Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock

The Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company was located in Kearny Point, NJ, not far from the city of Newark and just a stone’s throw from Manhattan.  The shipyard, built for the construction of “steel ocean-going vessels”, was opened in 1917.  Owned by U.S. Steel, the facility quickly became one of the top producers of cheap yet reliable ocean transportation.

Shortly after it opened, it became necessary for Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock to join the war effort, as World War I was currently in full swing.  U.S. Steel constructed a new 160-acre facility – which sprang up quite fast – to be sure that they could keep up with the demands placed on them by the U.S. military.  The new shipyard built many cargo vessels, used to carry supplies and other war materials to the soldiers in Europe. 

The Kearny shipyard was touted as one of the United States’ five major pre-war shipbuilders, in continuous operation since 1918, and one of only a handful that were fully operational before the war. It was able to expand its capabilities during the war, thanks to $10 million in aid from the Navy.

By the time the next war came along, Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock was much larger and ready to proceed with the production of war-time needs, though striking unions often slowed the pace.  In all, Federal built more destroyers than any other shipyard except Bath Iron Works.  It also built cruisers and merchant ships.  The shipyard was renowned for its quick deliveries.

After more than 30 years of service, Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock closed the gates of its Kearny, New Jersey facility in 1949.

During the years that ships were built - and built quite quickly – at Federal Shipbuilding, employees at the yard were potentially exposed to a number of materials containing asbestos.  During the shipbuilding and re-building processes, asbestos can be damaged and fibers can become airborne, lodging in the lungs and causing diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis.  Occupations that were at risk include boilermen, plumbers, insulators, pipe fitters, and iron workers.  Even those who worked in the offices of the yard risked exposure to airborne asbestos.

If you’ve been sickened by mesothelioma and were employed at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, it’s important to gather information about your legal rights to compensation.  Send for our free Mesothelioma Resource Kit for more information.