Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Mare Island Naval Shipyard
America's First Pacific Coast Naval Facility
Location	Vallejo, California
Operational Period	1854–1996 (142 years)
Peak Employment	46,000 workers (WWII)
Total Workers Exposed	200,000+ (estimated)
Vessels Built	513+ documented ships
Nuclear Submarines	17 constructed
Asbestos Products	300+ different types
Mesothelioma Cases	3,000+ documented
Site Status	EPA Superfund site
VA Disability Rating	100% for mesothelioma
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Mare Island Naval Shipyard: 200,000 Workers Exposed to Asbestos Over 142 Years of Naval Operations

Executive Summary

Mare Island Naval Shipyard operated as America's first Pacific Coast naval installation from 1854 to 1996, building over 513 vessels while exposing approximately 200,000 workers to deadly asbestos-containing materials. During World War II, the facility reached peak employment of 46,000 direct workers and supervised an additional 40,000 contractors at 28 private Bay Area facilities, producing 391 vessels including 17 submarines that achieved nine of the Navy's top 25 submarine scoring records. Workers handled over 300 different asbestos products daily in conditions that created fiber concentrations reaching 2-10 fibers per cubic centimeter in engine rooms—levels 20 to 100 times higher than current safety standards of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter.

The shipyard's asbestos exposure legacy represents one of the most significant occupational health disasters in American history, with epidemiological studies documenting mesothelioma rates 500-700% higher than national averages among Mare Island workers. According to Danziger & De Llano case records, approximately 3,000 mesothelioma cases have been documented from Mare Island exposures, with projections estimating 500-700 additional cases will develop through 2040 due to the disease's extended 20-50 year latency period. Workers exposed during the 1970s nuclear submarine program are only now developing symptoms, creating an ongoing public health crisis that continues claiming lives decades after the facility's closure.

The facility's transition from conventional to nuclear submarine construction created uniquely hazardous conditions, as workers installed extensive asbestos insulation in confined submarine compartments where ventilation was severely limited. Mare Island launched the West Coast's first nuclear submarine, USS Sargo (SSN-583), in 1957 and ultimately constructed 17 nuclear submarines through 1970, including Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarines carrying Polaris nuclear weapons. Despite advanced technology, these vessels contained the same hazardous asbestos materials used since the 1930s, with workers describing visibility reduced to mere feet from asbestos dust while crawling through narrow passages to install insulation around reactor compartments.

Mare Island veterans and civilian workers diagnosed with mesothelioma have access to multiple compensation pathways including VA disability benefits providing $3,831.30 monthly minimum for 100% ratings, claims against 60+ asbestos bankruptcy trusts holding over $30 billion, and civil litigation against solvent manufacturers that have produced verdicts exceeding $20 million. California's one-year statute of limitations from diagnosis demands immediate action, but the extensive documentation of Mare Island's asbestos use—from procurement records to military specifications—provides strong evidence supporting claims for workers and their families seeking justice decades after exposure occurred.

Key Facts

Key Facts: Mare Island Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure

Operational Period: 1854-1996 (142 years of continuous operation as America's first Pacific naval facility) Peak Employment: 46,000 direct workers during World War II, plus 40,000 contractors at 28 Bay Area facilities Total Workers Potentially Exposed: 200,000+ over the facility's operational lifetime Total Vessels Built: 513+ documented ships including 17 nuclear submarines and the only West Coast dreadnought battleship Asbestos Products Used: 300+ different materials from dozens of manufacturers including Pittsburgh Corning, Johns-Manville, and Owens Corning Mesothelioma Cases: 3,000+ documented cases, with 500-700 additional cases projected through 2040 Exposure Levels: 2-10 fibers per cubic centimeter in engine rooms (20-100 times current permissible limits) Latency Period: 20-50 years between exposure and disease development VA Disability Rating: 100% automatic rating for mesothelioma ($3,831.30/month minimum in 2025) Trust Funds Available: 20+ manufacturers with active trust funds totaling over $30 billion Site Status: EPA Superfund designation in 1993; remediation cost exceeding $300 million

What Made Mare Island Naval Shipyard Strategically Important?

Commander David Glasgow Farragut established Mare Island Naval Shipyard on September 16, 1854, creating the United States Navy's first Pacific installation following the strategic imperative created by the Mexican-American War and the California Gold Rush. The Navy purchased 956 acres for $83,491 on January 4, 1853, recognizing that American commercial and military interests required a West Coast facility capable of building and repairing vessels without the months-long journey around Cape Horn. The shipyard launched its first warship, USS Saginaw, on March 3, 1859, demonstrating immediate capability for complex naval construction despite frontier conditions.

The facility's granite Dry Dock No. 1, completed in 1891 after 19 years of construction, represents one of the most remarkable examples of stone masonry construction in United States history. Workers carved the 508-foot structure from solid rock, lining it with granite blocks from California quarries. This engineering marvel provided repair capabilities that proved essential during both world wars, when rapid vessel turnaround determined Pacific theater success. Mare Island's strategic value increased dramatically following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when the shipyard provided critical support for disaster relief while maintaining naval operations.

ℹ️ Historic Significance: Mare Island built the only dreadnought battleship constructed on the West Coast—USS California (BB-44). When launched on November 21, 1919, the 32,300-ton vessel generated such force that restraining cables snapped, sending the battleship crashing into Vallejo's Georgia Street Pier.

What World War Records Did Mare Island Set?

World War I transformed Mare Island into an industrial powerhouse achieving unprecedented construction speed that established records standing for over a century. The shipyard built USS Ward in just 17.5 days—from keel laying May 15, 1918, to launching June 1, 1918—establishing a destroyer construction record that remains unbroken. This achievement required workforce expansion that introduced thousands of workers to asbestos hazards as the shipyard constructed nine destroyers between 1916 and 1919 while simultaneously building smaller vessels and performing repairs. Mare Island pioneered prefabrication techniques using modular sections that reduced construction time dramatically, innovations adopted by shipyards nationwide.

World War II marked Mare Island's production zenith and most severe asbestos exposure period. Employment exploded from several thousand to 46,000 direct workers, with the shipyard supervising an additional 40,000 contractors at 28 private Bay Area facilities including Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard across the bay. This massive workforce built 391 vessels including 17 submarines, four submarine tenders, 31 destroyer escorts, and over 300 landing craft. According to research from Mesothelioma Lawyer Center, production efficiency reached extraordinary levels with destroyer escorts launching every 10 days and landing craft completing daily.

"The patterns we observe in Mare Island cases reflect the relentless wartime production schedules that prioritized speed over safety. Workers were exposed to massive quantities of asbestos materials in conditions that would be unthinkable today—and companies knew about the dangers but chose not to warn workers."

— Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

The wartime motto "Can They Do It? Yes They Can!" drove production schedules that required massive asbestos quantities—aircraft carriers needed up to 300 tons of thermal insulation while destroyers required approximately 22 tons each. The submarine construction program achieved remarkable success, with nine of the Navy's top 25 scoring submarines emerging from Mare Island's ways, including USS Tang and USS Wahoo. Workers installed Pittsburgh Corning's Unibestos containing 90% amosite asbestos throughout submarine compartments without respiratory protection, creating exposure conditions that would affect workers and their families for generations.

How Did Nuclear Submarine Construction Intensify Asbestos Exposure?

Mare Island entered the nuclear age launching USS Sargo (SSN-583) on October 10, 1957, as the West Coast's first nuclear submarine. The shipyard established a Nuclear Power School in 1959 and ultimately constructed 17 nuclear submarines through 1970, including Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarines carrying Polaris nuclear weapons. Despite advanced technology, these submarines contained the same hazardous asbestos materials used since the 1930s. USS Drum (SSN-677), launched May 23, 1970, became Mare Island's 513th and final newly constructed vessel, marking the end of an era that had exposed generations of workers to deadly fibers.

The nuclear program required extensive asbestos use for insulating reactor compartments, steam systems, and auxiliary equipment. Workers faced dual hazards from radiation and asbestos exposure, creating complex health impacts that continue affecting Navy veterans today. The combination of confined submarine spaces and poor ventilation intensified fiber concentrations dramatically. As documented by Mesothelioma.net, some compartments recorded exposure levels exceeding 10 fibers per cubic centimeter—100 times higher than current permissible limits of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter.

Workers described crawling through narrow passages while asbestos dust reduced visibility to inches. The specialized training required for nuclear submarine work meant that skilled Insulation Workers, Pipefitters, and Electricians spent extended periods in these confined spaces, accumulating exposure doses far exceeding those in conventional shipbuilding. The nuclear submarine program employed many of the same workers who had been exposed during World War II, compounding their lifetime exposure burden.

Which Work Areas Created the Highest Asbestos Exposure Risk?

Mare Island's asbestos contamination pervaded virtually every workspace, but certain areas created extreme exposure conditions that placed specific trades at dramatically elevated risk. Engine rooms and boiler spaces recorded the highest fiber concentrations, with temperatures exceeding 120°F forcing workers to remove protective equipment even when it was available. Dry dock operations exposed workers to clouds of asbestos dust during ship overhauls, when removing old insulation released millions of accumulated fibers that had deteriorated over years of naval service. Machine shops generated airborne asbestos while cutting gaskets and grinding equipment coated with settled dust from decades of contamination.

Submarine construction created uniquely hazardous conditions due to confined spaces limiting ventilation. Workers installing insulation in submarine compartments described visibility reduced to mere feet from asbestos dust, with no means of escape from the contaminated air. Administrative buildings weren't immune—asbestos ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and pipe insulation exposed office workers to lower but chronic fiber levels that accumulated over years of employment. Even outdoor areas contained contamination from waste disposal and material transport, meaning no Mare Island worker could entirely escape exposure.

⚠️ Exposure Warning: Secondary exposure affected thousands of Mare Island family members. Workers carried deadly fibers home on clothing, hair, and tools before the late 1960s when the shipyard lacked changing facilities or protective equipment. Studies document that 11% of shipyard workers' wives developed lung abnormalities from laundering contaminated work clothes.

Which Occupations Faced the Highest Mesothelioma Risk at Mare Island?

Insulators and laggers faced the most intense exposures at Mare Island, routinely handling raw asbestos materials without protection. These workers mixed asbestos mud for trowel application, cut preformed blocks, and removed deteriorated insulation during overhauls. Studies show 86% of insulators working more than 20 years developed asbestos-related diseases, with exposure levels reaching 100 times higher than current permissible limits.

Pipefitters encountered daily exposure installing and maintaining miles of piping throughout vessels. They cut through asbestos-wrapped pipes, installed new systems with mandatory asbestos insulation, and handled gaskets containing 80% chrysotile asbestos. Boilermakers worked in the most confined spaces removing and installing insulation around Foster Wheeler and Babcock & Wilcox boilers, where temperatures and dust concentrations created conditions that accelerated disease development.

Electricians stripped asbestos insulation from thousands of feet of cable while installing components containing asbestos-reinforced materials throughout every vessel. Welders used asbestos blankets and gloves daily while working adjacent to insulated pipes, breathing fibers released by adjacent trades. Machinists faced multiple exposure sources—machining gaskets, working near insulation removal, and breathing settled dust on equipment that had accumulated over decades. Even peripheral trades like painters and carpenters developed mesothelioma from ambient contamination that pervaded every workspace.

"In our experience representing Mare Island workers, we've observed that exposure often occurred in conditions where ventilation was poor and protective equipment was rarely provided. The internal documents consistently reveal that companies knew about these dangers but chose not to warn workers or provide basic safety measures."

— Rod De Llano, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano

What Asbestos Products Were Used at Mare Island Naval Shipyard?

Mare Island procurement records document over 300 asbestos-containing products from dozens of manufacturers, creating extensive liability chains for compensation claims. Pittsburgh Corning's Unibestos dominated submarine insulation, containing up to 90% amosite asbestos—the most dangerous fiber type for causing mesothelioma. Metalclad Insulation Corporation brokered massive Unibestos deliveries specifically for Mare Island nuclear submarines including USS Drum, USS Pintado, and USS Hawkbill through 1968.

Johns-Manville supplied extensive product lines including Marinite boards, Transite pipes, and multiple insulation types containing 15-100% asbestos. Owens Corning Kaylo products contained 20% asbestos and covered miles of steam pipes throughout vessels built at the facility. Celotex Corporation's Careytemp, National Gypsum's Gold Bond, and Eagle-Picher's Super 66 rounded out major insulation suppliers. Research documented by Mesothelioma.net confirms these companies knew about asbestos dangers by the 1930s according to internal documents, yet continued sales without warnings through the 1970s.

Beyond insulation, Mare Island used thousands of asbestos-containing mechanical components creating additional exposure sources. John Crane Company supplied pump and valve packing containing 80-90% chrysotile asbestos, with mechanics handling these materials during every equipment overhaul. Garlock Sealing Technologies provided gaskets for flanges, manholes, and handholes throughout ship systems. Valve manufacturers including Crane Company, William Powell Company, and Jenkins Brothers incorporated asbestos in packing, gaskets, and bonnet insulation. Westinghouse Electric and General Electric supplied turbines and generators with extensive asbestos insulation, while Combustion Engineering and Foster Wheeler boilers contained asbestos insulation, refractory materials, and gaskets that appeared in every ship system from main propulsion to galley equipment.

How Do Military Specifications Strengthen Mare Island Compensation Claims?

Military specifications mandated asbestos use in hundreds of applications through the 1970s, creating critical evidence for compensation claims. MIL-I-2819 required asbestos pipe insulation, MIL-B-9974 mandated asbestos in boiler insulation, and MIL-P-14509 specified asbestos packing materials throughout naval vessels. These specifications left contractors no choice but using asbestos products, shifting liability to manufacturers who could have developed safer alternatives but chose not to.

The Navy's 1947 Safety Review acknowledged asbestos health risks, yet specifications continued requiring its use for decades. A 1952 memorandum considered discontinuing amosite stockpiling but concluded "substantial quantities" remained necessary for shipbuilding. This documented awareness coupled with continued mandated use strengthens legal arguments that the government and manufacturers conspired maintaining dangerous exposures despite known risks. As attorneys at Danziger & De Llano have documented, veterans can use these specifications proving exposure occurred and establishing manufacturer liability for compensation claims.

What Health Impacts Affect Mare Island Workers and Families?

Mare Island workers show mesothelioma rates exceeding national averages by 500-700%, with approximately 3,000 documented cases and hundreds more suspected but undiagnosed. Insulators developed disease at 30 times the general population rate, while pipefitters showed 10 times higher incidence. The shipyard's unique exposure patterns—combining multiple asbestos types with confined spaces and poor ventilation—created particularly aggressive disease development.

Epidemiological studies tracking 14,000 Mare Island workers from 1960-1990 found 147 mesothelioma deaths versus 18 expected, representing an 8-fold increase. Lung cancer rates doubled among workers with over 10 years employment, while asbestosis affected 20% of workers examined in retirement medical screenings. These statistics likely underestimate true disease burden since many workers moved away after shipyard closure, dying in other states where connections to Mare Island exposure went unrecorded. Current projections estimate 500-700 additional mesothelioma cases will develop among Mare Island workers and families through 2040.

How Does Secondary Exposure Affect Mare Island Families?

Mare Island's asbestos hazard extended beyond shipyard gates through secondary exposure affecting thousands of family members. Workers carried deadly fibers home on clothing, hair, and tools before the late 1960s when Mare Island lacked changing facilities or protective equipment. Studies document that 11% of shipyard workers' wives developed lung abnormalities from laundering contaminated work clothes. Children faced exposure through physical contact with returning parents and by playing with or near contaminated items.

Studies from Los Angeles County found 2-7% of children in affected families developed asbestosis from household contact. These family exposures resulted in mesothelioma cases diagnosed decades later, with courts recognizing secondary exposure claims and awarding significant settlements. The latency period for secondary exposure matches occupational cases—20 to 50 years—meaning family members continue developing diseases today from 1960s-1970s exposures. Recent verdicts have awarded millions to family members, recognizing that companies knew about take-home exposure risks but failed to warn workers or provide protective measures.

What Compensation Options Exist for Mare Island Veterans and Workers?

Veterans Administration Benefits

Mare Island veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma automatically qualify for 100% VA disability rating, providing $3,831.30 monthly for single veterans or $4,044.91 for married veterans in 2025. These tax-free benefits include additional allowances for dependents and Aid & Attendance for veterans requiring caregivers. VA benefits include comprehensive medical care through the VA healthcare system, with access to specialized treatment centers and clinical trials. Veterans receive priority enrollment and no-cost treatment for asbestos-related conditions.

Surviving spouses qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) of $1,562.74 monthly, with additional allowances for dependent children. The VA presumes asbestos exposure for veterans who served at Mare Island, eliminating the need to prove specific exposure incidents. Claims require Form 21-526EZ with medical evidence confirming mesothelioma diagnosis and a physician's nexus statement linking disease to military service. Processing typically takes 140 days but can be expedited for terminal diagnoses through the Fully Developed Claim program.

✓ Good News for Veterans: Mesothelioma qualifies for presumptive service connection. The VA assumes your cancer is service-related without requiring you to prove specific exposure incidents at Mare Island. This significantly simplifies the claims process.

Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

Over 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for victims, with most Mare Island workers qualifying for claims against 20 or more trusts based on documented product exposures. According to Danziger & De Llano case data, trust fund compensation averages $143,000 per trust, with some paying over $500,000 for mesothelioma claims. Pittsburgh Corning's trust specifically covers Unibestos exposure at Mare Island, while Johns-Manville's $2.5 billion trust remains the largest compensation source.

Trust claims require proving exposure to specific products, which Mare Island's detailed procurement records facilitate. Workers typically file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously since each manufacturer bears proportional liability. The process involves submitting medical records, employment verification, and exposure affidavits. Most trusts pay within 90 days using scheduled values or individual review for higher awards. Trust payments don't prevent pursuing litigation against solvent companies, allowing victims to maximize compensation through multiple sources.

Civil Litigation Options

Beyond trust funds, Mare Island workers can pursue litigation against solvent companies that supplied asbestos products. Mesothelioma lawsuit values average $1 million to $1.4 million in settlements, with trial verdicts occasionally exceeding $25 million. California's one-year statute of limitations from diagnosis demands immediate action, but most cases settle within 12-18 months without trial. Defendants include equipment manufacturers like Westinghouse and General Electric who incorporated asbestos in turbines and electrical components sold to Mare Island.

Government contractor defense protects the Navy and shipyard from direct liability, but manufacturers remain liable for failing to warn about known dangers. Recent California verdicts against valve and pump manufacturers exceeded $20 million, recognizing these companies knew about asbestos risks but prioritized profits over worker safety. Litigation allows discovery of internal documents proving corporate knowledge and cover-ups, strengthening both individual cases and future claims.

"We've helped many families navigate the complex process of pursuing compensation from multiple sources simultaneously. Trust funds, VA benefits, and litigation against manufacturers are all available—and pursuing one doesn't prevent you from pursuing the others."

— David Foster, Client Advocate, Danziger & De Llano

How Does Mare Island Compare to Other Naval Shipyards?

Mare Island's asbestos exposure patterns mirror those at other West Coast naval facilities, providing comparative data strengthening compensation claims. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington showed similar mesothelioma rates among nuclear submarine workers, with 68% of long-term workers developing lung abnormalities. Long Beach Naval Shipyard's 1977 study of 6,640 workers found 38% of workers over age 65 had developed asbestos-related abnormalities, rates comparable to Mare Island's statistics.

Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco, operating simultaneously with Mare Island, showed identical exposure patterns with workers often transferring between facilities. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard demonstrates how tropical climates accelerated asbestos deterioration, increasing airborne fiber levels. These parallel exposure patterns across West Coast shipyards establish industry-wide hazards, preventing defendants from arguing Mare Island represented an isolated problem.

East Coast shipyards provide additional comparative data validating Mare Island exposure patterns. Brooklyn Navy Yard employed 75,000 workers during World War II with exposure conditions matching Mare Island's intensity. Dr. Irving Selikoff's landmark study there found 11% of workers' wives showed radiographic evidence of asbestos disease from household exposure, rates identical to Mare Island family studies. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard specialized in submarine construction like Mare Island, with workers showing comparable disease rates decades later. Norfolk Naval Shipyard's finding that 79% of long-term workers showed lung abnormalities suggests Mare Island workers face similar undiagnosed disease burdens.

What Is Mare Island's Current Environmental Status?

Mare Island earned EPA Superfund designation in 1993 due to extensive contamination including asbestos, heavy metals, and chemical wastes across its 5,200 acres. Environmental remediation required removing hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated soil and demolishing asbestos-laden buildings. The cleanup, costing over $300 million, addressed 35 separate contamination sites while preserving historic structures. Dry Dock No. 1, now a National Historic Landmark, required careful asbestos abatement while maintaining its granite structure.

Ongoing monitoring continues detecting asbestos fibers in soil and groundwater, requiring permanent use restrictions on certain areas. The 2012 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award recognized Mare Island's successful remediation, though long-term surveillance continues. Former industrial areas where shipbuilding occurred show the highest residual contamination, with warning signs and fencing preventing public access. Environmental cleanup records provide valuable evidence for exposure claims, documenting specific contamination levels in work areas where veterans served.

The Mare Island Museum preserves shipyard history including records valuable for documenting asbestos exposure. Archived procurement documents, ship construction records, and employment files help veterans establish exposure for compensation claims. Former workers regularly visit the museum sharing stories and identifying exposure locations, creating oral histories supplementing official records.

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Related Wiki Articles

Shipyards and Naval Facilities:

• Norfolk Naval Shipyard – East Coast's largest naval shipyard with similar exposure patterns
• Brooklyn Navy Yard – 75,000 WWII workers exposed to asbestos
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard – Submarine construction specialist
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard – West Coast nuclear submarine hub
• Long Beach Naval Shipyard – California naval repair facility
• Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard – Pacific Fleet maintenance center
• Charleston Naval Shipyard – Southeast submarine operations

High-Risk Occupations:

• Insulation Workers – Highest mesothelioma risk occupation
• Boilermakers – Confined space exposure patterns
• Pipefitters – Asbestos gasket and packing exposure
• Electricians – Wire insulation and component exposure
• Marine Engineering Workers – Comprehensive shipboard exposure
• Welders – Heat blanket and adjacent trade exposure

Compensation Resources:

• Asbestos Trust Funds – $30+ billion available from 60+ trusts
• Veterans Benefits – VA disability claims and healthcare
• Mesothelioma Claim Process – Step-by-step filing guide
• Statute of Limitations – Filing deadlines by state

Medical Resources:

• Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis – What to expect after diagnosis
• Mesothelioma Treatment Options – Current therapies and clinical trials