6% of their sons from household asbestos exposure
• The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act provides an additional federal compensation pathway for Todd dock workers and shipyard employees who do not qualify under the Jones Act
• Todd built vessels for both the U.S. Navy and commercial shipping lines, meaning both military veterans and civilian maritime workers carry exposure risk from the same facilities

Get Help

If you or a loved one worked at Todd Shipyards and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, experienced attorneys can help you explore your legal options.

• Free Case Evaluation — Contact Danziger & De Llano or call (855) 699-5441
• Find a Mesothelioma Attorney — Mesothelioma Lawyers Near Me
• Patient Resources — Mesothelioma.net

Related Pages

• Shipyard Exposure Index — Complete database of documented naval and commercial shipyard exposure sites across the United States
• Kaiser Shipyards — Another major WWII-era shipbuilder with extensive asbestos use in Liberty ship production
• Fore River Shipyard — Quincy, Massachusetts shipyard with documented high-risk asbestos exposure
• Avondale Shipyard — New Orleans shipyard with similar Gulf Coast exposure patterns to Todd's facilities
• Insulation Workers — The highest-risk occupation at Todd and other shipyards, facing up to 200 times OSHA limits
• Boilermakers — Second-tier exposure risk from confined boiler compartment work at Todd facilities
• Secondary Exposure — Take-home asbestos exposure affecting family members of Todd workers
• Asbestos Trust Funds — Overview of 60+ active bankruptcy trusts with $30+ billion available for compensation
• Veterans Benefits — VA disability benefits and healthcare programs for veterans exposed on Todd-built ships
• Statute of Limitations by State — Filing deadline guide relevant to Todd workers across multiple state jurisdictions

See Also

• New York Shipbuilding
• Bethlehem Shipbuilding
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
• Navy Ships Asbestos Database
• Electricians and Asbestos Exposure
• Welders and Asbestos Exposure
• Plumbers and Pipefitters

References

Page Author: David Foster, Client Advocate, Danziger & De Llano, LLP