Asbestos Exposure: Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock - Kearny, N.J.

History of Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock – Kearny

Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, also known as “Federal,” was established in 1917 on 160 acres on the Hackensack River’s west bank along the Lincoln Highway. It was one of several locations commissioned by the U.S. government for its Emergency Shipbuilding Program, The company received $10 million in aid from the U.S. Navy to ensure it could keep up with demand during World War II. Federal was a subsidiary of U.S. Steel Corporation, which was founded by JP Morgan when he purchased and combined 10 other steel companies.

Federal was the country’s second-leading producer of Navy destroyers through World War II, with only Bath Ironworks producing more ships through that time. The company had over 50,000 employees and was known for building and repairing ships from start to finish faster than any shipyard in America. The USS Melvin, for instance, was built and launched in a little more than three months.

Six more Gearing-class warships were laid down and completed after the war, but the company ceased all shipbuilding operations in 1949. Today, the site is occupied by the River Terminal Development Complex.

Federal And Asbestos Exposure

Every ship commissioned by the Navy after World War I through the 1980s contained, among other things, asbestos-containing equipment. That means every boiler worker, mechanic, electrician, steamfitter, and piper coverer were potentially exposed to asbestos.

Former Federal workers are especially at-risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer. Symptoms of mesothelioma and lung cancer can take 15-60 years to develop. Former Federal workers should immediately see a doctor if they experience unexplained weight loss, coughing up blood. or difficulty breathing.

United States Navy Ships Repaired at Federal Shipbuilding in Kearny New York

A

B

C

D

E

F

• USS Fletcher DD-445, DDE-445
• USS Flusser DD-368
• USS Fresno CL-121

G

H

I

• USS Ingraham DD-694

J

K

• USS Kearny DD-432

L

M

N

• USS Nelson DD-623
• USS Neosho AO-23 (SS Neosho T3-S2-A1)

O

• USS Oberon AK-56, AKA-14 (SS Delalba C2-F-133)
• USS Oglethorpe AKA-100
• USS Otus AS-20 (SS Fred Morris C1-B-70)

P

Q

• USS Quick DD-490

R

S

T

V

• USS Vandalia IX-191 (SS Walter Jennings)
• USS Virgo AK-69, AKA-20, AE-30 (SS Virgo C2-S-B1-204)

W

Civilian Ships:

A

B

C

• SS Clairton

D

E

F

G

H

• SS Hawaiian Shipper
• SS Homestead
• SS Howell Lykes C3-42

I

• SS Innoko

J

• SS Jack Carnes
• SS Joseph Lykes C1-B-67

K

• SS Kearny

L

• SS Lipscomb Lykes C3-S-BH1
• SS Lorain
• SS Louise Lykes C2-F-129

M

N

• SS Norman Lykes C3-S-BH1

P

R

• SS Red Jacket C2-15
• SS Reuben Tipton C1-B-69
• SS R.P. Reiser

S

T

• SS Tillie Lykes
• SS T.C. McCobb
• SS The Lambs

V

• SS Vancolite (aka SS E.J. Sadler)
• SS Victolite (aka SS E.M. Clark)
• SS Vincent

W

Y

• SS Youngstown

Z

• SS Zoella Lykes C1-B-68

Civilian Ships:

A

B

C

• SS Clairton

D

E

F

G

H

• SS Hawaiian Shipper
• SS Homestead
• SS Howell Lykes C3-42

I

• SS Innoko

J

• SS Jack Carnes
• SS Joseph Lykes C1-B-67

K

• SS Kearny

L

• SS Lipscomb Lykes C3-S-BH1
• SS Lorain
• SS Louise Lykes C2-F-129

M

N

• SS Norman Lykes C3-S-BH1

P

R

• SS Red Jacket C2-15
• SS Reuben Tipton C1-B-69
• SS R.P. Reiser

S

T

• SS Tillie Lykes
• SS T.C. McCobb
• SS The Lambs

V

• SS Vancolite (aka SS E.J. Sadler)
• SS Victolite (aka SS E.M. Clark)
• SS Vincent

W

Y

• SS Youngstown

Z

• SS Zoella Lykes C1-B-68

What You Can Do If Diagnosed Mesothelioma

Belluck & Fox, LLP has helped hundreds of former shipyard workers get the compensation they deserve. The firm has over 20 years of experience with asbestos-related claims and is recognized as one of the top law firms in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

If you need help with Asbestos-related cases? our dedicated New York asbestos attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP will be happy to help you. We have locations at Albany and New York City.