The New York Shipbuilding company (also know as New York Ship and NYSB) was established at the turn of the century on the east shore of the Delaware River, in Camden, New Jersey. When the founder of NYSB incorporated the company in 1899, he intended to locate it in New York, but after discovering the better site in Camden, he established the company in New Jersey but kept the New York name.

Once the Largest Shipyard in the World

New York Ship soon became quite active, building Navy ships for the World War I effort. The shipyard was unusual in that it had covered shipbuilding facilities. During World War II, New York Shipbuilding was the most productive (and the largest) shipyard in the world, producing both military and commercial vessels such as:

• Aircraft carriers (including the USS Kitty Hawk)
• Luxury liners
• Battleships
• Landing craft
• Barges
• Car floats
• Destroyer tenders
• Seaplane tenders
• Cruisers
• Cargo and passenger ships

Bankruptcy in the 1960s

Although NYSB built over 500 vessels for the U.S. Navy, Merchant Marine, Coast Guard and others, the number of NYSB's shipbuilding contracts declined sharply after WWII. The last Navy ship launched by NYSB was released in 1967, and NYSB went bankrupt soon thereafter.

New York Shipbuilding's Asbestos Exposure

Shipyards are dangerous places to work, even today; in the first three-quarters of the 20th century, they were even worse because few (if any) precautions were taken to protect workers from the toxic levels of asbestos in the air at shipyards. Inhaled asbestos can result in respiratory diseases such as asbestosis, and cancers such as mesothelioma and lung tumors.

Hundreds of components of ships contain asbestos, a durable and malleable fire-retardant material. It is also a human carcinogen.

If you worked at New York Shipbuilding and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, contact us to discuss your options.