⚓ Sparrows Point, MD — Commercial Shipyard
Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point) — Asbestos Exposure
Last updated July 11, 2026
Bethlehem Steel operated a combined steel production and shipbuilding facility at Sparrows Point, Maryland. Workers at the shipbuilding operation were exposed to asbestos from marine insulation applied during ship construction and repair. The adjacent steel mill also used asbestos in high-temperature applications, creating additional exposure pathways for workers who moved between operations.
Asbestos at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point)
Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and overhaul from the 1930s through approximately 1980. At Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point), 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 insulation; adjacent steel mill.
Ships Built or Overhauled Here
Built naval auxiliaries and merchant vessels; adjacent to the Sparrows Point steel complex.
At-Risk Trades at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point)
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 Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point) 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.
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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 Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point)?
Yes. Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and repair from the 1930s through approximately 1980. Workers at Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point) — 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 Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point)?
Trades with the most direct asbestos contact included insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, shipfitters, and welders. At Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point), primary exposed trades included: Shipyard & steel trades. Other trades — painters, electricians, carpenters — were secondarily exposed through working in spaces where insulation was disturbed.
Can former Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Sparrows Point) 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.