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Shipyards

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, is the oldest continuously operating naval shipyard in the United States and the Navy's premier submarine facility. Building and overhauling submarines from the 1940s through the 1970s 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)
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
Kittery, ME
Industry
Naval Submarine Repair & Overhaul
Exposure Era
1940s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products
Block & blanket pipe and boiler insulation, Asbestos cloth, rope, and tape, Gaskets and valve packing, Thermal insulation blankets, Reactor and steam-system lagging, Sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement
Job Categories at Risk
Insulators (laggers), Pipefitters, Boilermakers, Welders, Machinists, Electricians, Shipfitters, Submarine overhaul workers, Nuclear refit and reactor-compartment workers, Drydock laborers

History & Asbestos Use

Established in 1800, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard became the Navy's premier submarine construction and overhaul facility. During World War II the yard built large numbers of submarines, and during the Cold War it overhauled and refitted nuclear submarines. Asbestos was a primary insulation material used throughout the submarine fleet — in piping, boilers, steam systems, and fireproofing — and workers encountered it in every phase of construction and overhaul until federal exposure limits tightened in the late 1970s.

Exposure Details

Two things made Portsmouth exposure severe: submarine work and overhaul work. Submarines pack machinery and piping 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, boilermakers, 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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

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

Health Effects

Former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers have developed mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis at rates above the general population, with the confined nature of submarine work intensifying exposure beyond surface-ship repair. Because these diseases typically appear 20 to 50 years after first exposure, civilian workers and veterans 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 Portsmouth 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.

3 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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?

Workers who were employed at Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

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Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Portsmouth, VA
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General Dynamics Electric Boat

Groton, CT
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Bath Iron Works

Bath, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?

Yes. Asbestos was a standard material at Portsmouth for decades — pipe and boiler insulation, cloth and rope, gaskets and valve packing, thermal insulation blankets, reactor and steam-system lagging, and sprayed fireproofing all contained asbestos throughout the yard's submarine construction and overhaul work, into the late 1970s.

What asbestos products were used at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?

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

What jobs had the highest asbestos exposure at Portsmouth 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 submarine compartments were also exposed.

Why was submarine work at Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 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 Portsmouth Naval Shipyard can mesothelioma appear?

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

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

Often, yes. Former workers and veterans 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 Portsmouth 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.
Nationwide Representation Licensed to handle mesothelioma cases in all 50 states from our Houston office.
Over 25 Years of Experience Our attorneys have recovered over $2 billion for mesothelioma patients and families.
Fast Results Trust fund claims can resolve in as few as 90 days. We move quickly for our clients.

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Sources:

  • EPA Superfund records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Navy historical archives — accessed 2026-06-28
  • ATSDR health assessments — accessed 2026-06-28
← All Exposure Sites in Maine ← All Exposure Sites
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