Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana Shipyards
As a heavily industrialized coastal state, Louisiana’s numerous shipyards and access to waterways made it a shipbuilding and ship maintenance hub. However, the widespread use of asbestos in the Louisiana shipbuilding and maintenance industries has led to significant exposure among shipyard workers. Unfortunately, asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that has affected many Louisiana shipyard workers over the years.
Last Updated:
- May 11, 2025
Did You Know?
Shipyard workers were some of the first studied for asbestos exposure and disease development in the medical & scientific literature dating back to the 1950s.
Which Louisiana Shipyards Used Asbestos?
Louisiana’s low sea levels and easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, and the Intracoastal Waterway made it an ideal location for shipbuilding and ship maintenance. During the height of shipyard activity, asbestos was extensively used in the maintenance and construction of ships, with no regulations in place. Some of the notable asbestos-using shipyards in Louisiana include:
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- Avondale Shipyard – New Orleans
- Boland Marine Shipyard – New Orleans
- Bollinger Shipyards – Lockport
- Conrad Industries, Inc. – Morgan City
- Delta Shipbuilding – New Orleans
- Dixie Shipyard – New Orleans
- Equitable Shipyard – New Orleans
- Halter Marine – New Orleans
- Higgins Shipyard – New Orleans
- Main Iron Works – Houma
- McDermott Shipyard – Morgan City and Amelia
- Todd Shipyard – New Orleans
How Shipyard Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos
The risk of asbestos exposure was highest for shipyard workers from the earliest years of shipbuilding through the 1990s. The shipbuilding industry peaked in the 1940s during World War II. Researchers estimate that up to 3.5 million shipyard workers in the U.S. were exposed to asbestos in shipyards, particularly during the construction and demolition of ships.
Shipyard workers are one of the most at-risk occupations for asbestos exposure because they often perform their work in the tight confines of ships with almost no ventilation. Many vessels were powered by boilers containing asbestos parts and had long stretches of high-temperature piping insulated with asbestos running the ship’s length.
- Our Sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C.
Asbestos Products Used by Shipyard Workers
Asbestos was popular for its fireproofing, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant properties. Thus, the most frequently used asbestos products were high-temperature thermal insulation products. Asbestos was used extensively in ship construction[2] for insulation, joiner bulkhead systems, pipe coverings, boilers, machinery parts, bulkhead panels, and more, including the following:
- Pipe insulation
- Block insulation
- High-temperature insulation cements
- Firebricks
- Refractory cements
- Spray refractory products
- Asbestos gasket
- Valve packing material
Questions About Mesothelioma?
Many shipyard workers are uncertain about what steps to take after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
What Shipyard Trades Had the Highest Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
For the most part, tradespeople made up the bulk of shipyard workers. According to a 1978 study in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians,[3] evidence began mounting in the 1960s that shipyard workers had markedly increased death rates from cancer and asbestos-related diseases. These weren’t asbestos workers in particular, but individuals employed in other trades, such as the following professions:
- Insulators
- Shipfitters
- Pipefitters
- Mechanics
- Millwrights
- Shipwrights
- Laborers
- Welders
- Electricians
- Boilermakers
- Ironworkers
- Machinists
Family Members Are Also at Risk
Families are at risk of secondary asbestos exposure due to the occupationally exposed worker wearing their asbestos-laden clothing home. Kids jump into the arms of their parents when they come home. The parent may not change out of their clothes if they are going to be outside playing with the kids. Then, these same clothes, covered with invisible asbestos fibers, get thrown into the laundry baskets with all other clothing. Most of the time, the spouse would shake them out in the home washroom or garage before washing them with other clothing.
Was Enough Done to Protect Shipyard Workers in Louisiana?
Not much was done to protect Louisiana shipyard workers from asbestos exposure in the 20th century. There were no regulations on asbestos, its use in shipyards, and its handling during the maintenance and construction of new ships. Shipyard owners and product manufacturers knew harmful asbestos was used at nearly every stage of the work but ignored the harm in their pursuit of profits.
As a result, shipyard workers have a significantly higher mortality rate for asbestos-related diseases than other occupations.
Compensation for Shipyard Workers Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in a Louisiana shipyard for any amount of time, you have options for pursuing compensation.
1) Mesothelioma Lawsuits: You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure. You can recover compensation for your medical bills, current and future treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
2) Asbestos Trust Funds: Many asbestos product manufacturers established asbestos trust funds with a combined value of approximately $30 billion to compensation victims struggling with asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma Settlements for Louisiana Shipyard Workers
Mesothelioma and lung cancer patients may be eligible for anywhere from $500,000 to $10 million in compensation. Our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C. has recovered the following notable mesothelioma case results for clients:
$6.2 Million for a Lifelong Union Boilermaker Who Worked in Louisiana Shipyards
Our sponsor recovered $6.2 million for a lifelong union boilermaker who worked at various shipyards and plants throughout Louisiana. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma at just age 52. A proud father of two, after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, his life was never the same. He was forced to quit his job and give up things he once loved, such as fishing and gardening, and he was so sick that he could not even watch his daughter cheer at football games. After sharing one final Thanksgiving meal with his family, he passed. His daughter was so inspired by her father’s battle with cancer that she is considering becoming a doctor to cure mesothelioma.
$6 Million for a Longshoreman and Cargo Handler
Our sponsor recovered over $6 million in settlements for a longshoreman and cargo handler on the Mississippi River who loaded and unloaded asbestos cargo on ships, wharves, and warehouses in the Port of New Orleans. The man suffered from pleural mesothelioma.
$5.57 Million for Only 12 Days of Work at a Shipyard
A jury awarded $5.57 million to a man who suffered from epithelioid pleural mesothelioma after working at a shipyard for just 12 days in 1973.
Results are not guaranteed and vary.
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Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you or a loved one were a shipyard worker in Louisiana and suspect exposure to asbestos, contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates today. We will connect you with our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who can recommend the best routes for seeking treatment and compensation in Louisiana. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, and we urge you to act quickly.
Content Reviewed by
Todd Kale
Todd Kale meets with mesothelioma patients and their families across Louisiana to investigate their asbestos exposure, providing compassionate support and guidance during a difficult time.
Cited Source
- Asbestosis in Louisiana – La Dept. of Health. (n.d.-a). https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-EH/envepi/occ_health/Documents/Journal_LSMS_asbestosis.pdf
- Lemen, R. A., & Landrigan, P. J. (2021, August 9). Sailors and the risk of asbestos-related cancer. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8394725/
- CA-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. (1978). ASBESTOS Associated disease in United States shipyards. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.3322/canjclin.28.2.87
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- Louisiana Shipyards with Asbestos Exposure
- How Shipyard Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos
- Shipyard Trades at Highest Risk of Exposure
- Was Enough Done to Protect Workers in Louisiana?
- Compensation Available for Shipyard Workers
- Shipyard Worker Mesothelioma Settlements
- Contact Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates