Babcock & Wilcox Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust
Eligibility, payouts, and how to file. Last reviewed: 2026-05-03.
See if you qualify for the Babcock & Wilcox Trust
About the Babcock & Wilcox Trust
Babcock & Wilcox Company has been one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial boilers and steam-generation equipment since 1867. The company's boilers powered nearly every U.S. Navy ship from World War II through the 1980s, alongside thousands of civilian power plants and industrial facilities. Babcock & Wilcox boilers themselves did not contain asbestos as a structural material, but the boilers required extensive asbestos insulation, refractory bricks, and pipe coverings — much of which the company specified, supplied, or installed directly.
Following decades of personal injury litigation from Navy veterans and industrial workers, Babcock & Wilcox filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000. The Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust was established in 2006 with $1.85 billion in initial funding and continues operations today.
Bankruptcy and trust establishment
The Babcock & Wilcox Trust pays at a strong 25% pro rata percentage with a scheduled mesothelioma value of $80,000, producing estimated payouts in the $18,000–$22,000 range. The trust is one of the most important for Navy veterans because B&W boilers were essentially universal aboard Navy ships from WWII through the Cold War era. If you were a Boiler Technician (BT), Machinist's Mate (MM), Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), or any rate that worked in or near engineering spaces, B&W exposure documentation is typically straightforward.
Products and exposure sources covered
The trust covers exposure related to Babcock & Wilcox industrial and marine boilers, the asbestos pipe insulation, gaskets, packing, and refractory bricks specified for use with these boilers, and the asbestos-containing equipment associated with B&W boiler installation, maintenance, and repair operations. The exposure window runs from 1942 through 1985, covering essentially the entire era of asbestos use in Navy and industrial steam systems.
Specific asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by this company:
- Industrial boilers
- Boiler refractory
- Boiler insulation
Eligibility criteria
To file a claim with the Babcock & Wilcox Trust, you generally need to demonstrate:
- Qualifying diagnosis: Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Asbestosis
- Documented exposure to Babcock & Wilcox Trust products during the trust's covered exposure window (1942–1985)
- Work history records placing you at a job site where these products were used (employer records, union records, witness statements, military service records)
- Medical documentation (pathology reports, imaging, treating physician records)
Navy veterans who served in engineering rates between WWII and the 1980s have the strongest documentation paths to a B&W claim. Civilian shipyard workers (Norfolk, Mare Island, Pearl Harbor, Philadelphia, Puget Sound, and others) who built, overhauled, or repaired Navy ships had similar exposure. Industrial workers at coal-fired power plants, refineries, and chemical plants where B&W boilers operated are also frequently eligible.
How to file with the Babcock & Wilcox Trust
- Gather documentation — diagnosis records, work history, military service records (DD-214), product identification
- Complete the trust's claim form — Each trust has its own form
- File with all applicable trusts — multi-trust filing simultaneously is the standard approach
- Trust review — typically 3–9 months
- Payment — typically 2–6 months after approval
Most claimants qualify for several trusts, not just one. Filing with all applicable trusts at once maximizes total compensation. Start your free case review and we'll identify every applicable trust for your specific work history.
Compensation amounts
Reported scheduled value for mesothelioma claims: $80,000. The trust's current pro rata payment percentage is 25%, meaning the actual payout typically falls in the range of $18,000–$22,000.
These figures are based on Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs) and historical payout data. Pro rata percentages can change. Actual recovery varies by case factors including diagnosis severity, exposure documentation, and trust funding levels at the time of payment. Past payouts do not guarantee future amounts.
Common qualifying occupations
The Babcock & Wilcox Trust commonly accepts claims from workers in these occupations:
Multi-trust filing strategy
The Babcock & Wilcox Trust is rarely the only trust a mesothelioma claimant qualifies for. Most workers exposed to industrial boilers were also exposed to products covered by other bankruptcy trusts. Filing with multiple trusts simultaneously is standard practice and significantly increases total compensation.
Related trusts that often apply alongside the Babcock & Wilcox Trust
- Johns Manville Trust — 5.1% pro rata, est. payout $1,100–$4,500
- Combustion Engineering Trust — 11.5% pro rata, est. payout $6,500–$8,500
- Owens Corning / Fibreboard Trust — 26.2% pro rata, est. payout $45,000–$70,000
- Pittsburgh Corning Trust — 28% pro rata, est. payout $55,000–$70,000
- Eagle-Picher Trust — 32% pro rata, est. payout $20,000–$25,000
Deadlines and statute of limitations
The Babcock & Wilcox Trust generally accepts claims on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline, though the trust may modify procedures from time to time. The applicable statute of limitations for the underlying asbestos claim depends on your state of residence and typically runs from the date of diagnosis (1–3 years in most states for personal injury; longer for wrongful death in some jurisdictions).
Always verify current deadlines with the trust administrator or a licensed attorney before filing. We track deadlines for our clients so you don't miss a filing window.
Frequently asked questions
I was a Navy boiler tech (BT). Do I automatically qualify for the B&W trust?
Boiler Technicians have one of the strongest documentation paths to a B&W claim because their job duties placed them in direct contact with boiler insulation, gaskets, and refractory materials daily. With a DD-214 showing BT rating during the 1942-1985 exposure window, eligibility is typically straightforward.
What about Machinist's Mates and Hull Techs?
Both Machinist's Mates (MM) and Hull Maintenance Technicians (HT) typically qualify. MM rates worked in engineering spaces around B&W equipment routinely; HT rates handled pipe repair work that involved cutting and replacing asbestos pipe insulation around B&W boilers.
My ship had Foster Wheeler boilers, not Babcock & Wilcox. Does this trust apply?
The B&W trust specifically covers exposure to Babcock & Wilcox products. If your ship had Foster Wheeler boilers, you may have a claim against the Foster Wheeler bankruptcy trust separately. Most Navy veterans have exposure to multiple boiler manufacturers across their service career — we identify all applicable trusts.
Can civilian shipyard workers file B&W claims?
Yes. Civilian shipyard workers at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Mare Island, Puget Sound, Long Beach, and other Navy yards routinely worked on B&W boilers during overhauls and repairs. Documentation through shipyard employment records is the standard path.
What documentation do I need for a B&W claim?
For Navy claimants: DD-214 showing service dates and rating, plus medical diagnosis records. For civilian shipyard workers: employment records and union records showing presence at facilities where B&W boilers were serviced. Witness statements from shipmates or coworkers can supplement documentation gaps.
Sources and verification
Information on this page is based on publicly available Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs), bankruptcy court Plans of Reorganization (PACER), trust annual reports, and RAND Institute for Civil Justice asbestos trust research. Reviewed quarterly.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-03 · Next scheduled review: 2026-08-03
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