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Shipyards

Fore River Shipyard

Fore River Shipyard

Fore River Shipyard Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, was one of America's most productive shipbuilding facilities in the first half of the 20th century. Building battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, and submarines from the early 1900s through the 1960s exposed generations of workers to asbestos — and the South Shore around Quincy still carries one of the heaviest mesothelioma burdens in the country as a result.

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.
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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
Quincy, MA
Industry
Naval & Commercial Shipbuilding
Exposure Era
1900s–1960s
Primary Asbestos Products
Block & blanket pipe and boiler insulation, Turbine lagging, Asbestos cloth, rope, and tape, Gaskets and valve packing, Sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement, Asbestos millboard and panel
Job Categories at Risk
Insulators (laggers), Pipefitters, Boilermakers, Riveters, Welders, Shipfitters, Machinists, Electricians, Sheet-metal workers, Drydock laborers

History & Asbestos Use

Fore River Shipyard was founded in 1884 by Thomas Watson (Alexander Graham Bell's assistant) and grew into one of the most important naval shipyards in American history. The yard built the USS Lexington, USS Nevada, and numerous other capital ships, and during World War II it was operated by Bethlehem Steel, producing destroyers, cruisers, submarines, and aircraft carriers. Asbestos was a primary insulating and fireproofing material throughout the yard's long history, used across the piping, boilers, and turbines of nearly every vessel it built.

Exposure Details

Workers at Fore River handled asbestos during every phase of ship construction. Insulators and laggers cut and fitted asbestos pipe covering, boiler lagging, and turbine wrapping in engine rooms and throughout the ships; boilermakers and pipefitters installed asbestos gaskets, packing, and seals; and riveters, welders, machinists, and electricians worked alongside them in confined compartments where the dust filled the air. Because the yard ran for more than half a century, multiple generations of the same families often worked there — and fibers carried home on work clothes exposed wives and children who never set foot in the yard.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Fore River Shipyard had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Insulators (laggers)
  • Pipefitters
  • Boilermakers
  • Riveters
  • Welders
  • Shipfitters
  • Machinists
  • Electricians
  • Sheet-metal workers
  • Drydock laborers

Health Effects

The Quincy/South Shore area of Massachusetts has one of the highest concentrations of mesothelioma cases in the country, largely attributed to the shipyards that operated there. Because mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis typically appear 20 to 50 years after first exposure, workers exposed in the 1940s and 1950s continued to be diagnosed into the 2000s and beyond, and take-home exposure has caused disease in their family members. A diagnosis is not the worker's fault: the manufacturers that supplied the yard's asbestos 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 Fore River 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 Fore River Shipyard?

Workers who were employed at Fore River Shipyard between 1900s–1960s 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 Fore River Shipyard may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

Shipyards

Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Quincy

Quincy, MA
Shipyards

Brooklyn Navy Yard

Brooklyn, NY
Shipyards

Bath Iron Works

Bath, ME

Treatment Centers in Massachusetts

If you were exposed to asbestos at Fore River Shipyard and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Massachusetts may be able to help.

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, MA

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
VA Boston Healthcare System

VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, MA

View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Fore River Shipyard?

Yes. Asbestos-containing pipe and boiler insulation, turbine lagging, cloth and rope, gaskets, valve packing, and fireproofing were standard construction materials at Fore River Shipyard throughout its operational history from the early 1900s through the 1960s.

What asbestos products were used at Fore River Shipyard?

Block and blanket insulation on pipes and boilers; turbine lagging; asbestos cloth, rope, and tape; gaskets and valve packing; sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement; and asbestos millboard and panel. Insulators handled the raw material directly, but the dust exposed every trade working nearby.

What jobs had the highest asbestos exposure at Fore River Shipyard?

Insulators (laggers), pipefitters, and boilermakers had the heaviest exposure, but riveters, welders, shipfitters, machinists, electricians, sheet-metal workers, and drydock laborers working in the same confined compartments during construction were also exposed to the airborne fiber.

Why does the Quincy area have so many mesothelioma cases?

The South Shore around Quincy hosted Fore River and a neighboring Bethlehem Steel shipyard for decades, employing tens of thousands of workers in asbestos-heavy shipbuilding. With mesothelioma's 20-to-50-year latency, that concentrated, multi-generational exposure has produced one of the highest mesothelioma rates in the country.

Could family members of Fore River 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 Fore River Shipyard can mesothelioma appear?

Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases usually develop 20 to 50 years after first exposure, which is why workers from the yard's mid-century peak — and even their family members — continued to be diagnosed into the 2000s and beyond.

Can Fore River 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 Fore River 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 records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Massachusetts DEP records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Court records from asbestos litigation — accessed 2026-06-28
← All Exposure Sites in Massachusetts ← All Exposure Sites
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