⚓ Bath, ME — Naval Shipyard
Bath Iron Works — Asbestos Exposure
Last updated July 11, 2026
Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine — now owned by General Dynamics — has been building U.S. Navy destroyers and frigates since the early 20th century and remains active today. Asbestos insulation was standard in all pre-1980 destroyer and frigate construction, and Bath Iron Works workers were among those exposed during peak naval construction through the WWII and Cold War eras.
Asbestos at Bath Iron Works
Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and overhaul from the 1930s through approximately 1980. At Bath Iron Works, 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: Destroyer/frigate insulation & gaskets.
Ships Built or Overhauled Here
Active builder of destroyers and frigates; built Fletcher, Gearing, and later Spruance and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
At-Risk Trades at Bath Iron Works
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 Bath Iron Works 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 Bath Iron Works?
Yes. Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and repair from the 1930s through approximately 1980. Workers at Bath Iron Works — 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 Bath Iron Works?
Trades with the most direct asbestos contact included insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, shipfitters, and welders. At Bath Iron Works, primary exposed trades included: Shipyard trades. Other trades — painters, electricians, carpenters — were secondarily exposed through working in spaces where insulation was disturbed.
Can former Bath Iron Works 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.