Ingalls Shipbuilding

Ingalls Shipbuilding is located in Mississippi on the Pascagoula River, which flows into the Mississippi Sound. The shipbuilding activities at the site began in the early 1900s, and both World Wars used ships provided by Ingalls Shipbuilding. Today, Ingalls is the largest private employer in Mississippi, with over 10,500 employees making vessels and marine structures for both military and commercial interests.

Vessels such as oil tankers, dredges, oil supply boats, towboats and cargo ships have all been constructed by the workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding. The Ingalls operations have been very successful.

A Very Productive Shipyard

During World War II, the demand for ships from Ingalls increased to the point where people from all over the state and beyond were migrating to the small town of Pascagoula (where the shipyard is located) for work. Even after the War, the government contracts for ships kept the company quite busy, and Ingalls eventually diversified its product line to include nuclear-powered submarines. The shipyard continues to supply the U.S. Navy with warships such as destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and submarines.

The first three-quarters of the 20th century at Ingalls Shipbuilding involved the construction of commercial and military vessels that had many asbestos-containing components. Indeed, shipbuilding work everywhere included the widespread use of varied asbestos products for insulation, fireproofing, and other applications until the toxic material was restricted in the 1970s and 80s.

Asbestos exposure occurred with frequency as part of the shipbuilding process. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma can be the outcome.

Learn More about Asbestos at Shipyards

Find out what you can do about asbestos-caused diseases, which are reaching epidemic-level among former shipyard workers. Contact us today.