6 Total shipyards
1 Naval shipyards
3 Cities

Naval Shipyards

Government-operated naval shipyards in New York employed military personnel and civilian workers who faced intense asbestos exposure. Veterans may qualify for VA benefits.

Brooklyn Navy Yard

Brooklyn, New York

Naval

Private Shipyards

Commercial shipyards in New York built and repaired vessels for private industry, with workers facing similar asbestos exposure as naval facilities.

Atlantic Basin Iron Works

Brooklyn, New York

Jakobson Shipyard

Brooklyn, New York

Closed

Morse Dry Dock & Repair Company

Brooklyn, New York

North River Shipyard

Nyack, New York

Lawrence & Foulks

Williamsburg, New York

Closed

Asbestos Exposure at New York Shipyards

Workers at New York shipyards encountered asbestos in numerous applications throughout vessel construction and repair:

  • Pipe insulation — Steam and water pipes wrapped in asbestos lagging
  • Boiler and engine rooms — Heavy insulation in machinery spaces
  • Fireproofing — Asbestos sheets and spray applications on bulkheads
  • Gaskets and packing — Valve components containing asbestos
  • Electrical insulation — Wiring and panels with asbestos materials

At-Risk Occupations

Multiple trades worked at these shipyards and faced asbestos exposure. If you held any of these positions, you may have been exposed:

Pipefitters Boilermakers Insulators Shipyard Workers Welders Electricians