Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard

The Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, now known as the United States Coast Guard Yard, is the U.S. Coast Guard’s primary shipbuilding and repair facility. The shipyard used large amounts of asbestos in the past, leading to numerous workers developing fatal asbestos-related illnesses.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. There is currently over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard History

The Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, established in 1899, began as both a boat repair facility and a training academy.

By 1910, the shipyard began building vessels and doing canvas work while repairing boats. This continued throughout World War II, but the war brought about additional activities for the shipyard, including buoy manufacturing and construction and complete vessel overhauls.

World War II also brought a newly constructed 3,000-ton dry dock to Curtis Bay Shipyard, in addition to a new concrete pier and two new shipways.

The shipyard was designated as the official  U. S. Coast Guard Yard during this time. An estimated 3,100 civilian workers were employed at the shipyard during the war.

As World War II ended, work ended for many employees as the shipyard focused on repairing vessels and building wooden boats. It also continued to overhaul old ships and create numerous 94-footers.

The shipyard greatly prospered throughout the 1960s, and when the Vietnam War began, the shipyard created 82-footers and steel self-righting motor lifeboats.

By the 1970s, the shipyard buoys and overhaul the U.S. Coast Guard’s 5″ 38 caliber gun mount.

The shipyard used asbestos and other harmful substance throughout most of its history. In 2002, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) designated the shipyard as an EPA Superfund cleanup site.

In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard signed a federal agreement with the EPA to clean up the shipyard.

Asbestos at Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard

The prevalence of asbestos at Curtis Bay Coast Guard was beyond excessive. The military used more than 300 asbestos-containing products before the EPA’s regulations on its use.

Asbestos was known to have been used in the following at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard:

• Electric wiring
• Electric equipment
• Pipes
• Pipe fittings
• Insulation
• Deck coatings
• Flooring, and in
• Engine and boiler rooms

Asbestos may have also been used in:

• Life boats
• Utility boats
• Response boats
• Port security boats

Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard Lawsuits

Many workers who developed asbestos-related illnesses filed asbestos-related lawsuits against the manufacturers that provided the products to the shipyard.

The number of asbestos manufacturers was plentiful. Most were large corporations that supplied asbestos products throughout the world.

One such asbestos manufacturer, Owens-Illinois Glass, faced a lawsuit from the family of Harry Hunter, a man who once worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard in the summer of 1956.

Hunter died of malignant mesothelioma in 2001, but his family carried out the lawsuit and eventually won $4.2 million for Hunter’s wrongful death.

Unfortunately, since the lawsuit was filed in Maryland, state laws prevented the family from getting the total amount, and it was subsequently reduced.

If you worked at Curtis Bay and now have an asbestos illness, contact an experienced lawyer for advice.

Additional Help and Resources for Asbestos Victims

If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area.