Mesothelioma Lawyer for Shipfitters & Shipyard Workers
Shipfitters built, modified, and repaired Navy and commercial ships in shipyards from 1940 through the 1980s. They worked alongside insulators, pipefitters, welders, and electricians in confined shipboard compartments where asbestos was used in 300+ applications.
Civilian Shipyard Workers Faced Heavier Exposure Than Active Duty Sailors
While Navy veterans served limited tours aboard asbestos-laden ships, civilian shipyard workers (shipfitters, pipefitters, insulators, machinists, welders, painters, sandblasters) spent entire careers in shipyard environments with even higher asbestos concentrations. Shipfitters specifically installed and modified shipboard structures, often disturbing existing asbestos insulation and fireproofing during refits.
Major U.S. Shipyards (Civilian Workforces)
- Newport News Shipbuilding (VA): 25,000+ workers — Nimitz-class carriers, Virginia-class subs.
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard (VA): 43,000+ at WWII peak — oldest US Navy yard.
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (WA): 32,000+ at WWII peak.
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard (CA): 46,000 at WWII peak.
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (CA): 17,000+ at WWII peak.
- Brooklyn Navy Yard (NY): 70,000+ at WWII peak.
- Bath Iron Works (ME): 12,000+ — DDG-51 destroyer builder.
- Electric Boat (CT): 15,000+ — Navy submarine builder.
- Ingalls Shipbuilding (MS): 27,000+ — largest US private shipbuilder.
- Avondale Shipyards (LA): 26,000+ — drives Jefferson Parish #1 nationally per-capita meso.
- Kaiser Shipyards Richmond (CA): 90,000+ at WWII peak — built 747 Liberty/Victory ships.
Common Employers — Shipfitter / Shipyard Worker Asbestos Exposure
- Newport News Shipbuilding (Huntington Ingalls)
- General Dynamics Electric Boat
- General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
- NASSCO General Dynamics
- Ingalls Shipbuilding (HII)
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
- Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Charleston Naval Shipyard
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard
- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard
- Avondale Shipyards
- Kaiser Shipyards Richmond
- Federal Shipbuilding Kearny NJ
- New York Shipbuilding Camden
- Todd Shipyards Seattle
- Tampa Shipyards
- Manitowoc Shipbuilding
Common Asbestos-Containing Products Encountered
- Shipboard asbestos pipe insulation (Kaylo, Eternit)
- Asbestos block insulation
- Asbestos gaskets (Garlock)
- Asbestos packing (Crane)
- Spray-on asbestos fireproofing
- Asbestos brake linings on shipboard cranes
- Asbestos-containing welding rod coatings
Top States for Shipfitter / Shipyard Worker Mesothelioma Claims
- Virginia (Hampton Roads)
- California (4 naval shipyards + Kaiser)
- Washington (PSNS)
- Mississippi (Ingalls)
- Louisiana (Avondale)
- Maine (BIW)
- Connecticut (Electric Boat)
- Hawaii (Pearl Harbor)
- New York (Brooklyn Navy Yard)
- Massachusetts (Boston Naval Shipyard / Charlestown)
Asbestos Trust Funds Available to Shipfitter / Shipyard Worker Claimants
The following asbestos trust funds typically pay claims to shipfitter / shipyard workers with documented work history and mesothelioma diagnosis. Most claimants qualify for 8–15 trust funds simultaneously.
- Manville Trust
- UNARCO Asbestos Trust
- Owens Corning/Fibreboard Trust
- Combustion Engineering Trust
- Babcock & Wilcox Trust
- Garlock Sealing Technologies Trust
- Crane Co. Trust
- Foster Wheeler Trust
VA Disability Eligibility
Civilian shipyard workers do NOT qualify for VA disability (not military service). They DO qualify for product liability lawsuits + trust fund claims + potentially Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) for civilian Navy yard workers.
How Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm Helps Shipfitter / Shipyard Workers
Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents shipfitter / shipyard workers nationwide who developed mesothelioma from documented occupational asbestos exposure. Our attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $2 billion for clients. We pursue all available compensation tracks: trust fund claims, lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers, and (where applicable) FELA claims for railroad workers or VA disability for veterans.
Authored by Michelle Whitman, reviewed by Paul Danziger, edited by Rod De Llano.
Frequently Asked Questions — Shipfitter / Shipyard Worker Mesothelioma Claims
I worked at Newport News Shipbuilding in the 1970s. Am I eligible to file a mesothelioma claim?
Yes. Newport News (and all major US shipyards 1940-1980s) used asbestos extensively. You can pursue: (1) trust fund claims (10-12 trusts typically — Manville, UNARCO, Owens Corning, Combustion Engineering, B&W, Garlock, Crane, etc.), (2) lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers, (3) potentially against Newport News Shipbuilding as the premise owner, (4) FECA if you were a federal civilian employee at a Navy yard.
Why did civilian shipyard workers face heavier exposure than active-duty sailors?
Civilian shipyard workers (pipefitters, insulators, shipfitters, welders, machinists, painters) spent entire careers — often 20-40 years — in shipyard environments. Active-duty sailors served limited tours. Shipyard workers also performed the dirty work of removing old asbestos during refits and overhauls.
Have additional questions? Call 1-800-875-3000 or submit a free case evaluation.