Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure

What to Know About Asbestos in Hunters Point Naval Shipyard

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1939 after opening as a private dry dock in the late 1860s. It quickly became one of the Navy's largest shipyards on the West Coast, playing a vital role in shipbuilding during World War II through 1974, when it was shuttered.

During World War II alone, nearly 20,000 people were employed by Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Yet those who worked to help build, demolish, and renovate Navy ships risked exposure to asbestos, a toxic substance that can cause mesothelioma later in life.

Government mandates required the use of asbestos-containing materials like gaskets and insulation aboard all U.S. Navy ships between the 1930s and early 1980s. This meant that anyone working on vessels at Hunters Point Shipyard could have been exposed.

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Quick Facts

Also known as: Naval Shipyard Hunters Point, San Francisco Naval Shipyard
Ships serviced: Frigates, submarines, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and more
Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases
Time period of asbestos use: 1939 to 1974
Who is at risk: Navy veterans, shipyard workers, civilians, and loved ones

We may be able to help if you or someone you love worked at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard decades ago and is now suffering from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. You may qualify for military benefits, free or inexpensive treatment, and financial compensation.

Get a Free Veterans Packet now to learn more about the resources available to you and your family.

How Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Occurred

Throughout the 20th century, asbestos was a go-to material in shipyards and aboard ships due to its ability to withstand heat, electricity, and corrosion. In fact, the U.S. Navy mandated the use of asbestos-containing materials aboard all its ships built between the 1930s and early 1980s.

At Hunters Point, asbestos was used extensively in:

Boilers: Lined with asbestos insulation to retain heat and prevent fires
Electrical and mechanical equipment: Fireproofed using asbestos-containing products
Piping and gaskets: Wrapped or sealed with asbestos materials to resist high pressure
Ship interiors: Coated in asbestos for fire safety

When these materials were installed, removed, or damaged, they released asbestos fibers into the air. If you breathed in or swallowed the fibers, you could go on to develop mesothelioma or other illnesses in 10-50 years or more.

It wasn’t just the ships themselves that put Hunters Point Naval Shipyard workers like you at risk. Many buildings at Hunters Point and other shipyards contained asbestos materials like insulation, ceiling tiles, and roofing. Even the soil at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is still contaminated with asbestos today.

List of Ships Built or Repaired at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard

Hunters Point mainly served as a repair site for U.S. Navy ships, though many vessels were built there as well. Navy shipyard workers risked daily exposure to asbestos while servicing these ships.

Some of the ships built or repaired at Hunters Point included:

Aircraft carriers: Notable vessels like the USS Midway (CVB-41), USS Boxer (CV-21), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and USS Coral Sea (CV-43) were built or refurbished at Hunters Point.
Destroyers: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard serviced destroyers, including the USS Carpenter (DD-825), USS De Haven (DD-727), USS Hamner (DD-718), and many more.
Frigates: The USS Bradley (FF-1041), USS Halsey (DLG-23), and a wide range of other frigates came to Hunters Point for repairs.
Other vessels: These included submarines like the USS Brill (SS-330), stores issue ships such as the USS Castor (AKS-1) and USS Chara (AE-31), and cruisers, including the USS Chicago (CA-136), among hundreds more.

It’s likely that tens of thousands of shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos-containing materials through 1974, when the shipyard closed. Former shipyard workers could still be at risk today since asbestos-related diseases take decades to form.

Call (877) 450-8973 to get help pursuing VA benefits, treatments, and financial compensation if you or a loved one worked at Hunters Point and now has mesothelioma.

High-Risk Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Jobs

Anyone who worked at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard may have come in contact with asbestos. However, some shipyard workers were exposed every day for extended periods of time as they worked to build and repair vessels.

High-risk Hunters Point Naval Shipyard jobs included:

Boiler tenders
Dry dock laborers
Electricians
Insulators
Machinists
Pipefitters
Sheet metal workers
Technicians
Welders

The U.S. Navy stopped all shipbuilding activities at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 1974 as the Vietnam War was drawing to a close. By the early 1980s, the Navy stopped using asbestos aboard its ships and took steps to renovate its existing fleet.

Still, there wasn’t anything that could be done to protect the tens of thousands of former Hunters Point shipyard workers who had already been exposed from asbestos-related illnesses.

“My father was a college-educated “walking boss.” He was a handsome guy with a bright smile and a zany sense of humor. One morning in February 1992, I walked into his bedroom and found him dead. He was 56 years old. He had pulmonary asbestosis.”

— Ahimsa, daughter of former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard worker

Compensation for Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure

If you worked at Hunters Point and are now suffering from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may qualify for benefits and compensation options. Learn about VA benefits, lawsuits, and trust fund claims that can potentially help you and your family.

VA Benefits for Mesothelioma

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides many different benefits to veterans with mesothelioma. Veterans diagnosed with this cancer typically receive a 100% disability rating, meaning they can access the highest monthly payouts.

Mesothelioma VA benefits include:

Disability compensation worth $4,158.17 a month as of 2026
Free or low-cost mesothelioma treatment with VA health care
More resources for surviving loved ones

Get help accessing all mesothelioma VA benefits that you or a loved one may be entitled to after a diagnosis by working with our team.

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

U.S. veterans, as well as civilians and family members, may be eligible to file mesothelioma lawsuits and seek compensation from manufacturers of asbestos products.

The typical mesothelioma lawsuit pays out $1 million or more, and when you work with our legal partners to file, you won’t sue the military or government.

Our network of attorneys has recovered millions for California veterans:

$10.23 million to a U.S. Navy boiler tender with mesothelioma
$1.4 million to a U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma
$2.4 million to the family of a U.S. Army veteran who died from mesothelioma
$3 million to a U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

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 Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.

Asbestos Trust Funds

You may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds, which are parcels of money set aside by asbestos companies. There is over $30 billion available today across all trusts, and you can pursue this money without going to court.

While accessing trust fund money can be hard on your own, we make it easier by determining which trusts you qualify for and filing claims on your behalf. You can still get VA benefits and lawsuit payouts, too.

Help for Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Victims

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was a hotbed of asbestos exposure, and tens of thousands were put at risk. Today, many former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard workers have developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious diseases.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed, we stand ready to help you. The Mesothelioma Veterans Center’s team of patient advocates, U.S. veterans, and VA-accredited attorneys can connect you with key resources to make life easier in the face of cancer.

Our team can help you access:

Any mesothelioma VA benefits you qualify for
Top doctors and treatments near you
Legal compensation
Other supportive options

Get a Free Veterans Packet now or call (877) 450-8973 to see all the ways we can assist you or a veteran that you love.

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure FAQs

What is Hunters Point known for?

Hunters Point was known for military shipbuilding for decades. Prior to its closure in 1974, hundreds of vessels used by the U.S. Navy were renovated and built at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.

However, in the present day, many former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard workers are now dealing with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma. This is because every U.S. Navy ship built prior to the early 1980s contained asbestos materials.

Shipyard workers and Navy personnel didn't know the risks as the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid them for decades to make billions in profits.

Are shipyard workers exposed to asbestos?

Yes, many Hunters Point Navy Shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos between the 1930s and 1974. Exposure could have occurred on an everyday basis as shipyard workers used asbestos products like insulation, piping, and cement to build and renovate vessels.

Shipyard workers had no idea that asbestos fibers released into the air could cause them to develop life-threatening illnesses like mesothelioma 10-50 years later.

Contact us now for help if you or someone you love worked at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard decades ago and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Is Hunters Point a Superfund site?

Yes, Hunters Point is considered a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This designation means that the shipyard is home to a wide range of toxins that the EPA is working to clean up.

Harmful substances like radioactive waste, volatile organic compounds, and asbestos have been identified at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard site. Cleanup on the site started in 1989 and has been ongoing since then, with efforts continuing into 2025.

Can you sue Hunters Point Naval Shipyard for asbestos exposure?

No, it's not possible to sue Hunters Point Naval Shipyard or the military if you were exposed to asbestos and later developed a cancer like mesothelioma. Hunters Point Naval Shipyard has been closed for decades.

However, you may be able to file legal claims with the companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products used at the shipyard. These companies knew the health risks but actively concealed them for decades to make money, putting you and thousands of others in danger.

Some asbestos lawsuits award over $1 million — get a free case review to find out your eligibility.