Hunters Point Naval Shipyard

Established in 1868, the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is located on San Francisco Bay.  Originally built for commercial use, the U.S. Navy purchased the shipyard just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Jumping directly into the war effort, the employees at Hunters Point repaired hundreds of Liberty Ships during the early 1940s.  Shortly after the war ended, Hunters Point became the site of the Navy Radiological Defense Laboratory, a division of the military that was charged with the decontamination of ships that had been involved in nuclear testing.  This shipyard reached its peak during the Korean War, employing more than 11,000 military and civilian workers. 

For a short time in the 1960s, when business waned, the shipyard merged with nearby Mare Island Shipyard, a move made to cut costs.  A few years later, they separated again.  When Hunters Point closed in 1974, it was sold to Triple-A Shipyard and, in turn, the company leased space to many small businesses.  Many instances of improper disposal of waste on the part of Triple-A, including asbestos-containing products, were reported.

Employees who repaired and restored ships were often exposed to damaged asbestos-containing products such as insulation, boilers, gaskets, floor and ceiling tiles, and much more.  Damaged asbestos caused the circulation of airborne particles, easily inhaled by those handling the asbestos materials.  Years of improper waste disposal have also been an issue for those who may have worked at the shipyard in businesses that are unrelated to shipbuilding.  

If you worked at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, either in the shipbuilding industry or in another business that leased space from the shipyard, you may have been exposed to asbestos, resulting in a diagnosis of asbestos-related cancer. For more information about Mesothelioma, its treatment options, and your rights as a victim of this disease, send for our free Mesothelioma Information kit, available from this website.