Shipyard workers suffer higher rates of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis because asbestos products were used in nearly every part of shipbuilding. U.S. veterans were exposed in Navy shipyards and civilians were exposed in commercial shipyards to asbestos insulation, gaskets, pumps and pipes.
Written by Aaron Munz | Legally Reviewed by Yvonne Waterman | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update:
Asbestos-Related Disease Risk:
Extremely High
States with Highest Employment:
Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, District of Columbia, Washington
Cutting, drilling, handling and sanding asbestos materials exposed shipyard workers. Such activities release dust with asbestos fibers into the air. Inhalation of these fibers occurred through both direct and indirect means. The fibers traveled beyond their origin to expose workers in other areas.
Repeated exposure increases the risk of workers developing mesothelioma. Historically, many shipbuilding components used asbestos. The mineral resists corrosion by ocean water. Engine gaskets, seals and pipe insulation used asbestos for its strength and fire resistance.
Shipyard building materials also contributed to occupational exposure. Asbestos panels were common in yard equipment and in buildings.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform reports that commercial ships may contain up to 10 tons of asbestos, and U.S. Navy vessels may have up to 900 tons. A 2021 Maritec survey found that more than 55% of in-service ships and 50% of new builds contain asbestos. Regulations to reduce asbestos use in ships have failed to protect workers.
Shipyards used asbestos products for most of the 20th century. Insulation, gaskets, seals, brakes and cement had asbestos. Before 1975, the U.S. Navy relied heavily on asbestos materials throughout its vessels. Shipbuilders used asbestos in engine rooms, sleeping quarters and boiler rooms.
A 1975 regulation limited its use when alternatives were available. In 1979, an amendment urged the removal of some asbestos insulation. Workers exposed prior to these regulations are still developing diseases now. Mesothelioma has a long latency period, the time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis, of up to 60 years.
Most U.S. manufacturers have now phased out asbestos from their products. But workers may still find it in older materials in shipyards today. Widespread use meant many shipyard workers faced a risk. They remain at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses.
| Product | How shipyard workers encountered it |
| Adhesives | Workers used various asbestos adhesives to seal and repair ships. |
| Bedding | The filler used to stuff mattresses contained asbestos as a fireproofing material. Shipyard workers who built sleeping quarters got exposed to this material. |
| Cables | Asbestos in cables, including wire cables, made them stronger and salt-resistant. |
| Cement | Asbestos cement was a popular material in the construction of shipyards. Workers used corrugated asbestos sheets to build the shipyard’s walls and roofs. |
| Hydraulic assemblies | Asbestos insulation and packing were in the hydraulic assemblies and pumps. |
| Insulation | On ships, the most common asbestos insulations were spray-on insulation and pipe wrap. It was also found in the form of block insulation and packing material used on pumps, valves and boilers. |
| Gaskets and valves | Amosite asbestos, a brown form of the mineral, was the best fiber for marine gaskets and valves. It withstood salt corrosion. |
| Paint and coatings | Asbestos paint and coatings covered ships. They provided fireproofing. Deck covering material had asbestos for its strength and fire resistance. |
| Panels | Workers used asbestos heat paneling in ships to make fireproof walls and barriers. |
| Pumps | Asbestos insulation was common in and around pumps. Frequent repairs were necessary because of wear and tear. |
| Textiles | Sails and fireproof blankets on ships contained asbestos textiles. Workers used the blankets in shipyards to put out fires and prevent burns. |
Asbestos exposure in a shipyard depended heavily on the trade. The U.S. Navy graded likely exposure according to job specialty, and workers in engine rooms, boiler rooms and insulation trades often had the most direct contact. Dockyard workers who never handled asbestos directly could still breathe toxic fibers that traveled through the yard.
| Shipyard trade | Source of asbestos exposure |
| Boilermakers and boiler tenders | Installed and repaired asbestos-insulated marine boilers in enclosed engine rooms. |
| Insulators (laggers) | Cut and applied asbestos pipe wrap and block insulation, creating direct contact with asbestos materials. |
| Ironworkers | Erected and cut structural steel near asbestos-sprayed surfaces and asbestos cement panels. |
| Joiners and carpenters | Built sleeping quarters with asbestos bedding filler, panels and millboard. |
| Machinists and metal workers | Machined asbestos gaskets, packing and brake components. |
| Marine electricians | Ran cable through asbestos-lined bulkheads and panels. |
| Merchant mariners | Served aboard vessels built and repaired with asbestos-containing materials. |
| Millwrights | Installed, aligned and repaired pumps, valves and hydraulic assemblies that contained asbestos packing. |
| Pipefitters and plumbers | Cut and sealed asbestos-insulated pipe runs throughout ships and shipyards. |
| Riggers and deckhands | Handled asbestos rope, sails and fireproof blankets and worked in spaces where other trades disturbed asbestos. |
| Sandblasters and painters | Stripped and recoated surfaces that contained asbestos paint and deck coverings. |
Asbestos exposure happened at shipyards across the U.S., from Navy yards to commercial builders. Records of asbestos exposure in shipyards exist for specific sites, including Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Bremerton Naval Shipyard.
Johns Manville was a top maker of asbestos shipbuilding materials. Others include Burnham Holdings, Foster Wheeler and Pryor Giggey Co.
Asbestos Companies
| Manufacturer | Products Supplied to Shipyards |
| Bendix | The machinery workers used to construct vessels had Bendix brake pads, linings and blocks. |
| Burnham Holdings | Burnham made asbestos pipe insulation for shipyards. Workers used it when installing or repairing pipes. |
| Foster Wheeler | Foster made marine-grade boilers using asbestos. Shipyard workers installed them on Navy and commercial ships. |
| GAF Corporation | The Navy contracted GAF to insulate ships with various asbestos products like heat panels, pipe coverings, boiler jackets and asbestos cement. |
| Johns Manville | JM made products to repair ships for the Navy and private industries. These included transite asbestos cement, a rigid asbestos board, plus block insulation, heat panels and weatherproofing coatings and adhesives. |
| Keasbey & Mattison | K&M made corrugated asbestos cement used to build shipyards. It also sold asbestos textiles to manufacture fireproof sails. |
| Pryor Giggey Co. | This company made asbestos insulation for marine-grade boilers. |
Find out if you qualify to file a VA claim with help from the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource.
Get Your Free GuideShipbuilders used asbestos insulation, gaskets and pipe wrap throughout most of the 20th century. As a result, shipyard workers develop mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer at higher rates than the general working population.
Shipyard workers are at increased risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. A 2024 study in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health analyzed asbestos fibers in the lung tissue of individuals who died from mesothelioma. It uncovered a direct correlation between the amount of asbestos and the risk of mesothelioma in shipyard workers. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also documents elevated cancer risk among shipyard workers exposed to asbestos.
A 2024 study of asbestos-related disease in Palermo, Italy, found that 92.2% of cases occurred in workers from the shipbuilding sector. Mesothelioma accounted for more than 15% of the cases in the Palermo group. Other diseases included asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer.
There is a well-established link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Several studies from decades ago prove a link. Researchers believe asbestos causes DNA damage that leads to cancer.
Shipyard workers could carry asbestos fibers home on their coveralls, skin and hair. Spouses who shook out or washed work clothes and children who greeted a parent after a shift could inhale those hazardous fibers without ever entering a shipyard. Among The Mesothelioma Center’s documented survivor cases, 26 of 215 (12.1%) involved secondary asbestos exposure. Family members who develop mesothelioma after this type of exposure may also be able to file a secondary asbestos exposure lawsuit.
Shaun B.
Mesothelioma Survivor Recounts Family Exposure in Shipyards
Shaun B.’s father worked at the Ford Motor Company in Norfolk, Virginia. He had also worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. Both are known for a high risk of asbestos exposure. Shaun tells us that he also worked at both locations where his father had worked. This could mean that he and his father have shared occupational asbestos exposure or primary exposure histories.
Shaun B.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards regulate asbestos in shipyards. It puts responsibility for worker safety on employers. OSHA requires notifying employees about asbestos at a worksite. It also sets limits on the environment and requires personal protective equipment.
Shipyard Safety Regulations
The standard sets long-term practices in addition to prevention. Employers must screen employees who exceed exposure limits. They must also keep detailed records of exposure monitoring for at least 30 years. These records can still exist decades later, and a former shipyard worker’s exposure history may help support a claim.
If you developed lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos at work, you may qualify for compensation.
Get Help NowMany shipyard workers have won claims for asbestos-related illnesses. Former shipyard workers with mesothelioma may file lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims. Family members who lost a loved one may be able to file a wrongful death claim.
Many asbestos lawsuits have involved Navy veterans. The Federal Tort Claims Act allows the U.S. government to escape liability for its role. It passes liability to private contractors. However, in May 2024, a judge ruled against a U.S. government request to dismiss a wrongful death case. The family of a Navy veteran’s wife filed after she died from mesothelioma.
Aaron Munz, veteran and director of the Veterans Department at The Mesothelioma Center, says the Navy grades a veteran’s likely asbestos exposure according to job specialty: “The Navy recognizes that every veteran had exposure to asbestos, but they categorize the amount of likely exposure based on the job specialty.”
If you are thinking of filing, work with a mesothelioma attorney. They should have a record of winning compensation for veterans and shipyard workers. This area of asbestos litigation is complex, so make sure to find an expert to handle your claim.
Notable Verdicts and Settlements
| Amount | Year | Worker | Shipyard and Trade |
| $25 million | 2011 | Bert Minton | Newport News Shipbuilding, shipfitter and repair supervisor |
| $5.2 million | 2007 | Family of Richard Walmach | Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, machinist’s mate |
| $4.25 million | 2019 | Douglas Everson and his wife | Lockheed Shipyard, marine electrician |
Exposure varied heavily by trade in a shipyard. Insulators, boilermakers, pipefitters and other workers who handled asbestos-insulated equipment directly, especially in enclosed engine and boiler rooms, experienced the heaviest exposure.
Shipyard lung disease refers to the group of illnesses asbestos exposure causes in the lungs, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer. Shipbuilders used asbestos throughout most of the 20th century, which is why shipyard workers developed these diseases at high rates. Lung cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in former shipyard workers.
Ship engine rooms could create especially heavy asbestos exposure because workers handled insulated pipes, boilers, pumps and gaskets in enclosed spaces with limited ventilation. Disturbing these materials could release fibers that remained concentrated in the work area.
Yes, asbestos exposure in a shipyard can cause lung cancer, not only mesothelioma. Many doctors never told former shipyard workers with lung cancer that their diagnosis could trace back to asbestos on the job.
Yes, family members can develop mesothelioma after breathing in asbestos fibers a shipyard worker carried home on clothes, skin or hair. This is called secondary asbestos exposure, also known as take-home exposure.
The Federal Tort Claims Act generally shields the U.S. government, including the Navy, from asbestos lawsuits. Shipyard workers instead hold private asbestos manufacturers and shipyard operators liable for their diseases. A mesothelioma lawsuit can identify the companies responsible for a worker’s asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma law firms investigate where and how a Navy shipyard worker encountered asbestos. Attorneys can use military service records, job specialties, shipyard records and known asbestos product histories to reconstruct a worker’s exposure.
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Munz, A. (2026, October 8). Shipyard Workers and Asbestos. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/shipyard-workers/
Munz, Aaron. "Shipyard Workers and Asbestos." Asbestos.com, 8 Oct 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/shipyard-workers/.
Munz, Aaron. "Shipyard Workers and Asbestos." Asbestos.com. Last modified October 8, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/shipyard-workers/.
A mesothelioma lawyer who specializes in asbestos litigation reviewed the content on this page to ensure it is legally accurate.
Yvonne Waterman, Ph.D., is the founder of the European Asbestos Forum and a specialist in asbestos litigation. Waterman has worked to build a global network of professionals fighting for a future without asbestos exposure and disease.
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