New York Shipbuilding Corporation

New York Shipbuilding Corporation Asbestos Exposure

New York Shipbuilding Corporation was established in 1899 by Henry Morse. New York Shipbuilding Corporation, also called “New York Ship,” was supposed to be in New York City. However, due to a failed real estate deal, New York Shipbuilding was based in Camden, New Jersey. It spanned 160 acres and launched some of the Navy’s most famous ships.

Production at New York Shipbuilding began in 1900. New York Shipbuilding Corporation was known for the variety and quantity of vessels it constructed and launched.  These vessels included submarines, steamships, cruisers, battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers and oil tankers. New York Shipbuilding even built vessels for other countries.

During World War I, New York Shipbuilding Corporation was so busy that a “specifically planned” neighborhood was created in Camden, New Jersey to house workers. Many of its streets were named after famous ships. During World War II, New York Shipbuilding was the greatest shipyard in the world. It built famous ships such as: Indianapolis, Reuben James, Saipan, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Washington, Saratoga, Little Rock, Kity Hawk and Princeton. During World War II, New York Shipbuilding boasted over 30,000 workers.

After World War II, there were less Navy contracts available and the competition between shipyards was fierce. Beginning in the mid-1960s, New York Shipbuilding started to lay off workers. Following the completion of its last ship, the USS Camden, New York Shipbuilding Corporation closed in 1967. Throughout its operation, New York Shipbuilding created over 670 vessels.

Asbestos was used at New York Shipbuilding due to its heat-resistance and durability. During the construction and maintenance of vessels at New York Shipbuilding, insulators, electricians, plumbers, welders, and pipefitters may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. New York Shipbuilding workers used asbestos insulation on walls, pipes and boilers throughout vessels. Workers near or in the vicinity of those who constructed, repaired, and maintained asbestos-containing materials were also at risk for exposure to asbestos fibers.

The attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC have gathered a vast amount of information concerning the type and variety of asbestos containing products to which our clients were exposed. If you or a loved one once worked at New York Shipbuilding Corporation and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, please contact us for a free case evaluation.