Asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company

What to Know About Lockheed Shipbuilding Asbestos Risks

Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company operated for decades on Harbor Island in Seattle, Washington.

Originally founded as the Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, the shipyard later became one of the nation’s leading shipbuilders. Lockheed was responsible for constructing commercial vessels, military ships, tugs, ferries, and icebreakers.

However, Lockheed Shipbuilding relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials, like many other shipyards in the 20th century. This put anyone working at the shipyard in danger of developing serious health issues like mesothelioma later in life.

Mesothelioma & Lockheed Shipbuilding Quick Facts

Also known as: Associated Shipbuilders, Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company, Puget Sound Bridge and Drydock
Ships serviced: Minesweepers, destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, and more
Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and more asbestos-related diseases
Asbestos use timelines: 1930s to early 1980s
Who is at risk: U.S. Navy veterans, shipyard workers, and loved ones

We’re ready to support those who are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis after working for Lockheed Shipbuilding. Get our Free Veterans Packet to explore key resources we can help you access, such as VA benefits and treatments.

Use of Asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company

The use of asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company was virtually required. The U.S. Navy had government mandates that required asbestos-containing materials on all its vessels.

At the time, the U.S. military and the general public didn’t fully understand that asbestos was harmful. Instead, it was seen as a cheap and efficient way to help keep vessels fireproof, well-insulated, and durable.

Notable asbestos-containing materials used by Lockheed included:

Boilers
Fireproof building materials
Gaskets
Insulation
Machinery components
Pipe insulation
Pumps
Steam pipes
Valves

Workers who handled these materials, or worked in the areas where they were used, may have suffered asbestos exposure for years before the health risks became widely recognized.

List of Ships Built or Serviced by Lockheed Shipbuilding

A variety of ships were constructed or repaired by Lockheed Shipbuilding at various points during the yard’s history. Many of these were U.S. Navy ships, with the military relying on the Puget Sound shipyard both before and after its purchase by Lockheed to build vessels.

Just a few ships serviced here included:

Destroyers: Ships like the USS Richard S. Edwards (DD-950), USS Turner Joy (DD-951), and USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) were constructed here.
Destroyer escorts: Notable escorts included the USS Stein (DE-1065), USS Albert David (DE-1050), and USS Brooke (DEG-1).
Minesweepers: Minesweepers were built during World War II,when the shipyard was known as Associated Shipbuilders, including the the USS Skirmish (AM-303), USS Scurry (AM-304), USS Spectacle (AM-305), and USS Spector (AM-306).
Other vessels: Lockheed built many other types of ships, including frigates like the USS Schofield (DEG-3), cargo ships like the USS Sea Lift (LSV-9), transport docks such as the USS Denver (LPD-9), and even an experimental hydrofoil ship called the USS Plainview (AGEH-1).

U.S. Navy veterans and shipyard workers who were involved with the construction and repair of these vessels likely came into contact with asbestos products every day. However, they may not have known the risks. This is because manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials hid the dangers for decades.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to get help if you or someone you love is now facing mesothelioma after working for Lockheed Shipbuilding. We can review VA benefits, treatments, and compensation options with you.

Lockheed Shipbuilding Jobs With a High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

If you worked for Lockheed between the 1930s and early 1980s, you may have worked with or around asbestos during shipbuilding, repairs, maintenance, or equipment installation.

These activities could have released asbestos fibers into the air, and if you breathed them in or swallowed them, you could go on to develop mesothelioma later in life. Anyone working at Lockheed was at risk, but some roles meant you faced daily exposure.

Jobs at Lockheed Shipbuilding with the highest asbestos risks included:

Boilermakers
Electricians
Insulators
Machinists
Maintenance workers
Pipefitters
Plumbers
Shipfitters
Shipyard workers
Welders

Even if asbestos handling wasn’t part of your job description, you may have worked alongside crews installing insulation, repairing boilers, or replacing gaskets and piping systems.

Additionally, your loved ones may have inadvertently been exposed to asbestos through your work at Lockheed Shipbuilding. Secondary exposure may have occurred if you came home with contaminated dust on your skin, hair, or garments.

Lockheed Shipbuilding Mesothelioma Claims

If you’re suffering from mesothelioma after working for Lockheed Shipbuilding, you may qualify for financial compensation and additional support.

We can help you pursue VA benefits claims, mesothelioma lawsuits, and asbestos trust fund payouts that can make life easier after a diagnosis. Learn more about each option below.

Mesothelioma VA Benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides many types of of benefits to veterans with mesothelioma. The VA considers mesothelioma to be a 100% disability, allowing U.S. veterans to get maximum monthly payouts and the lowest medical copays.

Notable mesothelioma VA benefits include:

Disability compensation worth $4,158.17 monthly
Free or inexpensive VA health care
Survivor resources

Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), a VA-accredited attorney, can help you file for VA benefits at no cost to you. Get started with his help now.

Lockheed Shipbuilding Asbestos Lawsuits

U.S. veterans and their loved ones can recover compensation from asbestos manufacturers by filing mesothelioma lawsuits. The average lawsuit payout is around $1 million, with some veterans getting even more.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center’s legal partners at Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy can handle every step in the lawsuit process for you, making it a lot easier. The military and government aren’t sued.

Notable payouts recovered for Washington veterans include:

$2.5 million to a U.S. Navy veteran
$2.31 million to a U.S. Army veteran
$1.9 million to a U.S. Navy veteran
$1.8 million to a U.S. Army veteran
$2.2 million to a U.S. Navy veteran

Get a free case review now to learn if you qualify to take legal action after working with asbestos-containing materials at Lockheed Shipbuilding.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Filing claims with asbestos trust funds can allow you to access compensation without a lawsuit. There’s more than $30 billion available across dozens of asbestos trusts today.

By working with our partner mesothelioma law firms, you can pursue asbestos trust fund compensation alongside VA benefits payouts and legal claims. Asbestos attorneys at top law firms can determine which asbestos-containing products you were exposed to and if there’s a trust associated with them.

Get Help for Exposure to Asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company

Workers and military service members never expected to get sick with mesothelioma. However, because companies like Lockheed Shipbuilding relied on asbestos for decades, many are being diagnosed with mesothelioma in the present day.

At the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, we stand ready to support veterans, civilians, and families impacted by a mesothelioma diagnosis.

We’re here to help with:

Filing for VA benefits
Getting treatments
Pursuing compensation
Supporting your family

Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 to learn about all the ways we can assist you and your loved ones.

Asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding FAQs

Is asbestos still used in shipbuilding?

Asbestos is no longer used in new shipbuilding activities because of the serious health risks it poses, most notably mesothelioma.

Prior to the 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were largely considered a safe way to keep ships well-insulated, fireproof, and durable.

Many former shipyard workers employed by Lockheed Shipbuilding and other companies have gone on to develop mesothelioma after working with asbestos decades earlier.

Can mesothelioma develop years after exposure to asbestos in Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company?

Yes. Mesothelioma often develops 10-50 years after asbestos exposure. Many former shipyard workers aren’t diagnosed until decades after they last worked around asbestos-containing materials.

If you or someone you love was diagnosed with mesothelioma and worked for Lockheed Shipbuilding, you may be eligible for military benefits, compensation, and help finding treatment. Get a Free Veterans Packet now to learn more.

Were other shipyards affected by asbestos exposure?

It wasn’t just Lockheed Shipbuilding that used asbestos. Government mandates required the use of asbestos aboard virtually all U.S. Navy ships through the 1970s, meaning shipyards across the country had to use materials that contained it.

Just a few other shipyards that used asbestos included:

Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
Charleston Naval Shipyard
Ingalls Shipbuilding
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Newport News Shipbuilding
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
San Diego Naval Shipyard
Todd Shipyard

In some cases, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated former shipyards as Superfund sites, requiring long-term cleanup for asbestos and other toxins like lead, PFAS, and heavy metals.

What is the VA disability rating for asbestos exposure?

U.S. veterans typically receive a 100% VA disability rating if they were diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos in shipyards, on bases, or in other ways during their service.

The cancer is considered completely disabling due to its aggressive nature, meaning veterans can get maximum monthly payouts.

At the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, we can help you file for mesothelioma VA benefits or maximize your disability rating after a diagnosis. Get free VA benefits assistance from Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), our VA-accredited attorney, right now.

What is the average payout for asbestos exposure?

U.S. veterans who develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos typically receive around $1 million, with some getting even more depending on their situation.

For instance, our legal partners recently recovered $2.5 million for a U.S. Navy veteran and former machine operator from Oak Harbor.