Seward Ships Drydock
Based in Seward, Alaska, Seward Ship's Drydock is a shipbuilding and repair facility that began operations in 1973. Because of the standard use of asbestos in shipyards prior to the 1980s, individuals who worked at Seward Ship's were at risk for exposure to asbestos.
Operating in its original location until 1985, the company then moved to a site owned by the City of Seward that afforded it the opportunity to considerably expand its dry-docking operations to an extent that allowed the company to service oil tankers. This, in turn, resulted in lucrative contracts with oil shippers and the federal government, in addition to Seward Ship's original customer base of commercial fishing vessels.
Seward Ship's has continued to expand its operations, and was awarded a federal stimulus grant of more than $1 million dollars for this purpose in 2009. In 2010, the city of Seward voted to renew the company's lease for an additional 30 years.
Asbestos Exposure at Seward Ship's Drydock Inc.
Asbestos was prevalent at U.S. shipyards throughout the 20th century until it was regulated in the 1970s and '80s. The fact that Seward Ship's Drydock Inc. did not start operating until 1973 likely served to mitigate the exposure that its workers had to asbestos.
In spite of the fact that the facility came online just as the true dangers of asbestos were becoming known, workers at Seward Ship's Drydock were still at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was not regulated until the late 1970s, so asbestos was used in new vessel construction for the first several years the company was in business.
As a repair facility, Seward Ship's worked on vessels and likely continues to work on vessels that were manufactured prior to asbestos regulation. Ships at the repair facility could have been built outside of the United States, meaning that they were not subject to the U.S. regulations on asbestos when built.
The occupations that faced the greatest risk of asbestos exposure are pipefitters, welders, sand blasters, electricians and painters. Asbestos products that were used in Seward Ship's vessels and repair jobs may have included insulation, welding rods, gaskets, joint compounds and valves.
Family members of Seward Ship's Drydock workers could also have been exposed to asbestos from asbestos fibers clinging to the material of workers' clothing. Several cases of secondary exposure have been documented in family members of shipyard workers. Crew members on vessels built or repaired by Seward Ship's prior to the 1980s also ran the risk of exposure to microscopic asbestos fibers.
In addition to the danger posed by the jobs themselves, the company has an environmental safety record that is indicative of the dangers workers may have or continue to face in the way of exposure to toxins. As recently as 2009, Seward Ship's was fined more than $87,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for "willful, serious and repeat violations of safety and health standards." Among the violations was Seward Ship's lack of air testing in confined work spaces and "respiratory protection hazards."
Because of the dangers posed by airborne asbestos fibers, workplaces such as these have an increased risk for asbestos exposure. For example, if a pipefitter worked in the engine room of a vessel built before 1980, replacing the insulation, he or she ran the risk of exposure to asbestos. Without appropriate safety precautions, such as respiratory protection and air testing, the dangers from such exposure are much greater to the individual.
In addition, Seward Ship's sandblasting practices have come under fire by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). The ADEC issued a notice of violation to Seward Ship's Drydock for uncontrolled "fugitive particulate emissions" from its sandblasting operations. Thus, if the workers were sandblasting asbestos-containing materials, such as paint, insulation or joint compounds, off of a vessel, the asbestos fibers they released were no longer confined to the sandblasted area and could have been inhaled by individuals elsewhere in the shipyard.
Resources for Shipyard Workers
Even minimal asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and other cancers many years later. Individuals who believe they were exposed to asbestos while working at Seward Ship's should alert their physicians and regularly monitor their health for signs of asbestos-related diseases, which may take years to manifest after initial exposure.
Those seeking additional information can fill out the form on this page to request further resources. Patients who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma can call (800) 615-2270 to speak directly with a Patient and Family Advocate.
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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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