Asbestos Exposure at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
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Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, also known as PNSY, is the country’s first naval base. It was founded in 1762 when the Continental Congress decided the country needed to invest more in its infant Navy. The Department of the Navy was established as an official U.S. entity in 1798 and PNSY became an official military base in 1801.
The base was moved from its original location in the southeast part of Pennsylvania to League Island, where the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers converge, in 1875. The USS United States, the first warship built under the directive of President George Washington, was constructed at PNSY. Several ship repairs were also done since then.
PNSY employed more than 50,000 workers during World War II, and built 53 warships during that time. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission of the U.S. government recommended the base be closed in 1991 due to cheaper labor abroad and lowered demand due to the cessation of Cold War activities.
An Executive Order was issued by President George HW Bush to close PNSY and several other bases upon recommendation from the commission. After litigation, the base was closed in 1995.
PNSY And Asbestos Exposure
Today, The Navy Yard, as it is called in Philadelphia, is a 1,200 acre business complex that houses operations for more than 140 companies. This was only made possible after a massive asbestos abatement project was completed at the site in the late 1990s.
Asbestos was used on submarines since 1922. During its peak years of World War II, PNSY employed more than 50,000 workers who were at risk of exposure from equipment that used asbestos.
Mesothelioma can take decades to show any visible symptoms. If you’re experiencing prolonged shortness of breath, unusual weight loss, and/or coughing up blood, see a doctor right away.
What You Can Do If Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
If you were employed at PNSY at any time since World War II and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or some other asbestos-related disease, contact Belluck & Fox, LLP today.
The firm has been recognized as one of America’s top law firms in U.S. News And World Report, and has won over $1 billion in settlements and jury verdicts for clients.
Belluck & Fox, LLP mesothelioma lawyers for US Navy veterans work on a contingency basis in some cases, meaning you pay no attorney fees until your case is won. Visit our New York Law office today.