New Orleans Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avondale Shipyards (Jefferson Parish) | Shipbuilding & Repair | 1938–2010 | Critical |
| 2 | Higgins Industries | Landing Craft / Shipbuilding | 1940–1946 | Critical |
| 3 | Todd-Johnson Dry Dock | Ship Repair | 1942–1980 | High |
| 4 | Marad Reserve Fleet (Algiers) | Maritime Maintenance | 1945–1980 | High |
| 5 | Murphy Oil Meraux Refinery | Petroleum Refining | 1940–present | High |
| 6 | Canal Barge Co. | Maritime / Barge Operations | 1934–present | Moderate |
| 7 | Consolidated Aluminum (Harvey) | Aluminum Processing | 1952–1990 | Moderate |
Avondale Shipyards: The Largest Gulf South Exposure Site
Avondale Shipyards in Westwego / Avondale (Jefferson Parish) was the single largest employer of asbestos-exposed workers in Louisiana history. At its WWII peak, over 26,000 workers built ships for the U.S. Navy and merchant marine — with asbestos insulation applied throughout every vessel on pipes, boilers, engine rooms, and interior bulkheads.
Avondale continued operating as a commercial shipyard through 2010, with repair and new construction work continuing to expose workers throughout the postwar decades. Litigation against Avondale Industries (later owned by Northrop Grumman and Huntington Ingalls) has produced hundreds of verdicts and settlements in Louisiana courts, and ongoing trust fund claims remain available for documented Avondale workers.
If you or a family member worked at Avondale Shipyards at any point from 1938 through the 1990s, you should speak with a mesothelioma attorney immediately.
Higgins Industries — WWII Landing Craft
Andrew Higgins’ landing craft (the LCVP “Higgins Boat”) were essential to Allied amphibious operations in WWII. Higgins Industries employed over 20,000 New Orleans workers at seven plants throughout the city, building vessels with asbestos-insulated engines and mechanical systems. Workers at Higgins Industries have filed mesothelioma claims, and survivors or families of former Higgins workers may qualify for trust fund compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Avondale Shipyards is one of the most extensively documented asbestos exposure sites in Louisiana. Asbestos insulation was used in every ship built at Avondale — on steam pipes, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and interior insulation. Both direct Avondale employees and contractors who worked on-site have filed mesothelioma claims. Litigation and trust fund claims involving Avondale have produced some of the largest asbestos verdicts in Louisiana history.
Yes, but Louisiana’s 1-year prescription period means you must act within 1 year of your mesothelioma diagnosis. Trust fund claims against insulation manufacturers who supplied Avondale (such as Owens Corning / Fibreboard, Pittsburgh Corning, and others) can be filed with separate timelines, but lawsuits against surviving Avondale corporate entities must be filed within 1 year of diagnosis.