The New York Shipbuilding Corporation (New York Ship) was a large shipyard in Camden, New Jersey. It was vital to the war effort, building more ships for World War II than any other shipyard. New York Ship used asbestos extensively, leaving many of its workers with life-threatening diseases like mesothelioma.
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Did New York Shipbuilding Use Asbestos?
New York Ship used asbestos during its operations as a shipyard. All shipyards used asbestos in the past. The peak years of asbestos use in the industry were from the 1930s through the 1970s.
Workers who handled the hundreds of asbestos components that went into ships were at risk for exposure. Many later developed asbestos illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
New York Shipbuilding History
Henry G. Morse created the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in 1899. Instead of locating in New York as initially planned, he settled on Camden, New Jersey. New York Ship began building right away, constructing various ship types.
The first battleship built at New York Ship was the USS Kansas, finished in 1907. Workers here also constructed luxury liners, barges, and many Navy vessels.
New York Ship was one of the largest and most productive shipyards in the U.S. It operated for many years until closing in 1967. These are some of the highlights of the shipyard’s history:
- New York Shipbuilding continued building vessels for several years and eventually became one of the largest shipyards in World War I.
- The shipyard added additional yards and space, situated more than two miles along the Delaware River. As the business continued to boom, the company built many vessels after the military invested over $20 million for its expansion.
- New York Shipbuilding built the USS Saratoga (CV-3). The vessel was supposed to be a battlecruiser but was used as an aircraft carrier for the United States Navy during World War II.
- New York Ship employed more than 30,000 people during WWII and built more than 200 ships.
- After WW II, New York Ship began constructing nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy. It also built the first commercial nuclear-powered vessel, the NS Savannah.
- New York Ship began building its largest ship, the supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk.
Demand for the shipyard’s vessels declined drastically in the early 1960s. New York Shipbuilding closed its doors in 1967. Today, the area is part of the Port of Camden
How Did New York Shipbuilding Use Asbestos?
Similar to most shipyards in the past, the New York Shipbuilding Corporation relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and products while building vessels.
Not only was asbestos affordable, but it was also easy to mix into other materials and resistant to heat and fire. Some of the hundreds of asbestos components used to build ships at New York Ships include:
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Cement
- Boilers
- Pumps
- Gaskets
- Valves
- Textiles
Who Was at Risk for Asbestos Exposure at New York Ship?
Shipyard employees and contractors worked with and around asbestos daily and for prolonged periods of time at New York Ship.
Many shipyard employees worked in the cramped engine rooms in vessels with asbestos dust permeating the air as they sprayed asbestos-filled sprays onto ship parts and walls.
The workers were never warned of the dangers of asbestos, nor were they given any protective gear, such as respirators, to wear while working around massive amounts of the dangerous minerals.
Some of the workers at greatest risk of asbestos exposure were those who handled asbestos materials directly:
- Insulators
- Pipefitters
- Steamfitters
- Boiler workers
- Repair workers
- Shipbreakers
- Welders
Compensation and Benefits for Asbestos Exposure at New York Ship
Due to the excessive use of asbestos, numerous New York Shipbuilding employees and contractors developed fatal illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer.
Many of the workers at New York Shipbuilding are United States Navy veterans. These workers could qualify for free medical assistance and compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA benefits include disability compensation, compensation for dependents, and medical care.
Non-veterans and veterans who were injured by asbestos can file lawsuits against the asbestos companies that supplied shipyards.
If those suppliers went bankrupt, another option is to file a claim with an asbestos trust fund. Bankrupt asbestos companies were required to set up these trusts to compensate victims.
If you worked at New York Shipbuilding, talk to a mesothelioma lawyer about your rights. They can help you seek compensation through any of these steps.
Additional Resources and Helpful Information for Asbestos Victims
If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation for pain, suffering, medical costs, and much more. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers.
