The Southwest Marine Shipyard, Long Beach, is part of the Port of Los Angeles, one of the largest ports in the world. The Port receives more than 3,000 ocean-going vessels every year. The Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor in which the Port is located is the second largest harbor created by a breakwater in the world. The site was an obvious choice for shipbuilding and servicing for the U.S. Pacific Fleet during World War II. Unfortunately, many WWI-era shipyard workers are now developing asbestos-related diseases.

Formerly the Bethlehem Shipyard

Thousands of men and women worked at the Southwest Marine Shipyard at Long Beach, which was known at the time as the Bethlehem Shipyard, Terminal Island. Twenty-six destroyers were constructed and outfitted at this shipyard for the war effort. The shipyard employees accomplished a tremendous amount of work in those days, repairing an average of two large vessels for the Navy every workday.

Asbestos Exposure on the Job

Many of the workers at the Bethlehem/Southwest Marine Shipyard were exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos as a part of their work. Asbestos was widely used in the construction of both military and merchant vessels in the first three-quarters of the 20th century. Asbestos in various forms was present in ship components such as:

• Boilers
• Turbines
• Incinerators
• Pumps
• Steam and hot water pipes
• Wall insulation
• Gaskets
• Cement

Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, and Asbestosis

Tragically, many shipyard workers around the world are being diagnosed with asbestos-caused diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. The origin of these diseases is exposure to asbestos fibers, which are released when an asbestos product is installed, repaired, or deteriorating.

Contact Us for More Information

If you worked at the Southwest Marine Shipyard in Long Beach and are now facing an asbestos-caused disease, contact us for more information and to explore your legal options.