Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard is by the Curtis Bay in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.[1] It has long been one of the most important repair and ship facilities for the U.S. Coast Guard. Past use of asbestos at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard left some workers with life-threatening diseases.
About Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard
Founded in 1899, Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard began as a training academy and facility for ship repair. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Service leased thirty-six acres of land at Arundel Cove. Shortly after, Lieutenant John C. Moore, USRCS, made the farmland into a shipyard.[2]
During the first decade, the shipyard concentrated on repairing small boats and constructing lifeboats. Workers also painted RCS cutters and built overhauls.[2]
Over the next several decades, the shipyard expanded, and the workload increased. More workers were hired to build an extensive line of vessels, such as the Seneca and Yamacraw vessels, among various others.
Hundreds of workers at the shipyard consisted of both civilian employees and numerous people enlisted in the military.[3] At its peak during World War II, the Yard employed about 3,000 people.
When World War II started, the Coast Guard Yard took on many overhauls, ship repairs, and numerous manufacturing activities. It added a newly built 3,000-ton dry dock during this time, as well as new shipways and a brand-new pier to help handle the abundance of work that kept adding up.[4]
The shipyard continued to prosper during the Vietnam War when it constructed lifeboats and footers. After the wars, work slowed down, and many workers lost their jobs as activities at the Yard were scaled back.
How Was Asbestos Used at Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard?
Asbestos use was heavy at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, especially during World War II. According to officials, the military used hundreds of asbestos-containing products before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforced strict regulations. Many of these products were shipped to and used at Curtis Bay.[5]
Asbestos was found almost everywhere at the shipyard:[5]
- Electrical wiring
- Insulation
- Pipe
- Deck coatings
- Flooring
- Boiler rooms
- Engine rooms
- Pumps
- Valves
- Gaskets
Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Designated a Superfund Site
The shipyard was so ridden with toxins that in 2002, the EPA designated it as a Superfund site. Several years later, the shipyard signed an agreement with the EPA for a major cleaning.
For the EPA’s contributions to the cleanup, the Coast Guard Yard had to remediate many of the negative impacts it made on the environment.
“The site’s long-term remedy included excavation and removal of contaminated soil and groundwater treatment,” the EPA stated on its official site. “Construction of the remedy took place between 2009 and 2013. Groundwater treatment and monitoring are ongoing.”[6]
How Were Workers Harmed by Asbestos at Curtis Bay?
Asbestos exposure affected both military personnel and civilians. Anyone working in the area could have been exposed to damaged asbestos and fibers. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other illnesses.
An Occupational & Environmental Medicine study published in 2007 stated that over 4,000 civilian workers at the shipyard between 1950 and 1964 had a mesothelioma mortality rate much higher than the national U.S. average.[5]
$4.2 Million Jury Award for Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Asbestos Exposure
One worker, Harry Hunter, filed an asbestos lawsuit against manufacturer Owens-Illinois Glass after he developed malignant mesothelioma.
According to court documents, the company shipped Kaylo insulation to Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard. Kaylo insulation was one of the many asbestos products used at shipyards that contained asbestos.
A Maryland jury eventually decided in favor of Hunter’s estate and awarded $4.2 million for wrongful death. Since Maryland has a liability limit of $600,000 per state law, the court subsequently reduced the compensation amount.[7]
Hunter worked as an electrician at the shipyard during the summer of 1956 while he was still a college student, yet he was never made aware of the dangers of asbestos.[7]
How Can Curtis Bay Asbestos Victims Seek Compensation?
If you or a loved one worked at Curtis Bay and now have mesothelioma, talk to an asbestos lawyer. They can review your case for free, give you legal options, and help you seek compensation.
Victims of workplace asbestos exposure usually have two options. You can file a lawsuit against the asbestos company that provided Curtis Bay with materials. If those companies went bankrupt, you might be able to file a claim with an asbestos trust.
Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Today
Known today as the United States Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay operates as the “sole shipbuilding and major repair facility, and an essential part of the Coast Guard’s core industrial base and fleet support operations,” according to its official website.[1] It employs about 1,300 people.
As the only facility that serves the Coast Guard in this way, Maryland senators have recently pushed for federal funding to upgrade Curtis Bay’s infrastructure and a new dry dock. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin were able to get more than $600 million in funding included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and hope it will be passed.[8]
