Albina Shipyard
Founded in 1909, the Albina Engine and Machine Works Shipyard was one the earliest major Portland-area ship repair yards and later was famous for its shipbuilding. The Albina Engine Company’s decision to locate alongside the Willamette River helped develop the Portland shipbuilding industry, leading to a well-trained workforce that lured major shipyards to the area, including Kaiser, Dillingham and Cascade General.
During its shipbuilding years, the yard was known for building tugboats for the U.S. Navy. This was also a time – during and after World War II – when Navy vessels were constructed with asbestos parts and products, leading to the exposure of Marines and Navy personnel. That was later highlighted by a mesothelioma lawsuit brought by former shipyard worker James McCallister.
Shipyards are well known for exposing workers and U.S. servicemen to asbestos. To learn how and why that happened and how veterans can apply seek financial restitution for any exposure, fill out this form and learn how a VA benefits claim can help you.
Abestos and History of Albina Engine and Machine Works Shipyard
The Albina Engine and Machine Works had a significant impact on Portland's growth in the early 20th century. The shipyard's construction helped spur economic growth along the city's east side, and eventually Albina Engine and Machine Works became a key player in the World War II ship building effort.
The yard produced tugboats like the Volcano and 45 sub chasers in the early part of the war. In 1943 alone, the Albina shipyard turned toward the building of scores of landing craft, as America planned for island-hopping in the Pacific and D-Day. As with all Navy shipyards, asbestos was used extensively in the ships, barges, landing craft and in Albina Engine yards itself. As a result, Navy veterans are at a higher risk of developing malignant pleural mesothelioma.
After the war, the company focused away from "Mighty Midget" warships and onto more commercial vessels. Workers at the yard had earned a reputation for building crafts that were useful in peacetime, and state contracts came in as Oregon grew. The yard built ferries, tugs and barges for use all over the world.
The yard also built its own ferry, the Chessman. Used to convoy passenger vehicles at the mouth of the Columbia, the Chessman ran until made obsolete by the building of the Astoria bridge in 1966. The Chessman was then used by the Navy in the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam.Unfortunately, the Chessman was also an example of the common use of asbestos. It was not until 1971 that the United States Navy took efforts to eliminate asbestos from its contracts.
Albina Engine and Machine Works had continued in formal existence after its acquisition by Cascade General, in 1987. Between 1987 and 2009, at least, the company shell continued with regular fees paid for the Albina Engine and Machine name. But in 2009, in the midst of rulings against Albina Engine regarding asbestos exposure by the DOL's Benefits Review Board, Albina Engine and Machine didn't file for renewal of its old name. That year would have marked the Century for Portland’s oldest maritime company.
Ultimately, the shipyard developed another reputation. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality declared that Albina Shipyard was the site responsible for sickness and death in workers exposed to both asbestos and high doses of diesel fumes from several spills.
Asbestos Lawsuit Brought by James McCallister
The death and subsequent lawsuit of James McCallister is an example of the consequences of dangerous asbestos exposure at Albina Engine and Machine Works. McCallister began his career in 1956 as a shipyard carpenter at three Portland shipyards. Eventually, McCallister succumbed to mesothelioma in 2002, and doctors established asbestos exposure during his shipbuilding career as the cause. The legal issue was whether Albina Engine had a special responsibility and duty to McCallister (and then his widow) by being the last employer in the string of asbestos exposure.
The first hearing to decide which of McAllister's three separate asbestos-using employers was responsible held Lockheed responsible. The U.S. Department of Labor's Benefit Review Board disagreed, and ordered a new hearing. At issue was Albina's responsibility to show it had not exposed McCallister to asbestos.
After two more hearings and a new Department of Labor ruling, a federal court agreed that the "last responsible" employer was Albina Engine and Machine Works and that Albina Engine was responsible for McAllister's death because of asbestos exposure. On second remand, the administrative law judge held Albina Engine liable for benefits for McCallister's death. Albina Engine's argument that an applicable law was misstated in two earlier decisions was rejected. There was more than enough evidence to back the administrative law judge's decision that Albina Engine was the last employer to expose McCallister to asbestos. The Board also affirmed the finding that Albina Engine was liable for benefits to McCallister's widow.
Health and Safety Issues
Because Albina Engine and Machine technically went out of business (purchased by Cascade General) in 1987, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) electronic results are limited to 2001, there are no records of accidents or injuries at Albina Engine’s shipyard. But Oregon officials expressed concern about the old Albina site.
The Albina originally depended on railways as part of its success, and it exploited the Willamette River to its advantage. By the time Albina Engine and Machine opened in 1909, the industrial area was already home to extensive rail services. Like shipyards, railways are renowned for exposing railway workers to asbestos and asbestos-containing products.
Long after Albina Engine closed, and its machines and shipyard crews moved to Cascade General’s Portland Shipyard on Shaw Island, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality cited the old, combined Union Pacific Rail Road yard and Albina shipyard as a jointly contaminated site. The southern end of the 216-acre yard, which abuts the Willamette, is particularly contaminated owing to intensive oil and diesel spills. Other contaminants include: arsenic, petroleum compounds, possibly paint-related solvents and heavy metals. Ground drinking water contamination is a chief concern.
In the adjacent Willamette River, sediments such as lead and zinc are often linked to shipyard repair, but in this case also potentially related to railroad car maintenance. More esoteric chemicals are there too: bisphthalate, butylbenzylphthalate, and dinoctylphthalate. As of 2011, the site is regarded as an "orphan site" with no EPA involvement or assured clean-up funds.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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