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Shipyards

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, is one of the oldest and largest naval shipyards in the United States. Building, repairing, and overhauling warships from the 1940s through the 1970s exposed workers to heavy asbestos — and the yard's overhaul work, which means tearing out old insulation, made the exposure especially severe.

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
Portsmouth, VA
Industry
Naval Shipbuilding & Repair
Exposure Era
1940s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products
Block & blanket pipe and boiler insulation, Asbestos cloth, rope, and tape, Gaskets and valve packing, Sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement, Turbine and steam-system lagging, Deck underlayment and friction materials
Job Categories at Risk
Insulators (laggers), Pipefitters, Boilermakers, Welders and burners, Machinists, Electricians, Shipfitters, Sheet-metal workers, Drydock and overhaul workers, Riggers

History & Asbestos Use

Founded in 1767, Norfolk Naval Shipyard became a critical facility during World War II and the Cold War, employing tens of thousands of workers at its wartime peak. Asbestos was used extensively in ship insulation, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and throughout vessel construction and repair — in piping, boilers, steam systems, and fireproofing. Workers handled asbestos-containing pipe covering, gaskets, packing materials, and fireproofing compounds daily, and the material remained in routine use until federal exposure limits tightened in the late 1970s.

Exposure Details

Norfolk did both new construction and overhaul, and overhaul is where exposure ran highest: bringing a ship in for repair or modernization meant ripping out deteriorated asbestos lagging and fireproofing before new material could be installed, and tearing out aged, friable asbestos releases far more airborne fiber than installing it new. Much of this happened in confined below-deck spaces — engine rooms, boiler rooms, and passageways — where ventilation was poor and dust concentrated. Insulators applied and removed asbestos pipe covering; boilermakers and pipefitters cut asbestos gaskets and packing; and welders, machinists, electricians, shipfitters, and sheet-metal workers in the same compartments breathed the same fiber. The dust also rode home on work clothes, exposing families.

Workers at Risk

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

  • Insulators (laggers)
  • Pipefitters
  • Boilermakers
  • Welders and burners
  • Machinists
  • Electricians
  • Shipfitters
  • Sheet-metal workers
  • Drydock and overhaul workers
  • Riggers

Health Effects

Former Norfolk Naval Shipyard 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

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

Related Exposure Sites

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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Kittery, ME
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Newport News Shipbuilding

Newport News, VA
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Philadelphia Naval Shipyard

Philadelphia, PA

Treatment Centers in Virginia

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

UVA Cancer Center

UVA Cancer Center

Charlottesville, VA

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

Yes. Asbestos was a standard material at Norfolk for decades — pipe and boiler insulation, cloth and rope, gaskets and valve packing, sprayed fireproofing, turbine and steam-system lagging, and deck underlayment all contained asbestos throughout the yard's construction and repair work, into the late 1970s.

What asbestos products were used at Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

Block and blanket insulation on pipes and boilers; asbestos cloth, rope, and tape; gaskets and valve packing; sprayed fireproofing and refractory cement; turbine and steam-system lagging; and deck underlayment and friction materials. Insulators handled the raw material, but the dust exposed every trade working nearby.

What jobs had the highest asbestos exposure at Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

Insulators (laggers), pipefitters, and boilermakers had the heaviest exposure, especially during overhauls, but welders and burners, machinists, electricians, shipfitters, sheet-metal workers, drydock and overhaul workers, and riggers in the same confined engine and boiler rooms were also exposed.

Why was overhaul work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard especially hazardous?

Overhauling a ship means ripping out old, deteriorated asbestos insulation and fireproofing before new material goes in — and tearing out aged, friable asbestos releases far more airborne fiber than installing it new. At Norfolk that rip-out happened in tight, poorly ventilated below-deck spaces, so fiber concentrated and exposed everyone working there.

Could family members of Norfolk 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 Norfolk Naval Shipyard can mesothelioma appear?

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

Can Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 CERCLA records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Navy historical archives — accessed 2026-06-28
  • OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-06-28
← All Exposure Sites in Virginia ← All Exposure Sites
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