Brooklyn Navy Yard

Founded by John Jackson in 1781 and purchased by the U.S. government 20 years later, the Brooklyn Navy Yard made its mark in U.S. history as a builder of ships that served in many of the wars fought by the United States throughout the centuries. 

The yard built the first steam-powered warship and served as a key depot for the distribution of stores and supplies to the Union fleet during the Civil War.  During World War I, the shipyard employed about 16,000 and workers here constructed the famous USS Arizona, sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor.  During the Second World War, employment rose to a whopping 70,000, including many women, some of whom worked on another famous battleship, the USS Missouri.  The Korean War brought more work to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but by the 1960s, this shipyard saw a decline in work and was eventually closed in 1966.  The site is now a thriving industrial park.

Employees at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including insulators, electricians, plumbers, welders, and pipefitters, may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials during construction and maintenance of ships.  Products such as concrete, pipes, gaskets, floor and ceiling tiles, and many others usually contained asbestos.  As these items were often damaged during repair or construction, workers may have inhaled hazardous airborne fibers.

If you were exposed to asbestos during employment at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and you’ve been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, take a moment to send for our free Mesothelioma Information Packet to learn more about your legal rights as well as gather more information about the disease and its treatment options.