The site of the Chief of Naval Operations,  Washington Navy Yard has been running since the beginning of the XIXth century. In time, it became the Navy´s most important boatbuilding facility, building over 20 ships of all sizes, during the course of its operations.

The yard was always on the cutting edge of shipbuilding technology. Even as early as 1812, a new kind of torpedo was developed there, at the time of the war. The shipyard was also purposely burned at the time, to avoid the possibility of the enemy using it for their own benefit. After the fire and the war, the yard started focusing on steam engines, among other types of equipment and gadgets.

World War I saw the yard dedicated to armament. In fact, in 1886, the yard had been established as an official manufacturing facility for the Navy. When World War II came, the Washington yard was the largest naval ordinance facility on the planet. At the time, it counted over 180 buildings, employing twenty five thousand people. Up until 1960, the armament created and manufactured there was utilized in every war waged by the country. ln 1961, the plant was transformed into a center for the administration of naval activities.

Today, the yard retains tremendous historical value and significance. It was the place Lindbergh returned to after flying across the Atlantic, and it was also the home the World War I Unknown Soldier was brought back to, among many historical events.

But it is not all glory and glamour. The Washington Yard, like many other similar facilities operational during the XXth century, was abundant in asbestos containing materials. This lead to asbestos exposure for thousands of workers. Many of them later developed the three asbestos-related conditions: mesothelioma (a malignant cancer of the lungs, heart or abdomen), asbestosis (a respiratory condition which also affects blood flow), and lung cancer (chances of developing which are greatly augmented by smoking).

The Washington Yard was among many very active shipbuilding sites across the country during the Second World War. People employed at these shipyards at any given time may have been dangerously affected by asbestos exposure, which might have also affected their family members, as asbestos fibers can be easily carried home. If either you or a loved one are in one of these positions, you should promptly seek medical and legal advice. At Weitz & Luxenberg, we been working on asbestos cases for over 20 years, obtaining multi-million dollar compensations for our clients. You can contact the Weitz & Luxenberg Asbestos Lawyers for a free evaluation of your case.