The Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock had a well-deserved reputation as one of the country’s most productive shipyards during the years surrounding World Wars I and II. Located in Kearny, New Jersey, it had the distinction of building more destroyers from 1930 through the end of the Gearing class than any other shipbuilder than the Bath Iron Works and of doing it faster than any other yard.[1] Unfortunately, it also exposed significant numbers of shipbuilders and shipyard workers to asbestos, leading to countless cases of malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other deadly illnesses.
Asbestos at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock
From the years leading up to World War II through the 1980s, asbestos was widely available and affordable, making it the preferred material for heat resistance and insulation in ship and submarine construction. It was extensively used to insulate boilers, engine rooms, and piping throughout vessels, as well as in high-friction mechanical equipment. Even the buildings used for shipyard operations and administration contained asbestos.
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock was no exception to this general rule. During the years that it built destroyers, cruisers, and merchant ships, the yard used asbestos in various aspects of construction, and the exposure that shipyard workers experienced continued after 1948 when its mission shifted to salvage and scrapping operations. As a result, the personnel who served onboard ships that the yard built, as well as shipbuilding employees and those hired for salvage and scrapping, were exposed to significant amounts of asbestos.
The History of the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.
Active as a shipyard throughout World War I and World War II, the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company was a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation established following the passage of the 1916 United States Shipping Act and founded on July 24, 1917. It was equipped to provide every aspect of shipbuilding, from a wood joining shop and power plant to a boiler shop and steel plate mill so that it could quickly and efficiently fulfill orders for the United States Shipping Board to develop and maintain a merchant marine: the first vessel it launched was the Liberty II in 1918,[2] a commercial freighter originally named Wichita that was refitted for Navy service and used to transport horses and supplies to France shortly before the Armistice.[3]
From 1918 to 1919, Federal Shipbuilding produced 30 cargo ships, then shifted to building ships for U.S. Steel and other contractors, distinguishing itself from other shipyards that experienced a slump after World War I by producing over 120 ships during a time when other yards were shuttered.[4]
As the threat of war in Europe grew, Federal Shipbuilding began taking orders from both the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Commission for tankers, destroyers, cruisers, as well as merchant ships as part of the government’s Emergency Shipbuilding program. Shortly before the U.S. entered the war, 16,000 of its workers went on strike. With $493 million in Navy and merchant shipbuilding contracts on the line and war looming, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Navy to seize control of the facility, putting the yard under the command of Rear Admiral Harold G. Bowen Sr. The shipyard was returned to the company in January 1942.[5]
The shipyard achieved notoriety for several reasons. It built more destroyers for the Navy than any shipyard other than the Bath Iron Works and set records for the shortest time from keel laying to launch, for shortest launch-to-commission, and for the shortest time from a keel being laid to commissioning. It also notably built the Juneau, a cruiser that was sunk in the South Pacific during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The ship became well known after the movie “Saving Private Ryan” profiled the five Sullivan brothers lost in that battle.[2]
Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company took orders for hundreds of vessels during World War II, with roughly 100 canceled due to the war’s end. At one point, it launched 11 ships in 29 days. After the end of the war, it built several cargo ships for the U.S. Maritime Commission and private companies. It also offered repair and conversion services for ships that had served during the war. By 1948, Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock had been purchased by the U.S. Navy and became a salvaging operation, with employees inspecting ships to determine whether they should be salvaged or scrapped and then moving forward with whichever action had been decided upon.
How Was Asbestos Used at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock?
Asbestos played a crucial role in shipbuilding operations from the 1930s to the 1980s. Valued for its durability and exceptional heat and fire resistance, the Navy mandated its use in the construction of all vessels used for the war, and that practice extended to commercial and merchant vessels as well. The material was considered essential for the operation and insulation of boilers, incinerators, and piping. During installation, maintenance, and removal, the material released microscopic fibers into the air, which were easily inhaled by workers involved in building the vessels and structural upkeep, as well as by those who served onboard the ships. Exposure was also a risk when asbestos-containing ships were renovated, salvaged, and scrapped.
Asbestos was used in many products used, installed, repaired, or removed at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. These included:
- Pipe insulation
- Spray-on insulation
- Other types of insulation
- Boilers
- Concrete
- Floor tiling
- Machinery casing
- Ceiling material
- Doors
- Wall panels
- Sealants
- Automobile brake linings
- Paints
- Adhesives
- Gaskets
- Pipes
- Safety equipment and protective clothing
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company?
Workers involved in shipbuilding and salvage operations at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock faced significant asbestos exposure.
The company employed thousands of skilled tradespeople, including pipefitters, plumbers, lathers, sheet metal workers, carpenters, and general laborers, who were responsible for fabricating, assembling, and installing materials to construct finished ships. Many of these tasks required working in tight, poorly ventilated engine and boiler rooms, where they installed and insulated propulsion and heating equipment, frequently handling asbestos-containing materials.
When the company transitioned to ship salvaging, workers were responsible for assessing whether retired naval vessels should be salvaged or scrapped. Salvaging involved preserving functional machinery for government use, requiring employees to cut through thick layers of asbestos insulation to inspect equipment. Similarly, scrapping operations entailed dismantling vessels and extracting all usable components, disturbing large amounts of asbestos in the process. The demolition of boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, air compressors, and oil coolers released asbestos fibers from gaskets, packing, and insulation, exposing workers to hazardous airborne particles.
Beyond shipyard workers, maintenance personnel, and specialists who installed, maintained, replaced, or salvaged asbestos-containing materials, anyone who visited or worked in administrative roles at the yard also faced asbestos exposure risks. Additionally, the families of workers were vulnerable to secondary exposure, as asbestos fibers could be carried home on clothing, hair, or skin.
Those at risk include:
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Welders
- Shipyard Workers
- Construction Workers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
Resources for Federal Shipyard and Dry Dock Company Asbestos Victims
Although Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company’s peak production years were during World War II, workers faced asbestos exposure for decades—from its shipbuilding operations through the mid-1970s, when the yard focused on salvage and scrapping work. Given that malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods and can take 50 to 60 years to develop after exposure, many former workers may still be at significant risk of diagnosis in the future.
If you or a loved one worked at the shipyard, it is crucial to inform your healthcare provider about your exposure history so it can be added to your medical records. This information will increase the chance of early detection and prompt medical intervention should symptoms arise. Additionally, educating yourself about asbestos-related diseases can familiarize you with the symptoms of the different asbestos-related diseases so you can take immediate steps if necessary.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and need more information on your rights and the compensation you may be eligible for, consulting an experienced asbestos attorney is your best course of action. These dedicated professionals have extensive knowledge of the asbestos companies that supplied Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock with the hazardous materials that led to your illness and can inform you of the process involved in filing a personal injury lawsuit, settling out of court, or filing a claim against one of the asbestos trust funds established by bankrupt asbestos companies.
Be sure to reach out quickly to gather information. Though the decision about whether to move forward with legal action is one you’ll want to consider carefully, there are legislatively imposed deadlines for doing so. An attorney will be able to explain the statute of limitations in your state and answer all of your questions.
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