Civilian Shipyard Workers: Asbestos Exposure & Trust Fund Compensation
Civilian shipyard workers — at Norfolk, Mare Island, Pearl Harbor, Philadelphia, Puget Sound, Long Beach, Charleston, and other Naval Shipyards — built, overhauled, and repaired Navy ships filled with asbestos. Mesothelioma rates among shipyard workers are among the highest of any U.S. occupation.
See if you qualify — Civilian Shipyard Workers claim review
Why civilian shipyard workers face elevated mesothelioma risk
Naval shipyards employed tens of thousands of civilian workers during World War II and the Cold War, building and overhauling ships that were saturated with asbestos. Unlike Navy sailors who served on commissioned ships, civilian shipyard workers handled ships in the most exposure-intensive phases — initial installation of asbestos pipe insulation, refractory work on boilers, gasket installation, and the high-disturbance work of overhauls and repairs that broke up existing asbestos installations.
Major U.S. naval shipyards: Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, VA), Mare Island Naval Shipyard (Vallejo, CA), Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (HI), Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (PA), Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (Bremerton, WA), Long Beach Naval Shipyard (CA), Charleston Naval Shipyard (SC), Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery, ME), Brooklyn Navy Yard (NY), and Boston Naval Shipyard. Civilian workers at these facilities — pipefitters, insulators, electricians, welders, machinists, sheet metal workers, painters, and laborers — share documentation paths similar to Navy veterans plus civilian employment records.
Common asbestos exposure sources for civilian shipyard workers
Shipyard exposure sources mirror Navy ship exposure but at higher intensity due to the nature of construction and overhaul work:
- New construction — installing pipe insulation, boiler refractory, gaskets, and fireproofing in ships under construction
- Overhaul work — tearing out and replacing asbestos systems during periodic ship overhauls (highest-exposure activity)
- Boiler retubing and refractory replacement — routine maintenance work that disturbed asbestos installations
- Pipe modification and repair — cutting existing asbestos-covered piping during system upgrades
- Compartment fireproofing — sprayed asbestos applications in living and operational spaces
Trust funds that commonly apply
Based on typical exposure profiles, civilian shipyard workers commonly qualify for filing with these asbestos bankruptcy trust funds:
How to file as a shipyard worker
Civilian shipyard workers file the same trust package as Navy veterans plus federal worker compensation considerations:
- Babcock & Wilcox + Combustion Engineering (boilers worked on)
- Owens Corning/Fibreboard (Kaylo) + Owens-Illinois (early Kaylo)
- Pittsburgh Corning (Unibestos)
- Eagle-Picher + Johns-Manville (broad insulation)
- Garlock (gaskets)
- Hopeman Brothers (Navy interior contractor — when applicable)
- Plant Insulation / Western MacArthur / J.T. Thorpe (West Coast contractors)
Most shipyard workers qualify for 12-18 trusts simultaneously. Combined trust compensation typically $250,000–$400,000+. Note: federal civilian workers may have separate FECA workers comp claims; these don't conflict with trust filings.
Documentation needed
- Federal civilian employment records (DD-214 equivalent for Navy yard civilians)
- OPM (Office of Personnel Management) records showing federal employment
- Union records (Metal Trades Council, IBEW, machinists union, others)
- Witness statements from coworkers
- Specific shipyard, dates worked, trade/craft documentation
- Medical diagnosis records
Frequently asked questions
I worked at Mare Island in the 1960s — what trusts apply?
Mare Island shipyard workers from your era typically qualify for 12-18 trusts. Bay Area focus adds Plant Insulation and Western MacArthur (West Coast contractors that worked Mare Island ships). Take the eligibility quiz for personalized matches.
How are shipyard worker claims different from Navy veteran claims?
Functionally similar trust packages, but documentation paths differ. Civilian shipyard workers use OPM federal employment records and union records rather than DD-214s. Civilian shipyard workers also generally have higher exposure intensity than Navy sailors due to the construction/overhaul nature of the work.
Can I file FECA workers comp AND asbestos trust claims?
Yes — these are separate compensation streams. FECA (Federal Employees Compensation Act) is workers compensation for federal civilian workers; trust claims are tort-based recoveries against private asbestos manufacturers. Most shipyard workers pursue both.
I worked at multiple shipyards over my career — does that strengthen my case?
Yes. Multi-shipyard work history establishes exposure to a broader range of products and contractor crews, qualifying you for more trusts. Document each shipyard, dates, and craft worked.
My grandfather worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard during WWII. Can I file as his survivor?
Yes. Wrongful death claims are accepted with: marriage/family records, death certificate showing meso/asbestos cause, federal employment records (often available through OPM), and medical records. WWII-era shipyard workers had among the highest exposure intensities of any U.S. occupation.
Ready to file as a shipyard worker?
We file with all applicable trusts at once. Free case review, no upfront cost.