07/21/2026
From the Know Your Exposure series: Asbestos in the Shipbuilding & Maritime industry
During he height of World War II and the Cold War, the urgent demand for a powerful global armada sparked an era of military manufacturing and maritime innovation. To protect vessels from fires, the government lined every hull, boiler room, and mess hall with heavy-duty insulation. Millions of shipyard workers built, repaired, and upgraded naval ships to keep the fleet ready, completely unaware of a health hazard hidden in plain sight. Major deep water ports and bustling shipyards along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts became epicenters of naval production, transforming coastal cities into massive industrial hubs dedicated to building and maintaining the fleet.
- Asbestos exposure occurred when:
- Installing and cutting insulation
- Mixing cement
- Repairing and retrofitting the ships
- Welders placed asbestos cloths over flammable areas
Raw, powdered asbestos was often mixed into the insulation at shipyards, which was used in almost every part of the ship.
When working on the ship, shipyard workers cut, mixed, and installed these materials in confined, poorly ventilated areas like hulls and pipe tunnels. This created thick clouds of dust containing asbestos.
If you or a loved one worked in the shipbuilding and maritime industry and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact us today for a FREE claim evaluation.
Call 1-800-478-9578
Visit getnorris.com/asb
