Lyon Shipyard

Established in 1928, Lyon Shipyard is located on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia.  The early shipyard consisted of a frame machine shop with offices and storeroom on the second floor, and a carpenter shed located at the head of two marine railways.  Wooden barges, fishing vessels, and steam powered tugs were repaired there and drydocking services were available.

During the years of World War II, Lyon Shipyard worked on small military and naval vessels, a task they continued after the war though their emphasis remained the repair of commercial vehicles.

In 1979, Lyon Shipyard expanded by purchasing its neighbor, Craig Brothers Marine Railway.  In the early 1990’s, the shipyard leased an additional sizeable drydock, giving it the capacity to drydock inland and coastal barges up to approximately 350 feet long and 85 feet wide. According to the company, this has allowed Lyon Shipyard to keep pace with the increasing size and complexity of today’s commercial tug and barge fleet.

Currently, Lyon Shipyard employs about 120 workers and concentrates mainly on dry-docking, repair and conversion of vessels up to 400 feet long and 2,500 long tons. They’re also equipped to make repairs on larger vessels at naval or commercial piers.

Like all shipyard workers, those who were employed at Lyon Shipyard throughout the last 80 years were probably exposed to hazardous materials on the job.  Because the shipyard has been largely responsible for maintenance and overhauling, workers who removed old insulation and other asbestos-containing products, often without benefit of protective gear, were at especially high risk.

If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma due to employment at Lyon Shipyard, it’s important to know all there is to know about the disease, new treatments, the best doctors, and options for financial assistance.  For more information, order our free Mesothelioma Information Kit.