⚓ Groton, CT — Commercial Shipyard
General Dynamics Electric Boat — Asbestos Exposure
Last updated July 11, 2026
General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, is the primary builder of U.S. Navy submarines. The confined environment of submarine construction — building inside a pressure hull, running insulated pipe and wiring through tight spaces — created sustained asbestos exposure for trades workers. Electric Boat was the subject of significant asbestos litigation from workers who developed mesothelioma.
Asbestos at General Dynamics Electric Boat
Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and overhaul from the 1930s through approximately 1980. At General Dynamics Electric Boat, 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: Submarine insulation, gaskets, packing.
Ships Built or Overhauled Here
Primary U.S. submarine builder; built nuclear submarines including the Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident missile boats.
At-Risk Trades at General Dynamics Electric Boat
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 General Dynamics Electric Boat 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 General Dynamics Electric Boat?
Yes. Asbestos was the standard insulation material in U.S. naval shipbuilding and repair from the 1930s through approximately 1980. Workers at General Dynamics Electric Boat — 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 General Dynamics Electric Boat?
Trades with the most direct asbestos contact included insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, shipfitters, and welders. At General Dynamics Electric Boat, primary exposed trades included: Pipefitters, insulators, machinists. Other trades — painters, electricians, carpenters — were secondarily exposed through working in spaces where insulation was disturbed.
Can former General Dynamics Electric Boat 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.