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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Shipyard !! Location !! Peak Employment !! Operational Period !! Profile
! Shipyard !! Location !! Peak Employment !! Operational Period
|-
|-
| '''Brooklyn Navy Yard''' || Brooklyn, NY || 70,000 (1944) || 1801-1966 || [[Brooklyn Navy Yard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Brooklyn Navy Yard]]''' || Brooklyn, NY || 70,000 (1944) || 1801-1966
|-
|-
| '''Boston Naval Shipyard''' || Boston, MA || 50,000 (1943) || 1800-1974 || [[Boston Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Boston Naval Shipyard]]''' || Boston, MA || 50,000 (1943) || 1800-1974
|-
|-
| '''Charleston Naval Shipyard''' || Charleston, SC || 26,000 (1943) || 1901-1996 || [[Charleston Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Charleston Naval Shipyard]]''' || Charleston, SC || 26,000 (1943) || 1901-1996
|-
|-
| '''Hunters Point Naval Shipyard''' || San Francisco, CA || 18,000 (1945) || 1941-1974 || [[Hunters Point Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Hunters Point Naval Shipyard]]''' || San Francisco, CA || 18,000 (1945) || 1941-1974
|-
|-
| '''Long Beach Naval Shipyard''' || Long Beach, CA || 8,000 || 1943-1997 || [[Long Beach Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Long Beach Naval Shipyard]]''' || Long Beach, CA || 8,000 || 1943-1997
|-
|-
| '''Mare Island Naval Shipyard''' || Vallejo, CA || 46,000 (1945) || 1854-1996 || [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]]''' || Vallejo, CA || 46,000 (1945) || 1854-1996
|-
|-
| '''Norfolk Naval Shipyard''' || Portsmouth, VA || 43,000 (1943) || 1767-Present || [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]]''' || Portsmouth, VA || 43,000 (1943) || 1767-Present
|-
|-
| '''Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard''' || Honolulu, HI || 24,000 (1944) || 1908-Present || [[Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard]]''' || Honolulu, HI || 24,000 (1944) || 1908-Present
|-
|-
| '''Philadelphia Naval Shipyard''' || Philadelphia, PA || 40,000 (1944) || 1801-1996 || [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]''' || Philadelphia, PA || 40,000 (1944) || 1801-1996
|-
|-
| '''Portsmouth Naval Shipyard''' || Kittery, ME || 25,000 (1943) || 1800-Present || [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]]''' || Kittery, ME || 25,000 (1943) || 1800-Present
|-
|-
| '''Puget Sound Naval Shipyard''' || Bremerton, WA || 32,000 (1945) || 1891-Present || [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]]''' || Bremerton, WA || 32,000 (1945) || 1891-Present
|-
|-
| '''Washington Navy Yard''' || Washington, DC || Historic || 1799-Present || [[Washington Navy Yard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Washington Navy Yard]]''' || Washington, DC || Historic || 1799-Present
|-
|-
| '''Newport News Shipbuilding''' || Newport News, VA || 31,000 || 1886-Present || [[Newport News Shipbuilding|View Profile]]
| '''[[Newport News Shipbuilding]]''' || Newport News, VA || 31,000 || 1886-Present
|}
|}


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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
|-
! Shipyard !! Location !! Notable Production !! Profile
! Shipyard !! Location !! Notable Production
|-
|-
| '''Kaiser Shipyards''' || Richmond, Portland, Vancouver || Liberty Ships, Victory Ships || [[Kaiser Shipyards|View Profile]]
| '''[[Kaiser Shipyards]]''' || Richmond, Portland, Vancouver || Liberty Ships, Victory Ships
|-
|-
| '''Avondale Shipyard''' || New Orleans, LA || Commercial, Military || [[Avondale Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Avondale Shipyard]]''' || New Orleans, LA || Commercial, Military
|-
|-
| '''Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding''' || Mobile, AL || Liberty Ships, Repair || [[Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding|View Profile]]
| '''[[Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding]]''' || Mobile, AL || Liberty Ships, Repair
|-
|-
| '''Bath Iron Works''' || Bath, ME || Destroyers, Cruisers || [[Bath Iron Works|View Profile]]
| '''[[Bath Iron Works]]''' || Bath, ME || Destroyers, Cruisers
|-
|-
| '''Bethlehem Shipbuilding''' || Multiple Locations || Diverse Naval/Commercial || [[Bethlehem Shipbuilding|View Profile]]
| '''[[Bethlehem Shipbuilding]]''' || Multiple Locations || Diverse Naval/Commercial
|-
|-
| '''Electric Boat''' || Groton, CT || Submarines || [[Electric Boat|View Profile]]
| '''[[Electric Boat]]''' || Groton, CT || Submarines
|-
|-
| '''Fore River Shipyard''' || Quincy, MA || Battleships, Carriers || [[Fore River Shipyard|View Profile]]
| '''[[Fore River Shipyard]]''' || Quincy, MA || Battleships, Carriers
|-
|-
| '''Ingalls Shipbuilding''' || Pascagoula, MS || Destroyers, Amphibious || [[Ingalls Shipbuilding|View Profile]]
| '''[[Ingalls Shipbuilding]]''' || Pascagoula, MS || Destroyers, Amphibious
|-
|-
| '''New York Shipbuilding Corporation''' || Camden, NJ || Aircraft Carriers || [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation|View Profile]]
| '''[[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]]''' || Camden, NJ || Aircraft Carriers
|-
|-
| '''Tampa Bay Shipbuilding''' || Tampa, FL || Commercial Vessels || [[Tampa Bay Shipbuilding|View Profile]]
| '''[[Tampa Bay Shipbuilding]]''' || Tampa, FL || Commercial Vessels
|-
|-
| '''Todd Shipyards''' || Multiple Locations || Repair, Construction || [[Todd Shipyards|View Profile]]
| '''[[Todd Shipyards]]''' || Multiple Locations || Repair, Construction
|}
|}


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=== Extreme Exposure Trades ===
=== Extreme Exposure Trades ===
* '''Insulators/Laggers''' — Direct asbestos handling daily
* '''[[Insulation Workers|Insulators/Laggers]]''' — Direct asbestos handling daily
* '''Boilermakers''' — Confined space boiler work
* '''[[Boilermakers]]''' — Confined space boiler work
* '''Pipefitters''' — Pipe insulation installation/removal
* '''[[Plumbers and Pipefitters|Pipefitters]]''' — Pipe insulation installation/removal
* '''Ship Scalers''' — Surface preparation in enclosed spaces
* '''Ship Scalers''' — Surface preparation in enclosed spaces


=== Very High Exposure Trades ===
=== Very High Exposure Trades ===
* '''Electricians''' — Wire insulation, panel work
* '''[[Electricians]]''' — Wire insulation, panel work
* '''Machinists''' — Engine room equipment
* '''[[Machinists]]''' — Engine room equipment
* '''Welders''' — Heat shielding, cutting through insulation
* '''[[Welders]]''' — Heat shielding, cutting through insulation
* '''Sheet Metal Workers''' — Ductwork, ventilation systems
* '''[[Sheet Metal Workers]]''' — Ductwork, ventilation systems


=== High Exposure Trades ===
=== High Exposure Trades ===

Revision as of 20:41, 19 January 2026

Shipyard Exposure Index

Comprehensive database of U.S. naval and commercial shipyards with documented asbestos exposure, workforce statistics, and compensation claim guidance.

American shipyards employed millions of workers during the 20th century, with peak employment during World War II and the Cold War. Asbestos was used extensively in ship construction, repair, and overhaul operations from the 1930s through the 1980s, creating one of the largest occupational exposure cohorts in U.S. history.

Documented shipyard facilities: 25+ Peak combined employment: 1.5+ million workers (WWII) Primary exposure period: 1940-1980 Asbestos applications per vessel: 300+ distinct uses

How Shipyard Workers Were Exposed

Asbestos was used in virtually every shipboard system:

  • Insulation — Pipe covering, boiler lagging, turbine wrapping
  • Fireproofing — Bulkhead panels, deck underlayment, cable coating
  • Gaskets — Valve packing, flange seals, pump components
  • Structural — Adhesives, cements, caulking compounds

Workers in all shipyard trades faced exposure, but those in engine rooms, boiler spaces, and insulation work faced the highest concentrations—often exceeding safe limits by 100x or more.

U.S. Navy shipyards conducted construction, repair, and overhaul of naval vessels. These facilities operated under federal authority and maintained detailed employment records now available through FOIA requests.

Shipyard Location Peak Employment Operational Period
Brooklyn Navy Yard Brooklyn, NY 70,000 (1944) 1801-1966
Boston Naval Shipyard Boston, MA 50,000 (1943) 1800-1974
Charleston Naval Shipyard Charleston, SC 26,000 (1943) 1901-1996
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard San Francisco, CA 18,000 (1945) 1941-1974
Long Beach Naval Shipyard Long Beach, CA 8,000 1943-1997
Mare Island Naval Shipyard Vallejo, CA 46,000 (1945) 1854-1996
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, VA 43,000 (1943) 1767-Present
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Honolulu, HI 24,000 (1944) 1908-Present
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Philadelphia, PA 40,000 (1944) 1801-1996
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Kittery, ME 25,000 (1943) 1800-Present
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Bremerton, WA 32,000 (1945) 1891-Present
Washington Navy Yard Washington, DC Historic 1799-Present
Newport News Shipbuilding Newport News, VA 31,000 1886-Present

Commercial Shipyards

Private shipyards built vessels for commercial shipping, the Merchant Marine, and military contracts. Many operated under Emergency Shipbuilding Program contracts during WWII.

Shipyard Location Notable Production
Kaiser Shipyards Richmond, Portland, Vancouver Liberty Ships, Victory Ships
Avondale Shipyard New Orleans, LA Commercial, Military
Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Mobile, AL Liberty Ships, Repair
Bath Iron Works Bath, ME Destroyers, Cruisers
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Multiple Locations Diverse Naval/Commercial
Electric Boat Groton, CT Submarines
Fore River Shipyard Quincy, MA Battleships, Carriers
Ingalls Shipbuilding Pascagoula, MS Destroyers, Amphibious
New York Shipbuilding Corporation Camden, NJ Aircraft Carriers
Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Tampa, FL Commercial Vessels
Todd Shipyards Multiple Locations Repair, Construction

Shipyard Occupations

All shipyard workers faced asbestos exposure, but certain trades experienced the highest concentrations:

Extreme Exposure Trades

  • Insulators/Laggers — Direct asbestos handling daily
  • Boilermakers — Confined space boiler work
  • Pipefitters — Pipe insulation installation/removal
  • Ship Scalers — Surface preparation in enclosed spaces

Very High Exposure Trades

High Exposure Trades

  • Carpenters — Bulkhead installation, finishing
  • Painters — Surface preparation, coatings
  • Riggers — General construction support
  • Laborers — Cleanup, material handling

→ View Complete Occupation Database

Documenting Your Shipyard Employment

Successful claims require documentation of:

  1. Employment dates — Pay stubs, tax records, union records
  2. Job classifications — Trade, rating, department
  3. Specific vessels — Ships worked on, repair vs. new construction
  4. Asbestos contact — Products used, removal work, confined spaces

Record Sources

  • National Personnel Records Center — Federal employment verification
  • Social Security Administration — Employment history
  • Union Records — Local union membership, job dispatches
  • State Workers' Compensation — Prior injury claims
  • Shipyard Personnel Offices — Some maintain historical records

→ View Evidence Documentation Guide

Asbestos Products Used in Shipyards

Documented asbestos-containing products used in shipyard operations:

  • Johns Manville — Pipe insulation, block insulation
  • Owens Corning — Fiberglass/asbestos insulation products
  • Pittsburgh Corning — Unibestos block insulation
  • Eagle-Picher — Thermal insulation products
  • Garlock — Gaskets, packing materials
  • Crane Co. — Valves with asbestos packing

→ View Complete Products List

Compensation Pathways

Shipyard workers may recover compensation through multiple channels:

Many shipyard workers recover $500,000 to $1,500,000+ through combined trust fund claims and litigation.

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