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Shipyards

Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Mare Island Naval Shipyard Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, was the first U.S. naval shipyard on the Pacific Coast. Building and overhauling submarines and surface ships from the 1940s until the yard closed in 1996 exposed workers to heavy asbestos — and the cramped compartments of a submarine concentrated that exposure more than almost any other workplace.

Last verified: 2026-06-28
Medical review
Dr. Marcelo C. DaSilva Medically reviewed by , Senior Medical Reviewer Reviewed the clinical content for accuracy. Independent, compensation-disclosed medical reviewer.
Legal & editorial
Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm) Attorney Advertising — Danziger & De Llano, LLP, 440 Louisiana St., Suite 1212, Houston, TX. Contacting this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
Vallejo, CA
Industry
Naval Shipbuilding & Submarine Construction
Exposure Era
1940s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products
Block & blanket pipe and boiler insulation, Asbestos cloth, rope, and tape, Gaskets and valve packing, Deck underlayment, Sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement, Reactor and steam-system lagging
Job Categories at Risk
Insulators (laggers), Pipefitters, Boilermakers, Welders, Machinists, Electricians, Shipfitters, Submarine overhaul workers, Nuclear refit workers, Drydock laborers

History & Asbestos Use

Established in 1854, Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first permanent U.S. Navy installation on the Pacific Coast. During World War II the yard built submarines, destroyer escorts, and landing craft, and it later became a premier nuclear-submarine overhaul facility. Across its 142-year history asbestos was used in virtually every class of vessel built, repaired, or refitted there — in piping, boilers, steam systems, and fireproofing — remaining in routine use until federal exposure limits tightened in the late 1970s. The yard closed in 1996 and parts of the site were later designated for Superfund cleanup.

Exposure Details

Two things made Mare Island exposure severe: submarine work and overhaul work. Submarines pack machinery into extremely tight compartments, so insulators, pipefitters, and machinists handling asbestos lagging worked shoulder-to-shoulder in confined spaces with little ventilation, where fiber concentrated to very high levels. Overhaul and nuclear refit work added rip-out exposure — removing deteriorated asbestos insulation from around reactor compartments and steam systems before new material went in, which releases far more airborne fiber than new installation. Welders, electricians, and shipfitters working in the same compartments breathed the same dust, and fibers carried home on work clothes exposed families as well.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Mare Island Naval Shipyard had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Insulators (laggers)
  • Pipefitters
  • Boilermakers
  • Welders
  • Machinists
  • Electricians
  • Shipfitters
  • Submarine overhaul workers
  • Nuclear refit workers
  • Drydock laborers

Health Effects

Former Mare Island workers have developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis at rates well above the general population. Because these diseases typically appear 20 to 50 years after first exposure, workers who served during the peak asbestos years are still being diagnosed today, and family members exposed to take-home fiber have developed mesothelioma as well. A diagnosis is not the worker's fault: the manufacturers that supplied asbestos to the yard knew the hazards, and many have since funded trust funds to compensate those harmed.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Mare Island Naval Shipyard may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

2 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Mare Island Naval Shipyard?

Workers who were employed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard between 1940s–1970s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Mare Island Naval Shipyard may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

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San Francisco, CA
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Treatment Centers in California

If you were exposed to asbestos at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in California may be able to help.

UCSF Medical Center

UCSF Medical Center

San Francisco, CA

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Medical Center

Los Angeles, CA

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Stanford Medicine (Stanford Cancer Institute)

Stanford Medicine (Stanford Cancer Institute)

Stanford, CA

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Los Angeles, CA

View Full Profile
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

Los Angeles, CA

View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Mare Island Naval Shipyard?

Yes. Asbestos was a standard material at Mare Island for decades — pipe and boiler insulation, cloth and rope, gaskets and valve packing, deck underlayment, fireproofing, and reactor and steam-system lagging all contained asbestos throughout the yard's operational history.

What asbestos products were used at Mare Island Naval Shipyard?

Block and blanket insulation on pipes and boilers; asbestos cloth, rope, and tape; gaskets and valve packing; deck underlayment; sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement; and lagging around reactor and steam systems on nuclear submarines. Insulators handled the raw material, but the dust exposed every trade nearby.

What jobs had the highest asbestos exposure at Mare Island Naval Shipyard?

Insulators (laggers), pipefitters, and submarine overhaul and nuclear-refit workers had the heaviest exposure, but boilermakers, welders, machinists, electricians, shipfitters, and drydock laborers in the same confined ship and submarine compartments were also exposed.

Why was submarine work at Mare Island especially hazardous for asbestos?

Submarines concentrate machinery and piping into very tight compartments, so workers handling asbestos lagging did so in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces where fiber built up to high levels. Overhaul and reactor-refit work added rip-out exposure — removing old asbestos insulation releases far more fiber than installing it new.

Could family members of Mare Island workers be exposed to asbestos?

Yes. Fibers settled on workers' clothing, hair, and tools and were carried home, where spouses and children could inhale them while greeting workers or laundering work clothes. This take-home (secondary) exposure has caused mesothelioma in family members who never entered the shipyard.

How long after working at Mare Island can mesothelioma appear?

Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases usually develop 20 to 50 years after first exposure, which is why former Mare Island workers — and even their family members — are still being diagnosed today, decades after the yard's peak asbestos years.

Can Mare Island Naval Shipyard workers or their families file an asbestos claim?

Often, yes. Former workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis — and the families of workers who have died — may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds and claims against the manufacturers whose products were used at the yard. Eligibility and deadlines depend on the diagnosis and state, so a no-cost review by a mesothelioma attorney is worthwhile.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one worked at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.

Free & Confidential No upfront costs, no hidden fees. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
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Sources:

  • EPA Superfund records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Navy BRAC documentation — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Cal/EPA DTSC records — accessed 2026-06-28
← All Exposure Sites in California ← All Exposure Sites
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