San Francisco Dry Dock (Hunters Point Naval Shipyard) was one of the oldest shipyards in the U.S., with one of the highest rates of past asbestos use. The company’s use of asbestos-containing products left many workers with life-threatening asbestos illnesses like mesothelioma.
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. We invite you to use our Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find an experienced mesothelioma lawyer in your area.
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Did Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Use Asbestos?
Hunters Point and before that, the San Francisco Dry Dock operated shipbuilding and repair facilities when many industries used asbestos. Shipyards used asbestos extensively, primarily between the 1930s and 1970s.
Asbestos provided the shipping industry with a lightweight, inexpensive solution for insulating and fireproofing. It could be found in hundreds of components that went into ships.
San Francisco Dry Dock and Hunters Point Naval Shipyard History
San Francisco Dry Dock was initially created in 1870 by the Union Iron Works Company. Once the company stopped making money, it was bought by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company under the name Hunters Point Dry Dock.
In preparation for the upcoming World War I, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company began building all types of vessels, including destroyers, cruisers, and more. During this time, the shipyard built the West Coast’s first steel ship.
Once World War I started, the shipyard continued building different vessels, including 18 submarines and over 60 destroyers. After the war, the Navy leased docks from private owners, which provided deep-water access between Bremerton, Washington, and San Diego.
When World War II started, the Navy bought the docks from the owners and changed the shipyard’s name to Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
The shipyard became one of the largest shipyards on the West Coast and the main site for the military’s applied nuclear research facility, the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory. At one point, it was home to the world’s largest gantry crane.
Hunters Point ceased operations in 1974. The Navy leased the space until 1986 when it was reactivated. The Navy finally closed the site for good in 1991 after it was listed as a Superfund Site.
Eventually, Bethlehem Steel sold the site to the United States Marine Repair, currently known as BAE Systems Ship Repair. Puglia Engineering bought the property in 2017.
The San Francisco Dry Dock covers 26 acres and is being redeveloped for new uses. These include artist studios, office space, housing, and event venues.
How Did Hunters Point Use Asbestos?
Like other shipyards of its era, Hunters Point used asbestos heavily. The primary use for asbestos was as an insulating material. Some of the many materials that went into ships and that contained asbestos include:
- Insulation
- Wall panels
- Pipes
- Boilers
- Pumps
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Valves
- Seals
- Adhesives
- Textiles
- Rope
In addition to the asbestos shipped to and used at Hunters Point, the site sat on top of a natural deposit of serpentine rock with asbestos.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos at Hunters Point and San Francisco Dry Dock?
Anyone who worked at Hunters Point and veterans who served there were at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos materials readily shed tiny fibers that workers could then inhale.
Workers with the most significant risk of exposure handled asbestos materials directly. Insulators and pipefitters, for instance, had to cut into and manipulate asbestos insulation as they worked, causing high exposure levels.
Numerous former workers at the shipyard have already developed life-threatening asbestos illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
Family members were also at risk of developing asbestos illnesses. Although the dangers of asbestos were known, most workers at San Francisco Dry Dock weren’t given the proper protective gear and clothing to help protect them from asbestos fibers.
Workers could then return to their family home in work clothes that were filled with tiny asbestos fibers.
Hunters Point Superfund Site
San Francisco Dry Dock used asbestos and numerous other hazardous substances throughout its facilities and on vessels. In fact, in 1989, so many toxins were found that the EPA named the site a Superfund.
Cleanup was a big project, which included the removal of more than 220,000 square feet of asbestos materials in just one year.
In 2018, a letter from the EPA outlined ongoing issues at Hunters Point. The local Superfund division manager accused the Navy of falsifying information and understating the severe contamination at the site.
As San Francisco began redevelopment of the Hunters Point site, issues with asbestos arose. Developers dug into serpentine deposits, releasing natural asbestos. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District fined the developer in 2007 for putting workers and residents at risk of asbestos exposure.
Local residents tested positive for asbestos and other contaminants in their blood. Levels of asbestos in the air reached 138,000 particulate matter, much higher than is safe.
Hunters Point Asbestos Lawsuits
If you or a loved one worked at San Francisco Dry Dock and Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, talk to a mesothelioma lawyer about your legal options.
Victims of workplace asbestos exposure, both civilians and veterans, can sue asbestos suppliers for damages if they get sick.
One example of a lawsuit related to Hunters Point involved Ulysses Collins. Collins worked as a welder at Hunters Point from 1960 to 1973. He sued several companies that supplied the shipyard with asbestos materials after developing mesothelioma.
Collins died from mesothelioma in 2005, but his family carried on the lawsuit. A jury sided with the family and awarded them more than $10 million in damages.
A lawsuit is one option for seeking compensation for asbestos exposure and illness. You might also qualify for compensation through an asbestos trust fund. If you are a veteran, a lawyer can help you apply for VA benefits, like disability payments.
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 use our Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find an experienced mesothelioma attorney in your area. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
