⚓ Mobile, AL — Commercial Shipyard
Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) — Asbestos Exposure
Last updated July 11, 2026
Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO) in Mobile, Alabama, was a significant WWII-era shipbuilder, producing tankers, landing ships, and other naval auxiliaries. Workers were exposed to asbestos during hull construction and ship repair operations. The facility has been the subject of asbestos litigation stemming from WWII-era construction.
Asbestos at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO)
Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and overhaul from the 1930s through approximately 1980. At Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO), asbestos-containing materials were used in:
- Pipe lagging and block insulation in boiler rooms and engine rooms
- Gaskets at pipe flanges throughout engineering plants
- Valve stem packing and pump seals
- Turbine casing insulation and expansion joints
- Fireproofing compounds on bulkheads and decking
Specific exposure pathways at this facility included: Ship repair insulation & gaskets.
Ships Built or Overhauled Here
WWII production of tankers, landing ships, and naval auxiliaries.
At-Risk Trades at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO)
Shipyard trades with the most direct asbestos exposure included:
Other trades — painters, carpenters, electricians, riggers — experienced secondary exposure from working in spaces where insulation was being applied or disturbed.
Who Can File an Asbestos Claim
Both civilian shipyard workers and military veterans who were exposed at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) may be eligible for compensation:
- Civilian shipyard workers — Asbestos trust fund claims against manufacturers of asbestos products used at the facility. Products included Johns-Manville pipe covering, Pittsburgh Corning block insulation, Flexitallic gaskets, and others. Multiple trusts may apply.
- Navy veterans — Sailors aboard ships during refit or overhaul were exposed identically to civilian workers. VA disability compensation is available for veterans with service-connected asbestos-related disease, with no need to identify specific products.
Statutes of limitations apply to asbestos claims. If you or a family member has received a diagnosis, consult a specialist promptly.
Navy veterans overview › Free Case Review ›
Asbestos.cam is an informational resource, not a law firm. The above is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was asbestos used at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO)?
Yes. Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and repair from the 1930s through approximately 1980. Workers at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) — and sailors aboard ships during refit — were exposed to asbestos from pipe lagging, boiler block insulation, gaskets, valve packing, and fireproofing materials applied throughout ship engineering spaces.
What trades were most at risk at Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO)?
Trades with the most direct asbestos contact included insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, shipfitters, and welders. At Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO), primary exposed trades included: Shipyard trades. Other trades — painters, electricians, carpenters — were secondarily exposed through working in spaces where insulation was disturbed.
Can former Alabama Dry Dock & Shipbuilding (ADDSCO) workers file asbestos claims?
Yes. Former shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, or asbestos-related lung cancer can pursue asbestos trust fund claims against manufacturers of products used at the yard, and may also be eligible for VA disability if they served in the military. These two paths are independent and not mutually exclusive.