Naval Station Newport Asbestos Exposure & Compensation

Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport is a United States Navy installation located at Coddington Point on Aquidneck Island, with facilities in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Jamestown, Rhode Island.

Military needs during the World Wars and Cold War eras led to significant expansion and development at NAVSTA Newport. During this same period, asbestos was widely incorporated into military buildings, ships, and infrastructure. As a result, Navy veterans, civilian contractors, and their families faced an increased risk of asbestos exposure at Naval Station Newport.

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The Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyers at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) have considerable experience representing mesothelioma victims exposed to asbestos while working at NAVSTA Newport.

Naval Station Newport at a Glance

• Other names for Naval Station Newport include NAVSTA Newport, Newport Naval Station, and Newport Naval Base.
• Naval Station Newport underwent extensive construction, renovation, and demolition during and after World War II, a period when asbestos was widely used in military facilities. As a result, Navy personnel, civilian employees, and contractors working at the base may have faced a heightened risk of asbestos exposure.
• At least 10 bankruptcy trust funds, established to help asbestos victims, identify Newport Naval Station as a known jobsite for asbestos exposure.
• Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at the Newport Naval Station may be able to pursue compensation for their injuries. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys at ELSM Law can help you determine eligibility.

Asbestos Exposure at Naval Station Newport

Asbestos products were used extensively in Naval bases, shipyards, and military facilities up until the 1980’s. Due to its fire-resistant properties, asbestos was widely incorporated into naval vessels and building construction.

During World War II, over 200,000 Naval recruits were trained at Newport Naval Station. This great influx of personnel required extensive construction, development, and expansion of the naval station. Civilian contractors and military personnel suffered a substantial risk of exposure to asbestos products during the construction of hundreds of new buildings, including:

In the years following the war, hundreds of thousands of recruits continued to pass through the training station prior to assignment.

• In 1946, the Naval station scaled back and consolidated under the single command designated, U.S. Naval Base, Newport.
• In 1951, the Torpedo Station, located on Goat Island, was closed. The research and development facility for underwater ordnance and ballistics was moved and later consolidated at Coddington Cove, where it was renamed the Newport Underwater Ordnance Station.
• After 1952, many of these buildings were removed and contractors involved in this demolition work were exposed to numerous asbestos-containing materials.
• Between 1955 and 1958, piers 1 and 2 were constructed along with facilities and supply depots to accommodate Naval vessels as Newport became the home base for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Atlantic.

High-Risk Occupations at Newport Naval Station

Former Naval trainees, recruits, personnel, as well as outside contractors and construction workers, may have faced a serious risk of asbestos exposure at Newport Naval Station. Asbestos products were widely used during the frequent construction and demolition throughout the base. Naval personnel, scientists and engineers additionally suffered risk of exposure to asbestos in the Underwater Ordnance station.

High-Risk occupations with a risk of developing asbestos-related cancer include:

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Family members of workers and Navy veterans at Newport Naval Station may have suffered exposure to asbestos fibers brought home on workers’ clothing. Spouses and children involved in laundering dusty work clothing worn at the Naval base may become diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

From 1958-59, we did a complete renovation of the heating and power plant systems in the building of the pipelines for piers 1 and 2. We used a lot of Johns Manville products, Thermobestos, finishing asbestos cement, magnesia cement just on the pipeline. In addition, we used different weights of asbestos cloth. This was an old building, everything was gutted and everything new was put in: boilers, transformers, turbines, whatever. Insulator
Naval Station Newport, late 1950’s

Asbestos Products Used at Newport Naval Station

Numerous products that frequently contained asbestos were used throughout Newport Naval Station.

Common asbestos products found at NAVSTA Newport include:

Compensation for Naval Station Newport Navy Veterans with Mesothelioma

If you or a family member developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at Naval Station Newport, you may be entitled to compensation. ELSM attorneys can file a lawsuit against viable companies who supplied asbestos products related to work completed at the Naval installation. Individuals may also pursue financial compensation through asbestos trust funds and veteran benefits. Compensation can help with the cost of medical care, lost wages, and provide financial security for your family.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Companies that sold asbestos products used at the Newport Naval Station have established trust funds for mesothelioma and lung cancer victims. Tradesmen and outside contractors employed at the base, former Naval recruits, and their families who were exposed to asbestos at Newport Navy Station may be eligible to submit bankruptcy claims.

The following list of bankrupt asbestos companies with established asbestos trusts include locations and buildings at the Naval Station Newport, including the Naval supply depot and the Torpedo/Underwater Ordnance station.

Bankrupt Asbestos Company	Asbestos Exposure Start Date	Asbestos Exposure End Date
ACandS, Inc.	2/11/1972
Armstrong World Industries	1/1/1964	12/31/1982
Babcock & Wilcox	9/1/1905	12/31/1982
Combustion Engineering	1/1/1938	12/31/1982
Fibreboard		12/31/1982
GAF Corporation	7/16/1959	6/3/1960
Owens Corning	1/1/1958	12/31/1982
Owens-Illinois	3/3/1954	12/31/1958
Pittsburgh Corning	1/1/1971
United States Gypsum	1/1/1956	12/31/1982

Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos lawsuits hold negligent asbestos companies liable for their actions. Claims arising from asbestos exposure are most often pursued as either personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. Mesothelioma patients may pursue personal injury lawsuits, while surviving family members may file wrongful death claims after a loved one’s passing. In most states, the statute of limitations allows one to three years to file a personal injury claim from the date of diagnosis and one to three years to file a wrongful death claim from the date of death.

The mesothelioma lawyers at ELSM Law guide clients through every step of the process and help ensure claims are filed within applicable deadlines, which can be critical to preserving the right to compensation.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service may qualify for VA Benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition to your lawsuit, ELSM has VA-accredited attorneys who can assist you through this process.

FAQ

Which jobs at Newport Naval Base were most at risk of asbestos exposure?

Due to the Newport Naval Base’s strategic location and ability to adapt quickly to the needs and changes of US Naval Strategy and buildup during the 20th century, construction and demolition of housing and facilities throughout the base were common. Numerous asbestos-containing products were frequently used during these updates. Workers with the most risk include insulators, carpenters, demolition workers, boiler workers, and floor tile installers.

What is the Underwater Ordnance Station at the Newport Naval Base?

Formerly a Torpedo Station on Goat Island, the Underwater Ordnance Station moved to Coddington Point and reopened after the Navy’s torpedo production was awarded to private companies in 1966. This facility specializes in research, development, testing, and evaluation for the Navy’s underwater warfare systems. It has been identified and named on several asbestos companies’ bankruptcy trust jobsite lists. Former employees of this facility may qualify for compensation from bankruptcy trusts.