Bethlehem Steel Shipyards & Asbestos

What to Know About Bethlehem Shipyards and Asbestos Exposure

Bethlehem Steel was one of the largest shipbuilders in the U.S. for decades. The company owned a wide range shipyards across multiple states, allowing it to construct and maintain vessels for both the U.S. Navy and private industries.

During World War II alone, Bethlehem Steel shipyards repaired more vessels than those owned by any other shipbuilding companies.

But Bethlehem Steel shipyard workers were put in grave danger since many shipbuilding materials contained asbestos. This substance can cause cancers like mesothelioma 10-50 years later — and many shipyard workers are now getting sick.

Quick Facts on Bethlehem Steel Shipyards and Asbestos Use

Main locations: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York
Ships serviced: Aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and more
Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases
Who is at risk: Shipyard workers, Navy veterans, and civilians

If you or someone you love served in a shipyard and now has mesothelioma, we may be able to help.

Get a Free Veterans Packet to explore treatments and benefits available to you.

How Was Asbestos Used in Bethlehem Steel Shipyards?

Shipyards controlled by Bethlehem Steel relied heavily on products containing asbestos for decades. As a result, workers were at a high risk of exposure.

Shipyard workers regularly handled asbestos-containing materials like:

Boilers and engines: Asbestos was used to insulate boiler rooms and machinery exposed to high heat.
Electrical components: Asbestos protected wiring and electrical panels from overheating.
Insulation: Applied to bulkheads, ship decks, and compartments to help with fireproofing.
Pipes and gaskets: These were lined with asbestos to prevent leaks and withstand extreme temperatures.

Shipyard workers were at an especially high risk of exposure from Navy ships. Government mandates required all Navy vessels to use asbestos-containing materials for decades.

List of Ships Built or Repaired at Bethlehem Steel Shipyards

It’s likely that thousands of Navy ships containing asbestos were built or serviced at Bethlehem Steel shipyards throughout the country.

Bethlehem Steel shipyards broke records for the number of vessels constructed as part of the World War II Emergency Shipbuilding program. The yards also helped repair more than 2,500 vessels during the war.

Types of ships built at Bethlehem Steel shipyards include:

Aircraft carriers: The USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Wasp (CV-18), and USS Hancock (CV-19) were among the many aircraft carriers constructed.
Cruisers: Just some cruisers built by Bethlehem Steel included the USS San Diego (CL-53), USS San Juan (CL-54), and USS Vincennes (CL-64).
Destroyers: The USS Preston (DD-795), USS Benham (DD-796), USS Cushing (DD-797), USS Monssen (DD-798), and USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865) are some of the many destroyers built at Bethlehem Steel’s shipyards.
Other vessels: Everything from battleships like the USS Massachusetts (BB-59) to Liberty ships such as the USS Megrez (AK-126) were constructed by Bethlehem Steel.

Many ships containing asbestos not listed above were also built or serviced at Bethlehem shipyards until the risks became public knowledge.

There’s no way to lower the dangers of mesothelioma after exposure, and many former Bethlehem Steel Shipyard workers have gone on to develop this cancer.

Call (877) 450-8973 to find out if a Navy ship or shipyard you served on put you in danger of mesothelioma.

Jobs at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Bethlehem Steel Shipyards

Any shipyard worker employed by Bethlehem Steel prior to the early 1980s could have been exposed to asbestos. That said, some who held specific roles were in more danger.

Some of the most at-risk jobs included:

Pipefitters: Installed and repaired asbestos pipes, valves, and gaskets.
Welders: Worked near asbestos-coated metal parts that required heat resistance.
Electricians: Installed and maintained asbestos-insulated wiring and electrical panels.
Boilermakers: Handled boilers lined with asbestos insulation.
Shipyard laborers: Worked in construction and repair, often disturbing asbestos materials.
Dry dock repairmen: Encountered asbestos when working on damaged ships.

It takes thousands of people to build just one ship, so Bethlehem Steel had to have a huge workforce. For example, Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard in Massachusetts employed over 23,000 people at its peak during World War II. All of these shipyard workers risked asbestos exposure.

Many employees worked in tight, poorly ventilated spaces, which only increased their risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. Decades later, exposure led many to develop serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Workers also carried asbestos dust home on their clothes and skin, exposing their loved ones to dangerous fibers and putting them at risk of getting sick too.

List of Bethlehem Steel Shipyards That Used Asbestos

Bethlehem Steel once controlled dozens of shipyards across the country, making it one of the most prominent players in the shipbuilding industry.

Bethlehem Steel shipyards that used asbestos included:

Bethlehem Alameda Shipyard in Alameda, California
Bethlehem Atlantic Works in East Boston, Massachusetts
Bethlehem Beaumont Shipyard in Beaumont, Texas
Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts
Bethlehem Shipbuilding San Pedro in Terminal Island, California
Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard in Sparrows Point, Maryland
Bethlehem Staten Island in Staten Island, New York
Bethlehem Steel Wilmington in Wilmington, Delaware
Fairfield Yard in Baltimore, Maryland
Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts
Fort McHenry Yard in Baltimore, Maryland
Hoboken Shipyard in Hoboken, New Jersey
Key Highway Yards in Baltimore, Maryland
Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California

Bethlehem Steel’s shipyard operations plateaued following World War II, and by the 1980s demand was low. Only Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard was still actively producing ships by 1990, with the rest of the yards either shuttered or sold.

In 1997, Bethlehem Steel sold the Sparrows Point yard and ceased shipbuilding activity. However, former Bethlehem Steel shipyard employees could still develop mesothelioma today since this cancer forms decades after asbestos exposure.

Get a Free Veterans Packet to explore benefits available if you or a loved one served in Bethlehem Steel shipyards and now has mesothelioma.

Compensation for Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Workers With Mesothelioma

Many former shipyard workers and Navy veterans have pursued compensation through lawsuits, trust fund claims, and VA benefits. Lawsuit compensation can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Explore types of mesothelioma compensation available to former Bethlehem Steel shipyard employees and their families below.

Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Bethlehem Steel shipyard workers may be eligible to file mesothelioma lawsuits after a diagnosis.

These lawsuits are worth $1 million or more on average and filed against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products — not the military or government. You can still file for military benefits if you’re a veteran, too.

Our partner mesothelioma attorneys have recovered compensation for many other shipyard workers, veterans, and families after a diagnosis.

VA Benefits

U.S. veterans who developed mesothelioma from working on ships during their service could qualify for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.

Mesothelioma VA benefits include:

Disability compensation worth $4,158.17 a month
Free or inexpensive health care from top doctors
Resources for surviving family members

Get help filing for or maximizing your mesothelioma VA benefits right now.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Many companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products filed for bankruptcy to avoid lawsuits. However, these companies were forced to put money into trust funds to pay victims.

More than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds. You may qualify to access some of this money depending on which products you were exposed to while working at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard locations.

Get a free case review for help pursuing compensation if you or a loved one served in a shipyard and now has mesothelioma. We make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

Help for Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Workers With Mesothelioma

Former employees of Bethlehem Steel shipyards continue to develop mesothelioma each year through no fault of their own. We may be able to help if you or a loved one has been diagnosed.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has assisted veterans, shipyard workers, and their families in getting treatments and receiving the benefits they deserve after a diagnosis.

Work with our team to:

File for or get the most out of your VA benefits
Get connected with top doctors and treatments
Pursue compensation often worth $1 million+

Don’t wait: Call (877) 450-8973 or get a Free Veterans Packet to get started.

Bethlehem Steel Shipyards and Asbestos Exposure FAQs

What caused the downfall of Bethlehem Steel?

Bethlehem Steel’s shipyards were gradually sold off following World War II due to a decreased demand for ships. Its last shipyard was sold in 1997.

Outside of its shipyards, Bethlehem Steel lost major revenue as the steel industry changed in the late 20th century, causing the company to go bankrupt by the early 2000s.

With that said, those who served in Bethlehem Steel shipyards long ago are still in danger of mesothelioma. This cancer can develop 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.

Is Bethlehem Steel still around?

No, Bethlehem Steel is no longer around today. After declaring bankruptcy, the company shuttered in the early 2000s.

However, many asbestos companies that made and sold products to Bethlehem Steel shipyards are still active. It may be possible to file asbestos lawsuits against these companies if you or a loved one is now facing mesothelioma.

Call (877) 450-8973 now for help pursuing justice and compensation.

Is asbestos still used in shipbuilding?

Asbestos is no longer used in shipbuilding due to the health risks, which include mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

However, prior to the early 1980s, asbestos was a key asset in shipbuilding because private companies hid the dangerous health risks. In fact, virtually every Navy ship relied on asbestos due to government mandates at one time.

Tens of thousands of former shipyard workers are still in danger today since asbestos-related illnesses can take 10-50 years to form.

Asbestos in Bethlehem Steel Shipyards