Avondale Shipyard in Louisiana was one of the largest shipyards in the United States. However, before the early 1980s, anyone working there risked exposure to asbestos. Those exposed could develop mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer, later in life. We can help eligible U.S. veterans and civilians who developed mesothelioma after working at Avondale Shipyard pursue compensation and justice.
What to Know About Avondale Shipyard and Asbestos Risks
Thousands of people who worked at Louisiana’s Avondale Shipyard outside of New Orleans suffered asbestos exposure, putting them at risk of serious illnesses like mesothelioma.
From its founding in 1938 to the early 1980s, Avondale Shipyard relied on a wide range of asbestos-containing products in vessels. The shipyard helped build and service countless U.S. Coast Guard and Navy ships, which used asbestos due to government mandates.
At the time, shipyard workers didn't know that asbestos exposure put them and their loved ones in danger. Companies that made asbestos products hid the facts to make huge profits. By the time the risks were discovered, it was already too late to protect shipyard workers.
“I knew a lot of people who died from asbestos exposure.”
— Harry, former Avondale Shipyard worker
Key Facts on Avondale Shipyard and Asbestos Use
- Ships serviced: Navy ships, Coast Guard vessels, cargo ships, and barges
- Asbestos use: Boilers, gaskets, insulation, pipes, and other ship parts
- Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases
If you or a loved one worked at Avondale or another shipyard and are now suffering from mesothelioma, you may qualify for military benefits, treatments, and compensation.
Get a Free Veterans Packet to explore all the ways we can assist you right now.
How Was Asbestos Used at Avondale Shipyard?
Asbestos materials were widely used at Avondale Shipyard for decades. Before the health risks were publicly known, asbestos was considered a great fireproofing and insulating material for military and civilian ships.
As a result, virtually every vessel serviced at Avondale Shipyard between the 1930s and early 1980s had asbestos-containing products aboard.
Asbestos could be found in:
- Adhesives
- Boilers
- Deck covering
- Electrical wiring
- Gaskets and valves
- Insulation
- Packing materials
- Paneling
- Pumps
- Thermal blankets
- Tubes
Avondale Shipyard workers did not know that asbestos was dangerous. Private companies that made and sold asbestos products knew the risks but hid them to keep profits high.
In a 2024 lawsuit, a man suffering from mesothelioma noted that his brother worked with asbestos blankets used for ship insulation at Avondale. He believed that secondhand exposure to asbestos fibers his brother brought home on his work clothes contributed to his diagnosis.
List of Ships Built or Repaired at Avondale Shipyard
When the shipyard opened in 1938 under its original name of Avondale Marine Ways, it mainly served to repair and build barges.
However, during World War II, Avondale won a contract to build military tugboats. Over time, the yard helped build and maintain a wide range of Navy and Coast Guard ships, exposing thousands of workers to asbestos in the process.
Types of ships built and serviced at Avondale Shipyard included:
- Barges
- Destroyers
- Destroyer escorts
- Coast Guard cutters
- Fishing boats
- Oil rigs
The yard was renamed Avondale Shipyard in 1960, by which point it had become Louisiana's shipbuilding hub. When the risks of asbestos became public knowledge in the early 1980s, major steps were taken to remove asbestos from ships and protect Avondale Shipyard workers.
However, there was no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma in those who had already been exposed to asbestos before the dangers were widely known.
Get a Free Veterans Packet to explore benefits, treatments, and compensation options if you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after working at Avondale Shipyard.
High-Risk Asbestos Jobs at Avondale Shipyard
Any shipyard worker at Avondale ran the risk of asbestos exposure, especially those handling or working on equipment containing this deadly substance.
Avondale Shipyard jobs that put workers at a high risk of exposure included:
- Boilermakers
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Pipefitters
- Welders
At one point, up to 26,000 people worked at Avondale Shipyard, making it the largest employer in Louisiana. All of these employees risked asbestos exposure.
During shipyard work, asbestos fibers could fly into the air, creating dust that workers breathed. Avondale Shipyard workers did not have protective respiratory equipment. Instead, workers used cloth rags while blowing asbestos dust out of components, which did little to keep them safe.
This dust could also cling to a worker’s clothing, putting their loved ones at risk through secondhand exposure.
Benefits and Compensation for Avondale Mesothelioma Victims
If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure at Avondale Shipyard, you may be able to pursue military benefits and compensation to cover any expenses you now face.
Learn about top benefits and financial compensation options for mesothelioma below.
VA Benefits
Veterans with mesothelioma who worked at Avondale Shipyard or served on ships serviced there may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).
The VA considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, meaning veterans with this cancer can receive maximum benefits.
Key mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability compensation worth $4,044.91 a month
- Free or low-cost health care from top doctors
- Resources for surviving family members
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you or a loved one file for VA benefits or maximize them following a diagnosis. Connect with us now to get started.
Avondale Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Avondale shipyard workers with mesothelioma may qualify to file lawsuits that can award significant compensation. The average mesothelioma lawsuit pays out $1 million or more.
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit will not impact your ability to access VA benefits. In addition, you won't sue any branch of the military or government through these lawsuits.
A Louisiana mesothelioma lawyer can determine if you qualify to file an asbestos lawsuit.
Avondale Shipyard Asbestos Trust Funds
Mesothelioma patients may also be able to file trust fund claims. These trusts were established by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.
There is over $30 billion available in asbestos trust funds today. Depending on the products you were exposed to at Avondale Shipyard, you or a loved one may be entitled to compensation from multiple trusts.
Contact us now to find out your eligibility if you worked at Avondale Shipyard and now have mesothelioma. Our team can figure out which products you were exposed to and if the companies that made them have trust funds.
Help for Avondale Shipyard Workers With Mesothelioma
Louisiana tradesmen believed Avondale Shipyard was an ideal place to work, with some taking pay cuts during bad times to stay on the job or getting re-hired after layoffs.
However, the benefits didn’t outweigh the life-threatening risks of asbestos. Avondale Shipyard workers never deserved to be put at risk of serious cancers like mesothelioma.
The Mesothelioma Veteran Center stands ready to support former service members, civilians, and family members affected by this cancer.
Work with our team to:
- File for or maximize your VA benefits
- Get the best treatments for your case
- Pursue compensation often worth $1 million or more
Our caring and dedicated team is ready to support you and your loved ones in any way we can. Call (877) 450-8973 or get a Free Veterans Packet now to see all the ways we can assist you.
Avondale Shipyard and Mesothelioma FAQs
How serious is one-time asbestos exposure?
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Even one exposure to asbestos can put you at risk of mesothelioma 10-50 years later.
That said, anyone who worked at Avondale Shipyard before the early 1980s was likely exposed to asbestos on an everyday basis. Virtually every ship contained asbestos and shipyards were often filled with contaminated dust.
Can I claim for asbestos exposure?
Yes, you may be able to claim for compensation if you were exposed to asbestos at Avondale Shipyard and later developed mesothelioma or another serious illness.
Our partner mesothelioma lawyers can see which asbestos products you were exposed to and link them to your diagnosis. They can also file a mesothelioma lawsuit on your behalf and fight to get the highest financial payouts in your case.
Contact us now to find out your eligibility for asbestos compensation.
Why did Avondale Shipyard close?
Avondale Shipyard closed in the mid-2010s due to a lack of business, according to Louisiana news outlets. The shipyard had reduced its workforce from nearly 30,000 to fewer than 650 employees.
While former employees remembered working at the shipyard, they also noted the hazards of the job, including asbestos. In an interview about the shipyard's closing, one employee stated: “I knew a lot of people who died from asbestos exposure.”
Who bought Avondale Shipyard?
Shipbuilding company T. Parker Host bought Avondale Shipyard in 2018 and has since relaunched it as Avondale Global Gateway, according to the Associated Press.
Present-day work at Avondale Global Gateway does not involve asbestos. However, former Avondale Shipyard employees are still at risk as it takes 10-50 years after exposure for illnesses like mesothelioma to develop.
If you or a loved one worked at Avondale Shipyard and is now suffering from mesothelioma, call (877) 450-8973. We can help you pursue military benefits, financial compensation, and treatments if eligible.
