Brown Shipbuilding in Houston built hundreds of ships used by the U.S. Navy during World War II and beyond. However, Brown shipyard workers and Navy veterans risked exposure to asbestos from these ships, which can cause malignant mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, we can help you pursue VA benefits, treatments, and financial compensation for medical expenses.
What to Know About Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Risks
Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1941 by Herman and George R. Brown at the junction of the Houston Ship Channel and Green’s Bayou. The Houston shipyard was one of several emergency shipyards created to meet America’s urgent naval needs during World War II.
During its short but intense period of activity, Brown produced over 350 vessels. However, all of these ships were built with asbestos components due to government mandates. As a result, shipyard workers and Navy veterans were put at risk of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma.
The Brown shipyard was leased by Todd Shipyard Corporation following World War II, and shipbuilding activities continued there through the 1980s. Yet asbestos was still used in virtually all ships through this time, meaning tens of thousands of shipyard workers risked exposure.
Brown Shipbuilding and Mesothelioma Quick Facts
- Also known as: Todd Houston Shipyard
- Ships serviced: Destroyer escorts, submarine chasers, landing craft, and more
- Health risks: Mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases
- Time period of asbestos use: 1941 to mid-1980s
- Who is at risk: Navy veterans, shipyard workers, and family members
If you or a loved one worked for Brown Shipbuilding years ago and now has mesothelioma, we’re here to help. Work with the Mesothelioma Veterans Center to seek military benefits, health care, and compensation.
Get a Free Veterans Packet now to learn more about how we can assist you or a loved one facing mesothelioma.
How Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Exposure Occurred
You could have easily been exposed to asbestos at Brown’s shipyard through a wide range of materials. Every U.S. Navy ship used asbestos-containing materials due to government mandates before the early 1980s.
At the time, asbestos-containing ship parts were thought to safely keep vessels fireproof, insulated, and durable. Navy personnel and shipyard workers like you didn’t realize these materials were dangerous, because asbestos companies hid the health risks for decades.
Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure occurred through:
- Boilers and engines: Wrapped in asbestos insulation to resist extreme heat
- Construction materials: Asbestos cement, adhesives, and flooring in shipyard buildings
- Machinery: Gaskets, pumps, and valves contained asbestos seals
- Pipe networks: Covered with asbestos cloth, cement, or thermal insulation
- Protective equipment: Welding blankets, gloves, and aprons made with asbestos fibers
As you and your fellow shipyard workers installed, repaired, and replaced these materials, asbestos fibers could be released into the surrounding air. Breathing in or swallowing these fibers could cause you to develop mesothelioma 10-50 years later.
List of Ships Built or Repaired at Brown Shipbuilding
Brown Shipbuilding specialized in producing smaller naval vessels critical for convoy protection and amphibious operations. Over 350 U.S. Navy ships were built at Brown during World War II alone and all of them had asbestos-containing products aboard.
Ships constructed at Brown included:
- Destroyer escorts: Brown Shipbuilding helped craft over 60 destroyer escorts for World War II. These included the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), USS Stewart (DE-238), USS Robert F. Keller (DE-419), USS LeRay Wilson (DE-414), and USS Tomich (DE-242).
- Landing craft: Brown built vessels such as the LCI(L)-326, LCI(L)-339, LCI(L)-350, and hundreds of other landing ships for the Navy.
- Submarine chasers: These were designed to hunt down enemy submarines. Vessels like the USS PC-565, USS PC-568, PC-608, PC-611 and many more were built at Brown.
Because hundreds of ships constructed by Brown used asbestos, you were at a very high risk of exposure. In fact, many shipyard workers were exposed every single day.
The risk of exposure continued far beyond the shipyard’s peak activity in World War II. Starting in 1949, Brown Shipbuilding was leased to the larger Todd Shipyards Corporation, with ship construction continuing through the 1980s. This put entire generations of shipyard workers in danger of mesothelioma.
While Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure can lead to devastating diagnoses later in life, help is available. Call (877) 450-8973 to get help seeking treatments, VA benefits, and financial compensation for mesothelioma.
High-Risk Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Jobs
Brown Shipbuilding Company was the second-biggest employer in Houston through World War II, with over 25,000 workers, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. Any of these shipyard workers and many more could have been exposed to asbestos.
Brown Shipbuilding jobs at highest risk of asbestos exposure included:
- Boiler and engine room workers handled high-heat components lined with asbestos cement and blocks.
- Dry dock laborers worked below decks where ventilation was poor, increasing the concentration of asbestos dust.
- Electricians handled asbestos-containing panels, wires, and insulation.
- Insulators directly applied asbestos insulation to boilers and machinery.
- Machinists worked with pumps and valves that relied on asbestos gaskets and seals.
- Pipefitters routinely installed and cut asbestos-wrapped piping, releasing heavy dust clouds.
- Shipfitters and repair teams removed and replaced asbestos during retrofits, creating even more airborne fibers.
- Welders used asbestos blankets and gloves to shield themselves from sparks.
If you worked in any of these roles, you could have been exposed to asbestos every day for hours at a time. This increased your odds of developing serious asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma later in life.
You were also at risk of exposure if a loved one worked for Brown Shipbuilding. Shipyard workers could come home covered in asbestos dust, exposing family members to asbestos secondhand. Many spouses and children have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to this type of exposure.
Compensation for Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Exposure
If you or a loved one worked for Brown Shipbuilding decades ago, you may be able to recover compensation options from VA benefits, asbestos lawsuits, and trust fund claims.
VA Benefits for Mesothelioma
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides many different benefits to veterans with mesothelioma. Veterans with this cancer usually receive a 100% disability rating and get the highest monthly payouts.
Mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability compensation worth $4,158.17 monthly for 2026
- Free or inexpensive cancer treatments through VA health care
- Survivor benefits, pension plans, and more
Applying for mesothelioma VA benefits can be confusing, but we’re here to help. Work with us to file for or increase your VA benefits now.
Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Lawsuits
You may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit and get compensation from manufacturers of Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos products. The average asbestos lawsuit pays out $1 million or more. You won’t sue the military or government if you file.
Our partner mesothelioma lawyers have secured millions of dollars for veterans, former shipyard workers, and families in Texas affected by this cancer.
Texas mesothelioma lawsuit payouts include:
- $3.41 million for a U.S. Navy veteran
- $1.76 million for a U.S. Army veteran and longshoreman
- $2.35 million for a U.S. Navy veteran
Get a free case review now to learn if you or a loved one may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit after being exposed to asbestos at this shipyard.
Asbestos Trust Funds
If you suffered Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure and later got sick, you could qualify for trust fund payouts. Over $30 billion is currently available in asbestos trust funds established by bankrupt companies. Our team can help determine if you may be owed some of this money.
If eligible, you can expect to start getting trust fund payouts relatively quickly. Payments usually start within 90 days of filing. You can pursue payouts from the VA and through mesothelioma lawsuits at the same time.
Help for Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Exposure
Former Brown Shipbuilding employees have developed devastating illnesses like mesothelioma through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed, connect with the Mesothelioma Veterans Center today.
Our caring and dedicated team can determine if your diagnosis is linked to Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure and work to secure the resources and justice you deserve.
If eligible, we can help you pursue:
- Essential VA benefits
- Financial compensation and support
- Top cancer doctors and treatments
Get a Free Veterans Packet now or call (877) 450-8973 to learn more about how our team can assist your family.
Brown Shipbuilding Company Asbestos Exposure FAQs
Are shipyard workers exposed to asbestos?
Yes, many former shipyard workers suffered asbestos exposure at Brown Shipbuilding. This is because virtually all ships relied on asbestos-containing components to help keep them durable and well-insulated.
Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure occurred on an everyday basis. As a result, many former shipyard workers and Navy veterans have gone on to develop serious illnesses like mesothelioma later in life.
Is asbestos on Navy ships?
Yes, many older U.S. Navy ships built by Brown Shipbuilding and other shipyards across the country used asbestos. Before the early 1980s, the U.S. Navy required the use of asbestos aboard all its vessels.
Navy personnel and shipyard workers didn’t know asbestos could cause cancers like mesothelioma since manufacturers hid the health risks.
Contact us now to find out if you may qualify for VA benefits, treatments, and compensation if you suffered Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure and now have mesothelioma.
What is asbestos in a ship?
Ships used a wide range of materials that contained asbestos before the risks were fully known. Brown Shipbuilding Company asbestos exposure occurred through materials like insulation, piping, gaskets, and electrical components.
Working with these materials could release asbestos fibers into the air. If you breathed in or swallowed them, you could go on to develop mesothelioma later in life. Areas like boiler rooms and engine rooms put workers at a very high risk as they were poorly ventilated, meaning the fibers had nowhere to go.
