The Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, was once a hub of military innovation and shipbuilding. However, if you or a loved one worked at this shipyard, you could be at risk of mesothelioma today. This is because Norfolk Naval Shipyard relied on asbestos for decades. We can help you pursue benefits, treatments, and compensation if you have mesothelioma after Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure.
What to Know About Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
Norfolk Naval Shipyard is the oldest active shipyard in America, dating back to 1767 and actually predating the Navy itself by more than 30 years. However, between the 1930s and early 1980s, anyone working at Norfolk Naval Shipyard risked exposure to a toxic material called asbestos.
For most of the 20th century, the Navy required the use of asbestos on every ship. Asbestos products like insulation helped keep vessels fireproof and more durable. Navy and civilian shipyard workers didn’t know asbestos could cause cancers like mesothelioma 10-50 years later as manufacturers hid the risks.
At the height of World War II, almost 43,000 people worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard building thousands of ships, all of which likely contained asbestos.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Mesothelioma Quick Facts
- Ships built: Battleships, destroyers, minesweepers, aircraft carriers, destroyer escorts, and more
- Health risks: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases
- Time period of asbestos use: 1930s to early 1980s
- Who is at risk: Navy veterans, shipyard workers, civilians, and family members
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure, we may be able to help. The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can potentially connect you with benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), treatments, and compensation.
Get a Free Veterans Packet now to learn more about resources available after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Norfolk Naval Shipyard?
You could have been exposed to asbestos from a wide range of shipbuilding products used at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Navy ships contained tons of asbestos-containing materials as part of government mandates. As you handled these components, you risked breathing in stray asbestos dust and fibers.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos products included:
- Boilers
- Electrical materials
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Steam pipes
- Valves
You might have understood that asbestos was in these products, but you didn’t know it could cause cancer. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the dangerous truth for decades. They put you and other Navy service members at risk of Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure to make profit.
List of Ships Built or Repaired at Bethlehem Steel Shipyards
Any Navy ship built from the 1930s to the early 1980s contained asbestos. Norfolk Naval Shipyard was responsible for building or renovating over 8,000 Navy ships during World War II and the Korean War alone. As a result, tens of thousands of shipyard workers risked exposure on an everyday basis.
Just a few of the vessels built at Norfolk Naval Shipyard included:
- Aircraft carriers: The USS Shangri La (CV-38) and USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) were just two of the numerous aircraft carriers serviced at Norfolk.
- Battleships: These included the USS Nevada (BB-36), USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Mississippi (BB-41), and USS Kentucky (BB-66), among many more.
- Destroyers: Notable destroyers built or repaired at Norfolk included the USS Tucker (DD-374), USS Downes (DD-375), and USS Bagley (DD-386).
- Destroyer escorts: This included the USS Chase (DE-158), USS Laning (DE-159), and USS Loy (DE-160).
- Minesweepers: The USS Auk (AM-57) and many other minesweepers were constructed and renovated by Norfolk Naval shipyard workers.
You or someone you love could be at a high risk of mesothelioma today due to Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure. It takes 10-50 years for people to be diagnosed with this cancer after asbestos exposure.
Call (877) 450-8973 to pursue benefits, treatments, and compensation if you developed mesothelioma and once worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
High-Risk Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure Jobs
Almost 43,000 people were employed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard during World War II to help build and remodel ships. All of these shipyard workers and more could have been put at risk of exposure and mesothelioma.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard jobs at a high risk of exposure included:
- Boilermakers
- Crane operators
- Electricians
- Engine room workers
- Insulators
- Pipefitters
- Sheet metal workers
- Welders
The U.S. Navy started taking steps to limit the use of asbestos in the mid-1970s to protect service members and shipyard workers. However, as late as 1979, “although the shipyard had an asbestos program coordinator, no one person was aware of all asbestos activities going on,” according to a report from the Comptroller General of the United States.
It was also possible to suffer Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure secondhand. This happened when shipyard workers came home with asbestos dust on their hair and clothing. Many family members have developed mesothelioma as a result of this secondary exposure.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard became so contaminated not only with asbestos but also lead and radioactive materials. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified it as a Superfund site, meaning special funding has been devoted to decontamination.
Benefits and Compensation for Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Victims
If you or a family member is suffering from mesothelioma and once worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, you may be able to pursue compensation to cover medical treatments and more costs. You can access mesothelioma compensation by filing VA benefit claims, lawsuits, and asbestos trust fund claims. Learn how we can help with each below.
VA Benefits for Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides many different benefits to veterans with mesothelioma. This cancer is considered a 100% disability by the VA, meaning veterans can get maximum disability compensation each month.
Mesothelioma VA benefits include:
- Disability payouts worth $4,044.91 monthly for 2025
- Free or cheap mesothelioma treatments from VA health care
- Other resources, such as survivor benefits
Get help filing for or maximizing your mesothelioma VA benefits after being diagnosed with this cancer.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuits
You may be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against manufacturers that sold asbestos-containing products used at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. These lawsuits typically pay out $1 million or more and you won’t sue the military or government.
Our legal partners have recovered millions of dollars for both veterans and civilians in Virginia after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Notable Virginia mesothelioma payouts include:
- $2.82 million to a U.S. Navy veteran
- $1.86 million to a U.S. Air Force veteran
- $2.53 million to a U.S. Army veteran
Get a free case review now to see if you can file a lawsuit after Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure. If you qualify, our mesothelioma lawyers handle the legal legwork for you, making it much less stressful.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Besides lawsuits and VA benefits, you could receive compensation through asbestos trust funds. More than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds for those with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
These trusts often start to award payouts in 90 days or less. Work with our legal partners to learn if you qualify to file trust fund claims after developing mesothelioma from Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure.
Get Help for Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
Far too many people who worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard have gone on to develop mesothelioma and other serious illnesses due to asbestos exposure. You served your country with pride — and didn’t deserve to get sick.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to support veterans and civilians grappling with a mesothelioma diagnosis due to Norfolk Naval Shipyard asbestos exposure.
Work with our team for help accessing:
- Essential VA benefits
- Top doctors and treatments near you
- Other forms of compensation and support
Get a Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 to see how we can assist you or a loved one after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Asbestos Exposure FAQs
Were Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers exposed to asbestos?
Yes, Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers who were employed before the early 1980s likely were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. This is because mandates required all Navy ships to use asbestos materials before this time.
Over 43,000 people worked on ships at Norfolk Naval Shipyard during World War II alone, and it’s likely all of them risked exposure to asbestos. If you worked there, you could be in danger of mesothelioma and other serious illnesses today.
Which U.S. Navy ships had asbestos?
More than 8,000 U.S. Navy ships built or repaired at Norfolk Navy Shipyard had asbestos aboard. This included everything from aircraft carriers like the USS Shangri La (CV-38) to battleships such as the USS Nevada (BB-36) and minesweepers including the USS Auk (AM-57).
Working on these ships could have released asbestos fibers into the air. If you breathed them in or swallowed them, you could develop mesothelioma 10-50 years later.
Contact us now for help accessing benefits, treatments, and compensation if you worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard decades ago and now have mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Which veterans were exposed to asbestos?
Veterans from all military branches risked exposure to asbestos between the 1930s and early 1980s. Most of those exposed at Norfolk Naval Shipyard were serving in the Navy.
Today, 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients is either a Navy veteran or U.S. shipyard worker. This is because the U.S. Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch.
When did asbestos stop being used in ships?
The U.S. military stopped using asbestos in the early 1980s as by that point, the risks were publicly understood. Major renovations worked to remove or seal away asbestos-containing products on older vessels to keep service members safe moving forward.
However, it was not enough for the tens of thousands of Navy veterans and shipyard workers already exposed, since there’s no way to lower the risk of cancer after exposure to asbestos. As a result, older veterans continue to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases each year.
Get a Free Veterans Packet to see how we may be able to help you or a Norfolk Naval Shipyard worker you love who is facing mesothelioma. Treatments, VA benefits, and financial compensation are all available.
