Duwamish Shipyard

The Duwamish Shipyard, located in Seattle, Washington, was one of the largest shipbuilding sites in the nation. It focused on repairing vessels and related equipment. Duwamish Shipyard used asbestos in numerous products, putting many workers at risk of developing mesothelioma and other 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 get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Duwamish Shipyard History

The Duwamish Shipyard was established in May 1941, after it was acquired from King County.

In the beginning, the primary function of the shipyard was the repair and maintenance of ships and ship-related equipment. The shipyard contained a graving dock and two dry docks.

During the 1970s, Duwamish Shipyard expanded substantially, and the employee rate grew to around 500 workers.

During this time, the shipyard took on shipbuilding but could not keep up with the demand. It eventually reverted to the repair and maintenance of vessels only.

Over the years, Duwamish Shipyard’s productivity began to dwindle until it finally shut down permanently in 2007.

For numerous years before its closing, however, the shipyard relied heavily on asbestos and used it an array of maintenance products while repairing vessels.

Duwamish Shipyard Asbestos Exposure

There have never been any asbestos-related lawsuits filed against Duwamish Shipyard. This is because workers file cases against the asbestos manufacturers that provided asbestos to shipyards.

For several decades, asbestos manufacturers provided a string of asbestos-containing products to the shipyard.

One of the primary uses of asbestos-containing products at Duwamish Shipyard was in refitting and overhauling hundreds of barges. This continued throughout the late 1970s, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed strict regulations on the use of asbestos at job sites, including shipyards.

The shipyard restored many vessels with asbestos-containing products. One such restoration on the Lightship No. 83 vessel contained excessive amounts of asbestos.

Even after a complete restoration and cleaning by Duwamish Shipyard workers, the Lightship No. 83 still contained the harmful minerals.

Additional asbestos was found in the following products and materials and Duwamish Shipyard:

• Boiler room parts
• Generator exhaust pipe insulation
• Steam drum insulation
• Feedwater heater insulation
• Steam piping insulation

Duwamish Shipyard Cleanup

The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) created an agreement in 2010 with the shipyard to clean up the site.

Duwamish Shipyard accepted the agreement and took responsibility for the cleanup under the Model Toxics Control Act.

According to the DOE, the Duwamish Shipyard agreed to:

• Remedial Investigation (RI). The RI will collect data necessary to adequately characterize the contamination in soil, groundwater, stormwater, and sediments.
• Feasibility Study (FS). The FS will use the results of the RI to propose cleanup alternatives for the site.

The DOE states the cleanup and remediation of the site is still underway. Aside from asbestos, other toxic substances found at Duwamish Shipyard include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, and more.

If you worked at Duwamish, you could be at risk for asbestos illnesses. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to learn what you can do about it.

Additional Help and Resources

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. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.