Moore Dry Dock Company
Originally located in San Francisco at its founding in 1905, the Moore & Scott Iron Works was destroyed by fire during the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. In an attempt to re-establish, the company acquired the Boole & Sons shipyard, located in Oakland where Union Street meets the water, in 1909. Scott sold his interest to Moore in 1917. The company changed its name to Moore Shipbuilding just in time to take advantage of lucrative World War I shipbuilding contracts.
Moore Dry Dock Company's high rates of production and repair during World War II exposed many of its thousands of workers to asbestos. The prevalence of the substance in shipbuilding and repair along with the close quarters and the speed at which laborers were required to work greatly enhanced the risk of exposure to asbestos among Moore's workforce.
The company delivered more than 60 vessels during the war and changed its name to Moore Dry Dock Company in 1922. As indicated by its name change, Moore altered its business to focus to ship repair after World War I, but the onset of World War II renewed its interest in shipbuilding.
Delivering more than 100 Navy and Merchant Marine vessels during the course of the war, Moore had a reputation for fast production and even faster vessel repair. After the war, contracts slumped, and the Moore Dry Dock Company closed its doors in 1960 having shipped its final vessel in 1956.
Asbestos Exposure at Moore Dry Dock Company
In an era when little was publicly known about the dangers of asbestos, aggressive production and repair schedules at Moore meant that large numbers of employees worked in close proximity to one another without regard for the environment in which they labored. A number of various occupations, especially industrial trades, may have exposed people to asbestos.
Welders, pipefitters, insulators, electricians, plumbers, boiler makers, sanders and painters were particularly susceptible to the dangers of asbestos fibers. The large numbers of people working in the same area as these individuals were also at risk for exposure through the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers.
Not only were Moore Dry Dock Company's employees at risk for asbestos exposure, but so were members of their families, as well as crew members serving on the ships built by the company. Family members of Moore's shipyard workers could have been exposed to work clothing contaminated with asbestos fibers.
Regular contact with such clothing has been shown to result in the development of asbestos-related diseases in the relatives of shipyard workers. The speedy construction methods used during the war were evidence of the short service life expected of such vessels. Because less care was taken in their construction, many sailors were exposed to asbestos through degrading insulation around pipes and wiring.
Even into the new millennium, juries are awarding large sums to plaintiffs in asbestos-related cases against Moore Dry Dock Co. In 2001, for example, the family of a merchant seaman who served on two Moore-built cargo ships was awarded $700,000 in damages after the seaman died from mesothelioma. The jury found that in spite of the lack of public knowledge regarding asbestos, that in 1942, the United States Maritime Commission had notified Moore and other companies of several industry studies showing asbestos to be an occupational and industrial hazard.
In a 2000 case, a jury awarded $10.35 million to the husband of a woman who had worked in the Moore Dry Dock shipyard during World War II. The jury found that not only had the victim been exposed while working at the Moore shipyard but also from fibers on the clothes of her husband who worked as a pipefitter for 30 more years.
Resources for Shipyard Workers
Many individuals who worked at Moore Dry Dock Company's Oakland shipyard were likely exposed to asbestos at some point during their tenure with the company. Former Moore workers who suspect that they came into contact with asbestos and their family members should speak with a physician about monitoring their health for signs of asbestos-related diseases. Those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease can request additional resources from the Mesothelioma Center by filling out this form or calling (800) 615-2270 to speak with a Patient and Family Advocate.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
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.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
