Todds Shipyard, Seattle

Todds Shipyard in Seattle has built, repaired and maintained ships for the United States and Royal Australian Navies, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Washington State Ferries, fishing fleets, cargo cruisers and cruise lines since 1882. It is the largest private shipyard in the Pacific Northwest, serving as a construction, repair and maintenance facility for military and commercial ships.

A History of Todds Shipyard

Todds Shipyard was founded as a marine repair shop by Robert Moran and was renamed the Moran Brothers Shipyard in 1906. It was later renamed the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company at the end of 1911.

Five years later, the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Company merged with Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company and the Tietjen & Long Dry Dock Company, forming the William H. Todd Corporation. Today, the shipyard’s operations are conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation (Todd).

Todd is headquartered on Harbor Island at the mouth of Seattle’s Duwamish River in the industrialized estuary known as the Duwamish Waterway with satellite operations in Bremerton and Everett, Washington.

Todds Shipyard and Asbestos Exposure

During and after WWII, the shipyard industry used many asbestos-filled products to build U.S. Navy, commercial and private ships due to its durability and strength. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the harmful effects of asbestos were discovered.

As the largest private shipyard in the Pacific, Todd has provided thousands of jobs to individuals in the shipbuilding industry since its foundation. By the time the effects of asbestos were discovered, thousands of individuals who worked for Todd had already been exposed to high levels of asbestos.

All individuals who built, repaired and cleaned the vessels during the 1940s, 50s, 60s and early 70s are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer.

Asbestos-related diseases can take up to 50 years to develop so many retired individuals who worked for Todds Shipyard may just now be seeing the effects. If you or someone you know worked in the shipyard industry, you should contact your physician today for a complete physical.

For more information about Todds Shipyard in Seattle or shipyard asbestos exposure, please contact us directly.