Camden NJ Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma | New York Shipbuilding Corp

Camden Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

Camden, New Jersey was one of the most important shipbuilding cities on the East Coast. New York Shipbuilding Corporation — “New York Ship” as it was known — operated on the Camden waterfront from 1899 through 1967, building some of the largest and most advanced naval vessels in American history including the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier. At its WWII peak, New York Ship employed over 35,000 workers, virtually all of whom were exposed to asbestos insulation used throughout every ship on the ways.

5+Major exposure sites

~35,000Estimated exposed workers

2 YearsNew Jersey filing deadline

$0Upfront legal costs

Camden Area Exposure Map

Documented Exposure Sites

#	Facility	Industry	Active Period	Risk
1	New York Shipbuilding Corporation	Naval Shipbuilding	1899–1967	Critical
2	RCA Victor (Camden plant)	Electronics / Manufacturing	1901–1992	High
3	South Jersey Port Complex	Maritime / Longshoremen	1940–present	High
4	Delaware River Steel (nearby)	Steel Fabrication	1920–1970	High
5	Campbell Soup Company Camden	Food Processing	1869–present	Moderate

New York Shipbuilding Corporation: Camden’s Largest Asbestos Exposure Site

New York Shipbuilding Corporation built its yards on the Delaware River in Camden in 1899 and grew to become one of the most prolific shipbuilders in American history. Over its 68-year operating history, the yard built hundreds of vessels including battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, and merchant ships. The USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), launched at Camden in 1960, was one of the last major vessels built before the yard closed in 1967. Like all American shipyards of the era, New York Ship used asbestos insulation on every vessel — on steam lines, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and interior compartments.

Workers — pipefitters, insulators, boilermakers, caulkers, welders — accumulated heavy asbestos exposure over the yard’s operating lifetime. Claims by former New York Shipbuilding workers and their families continue to be filed through asbestos bankruptcy trusts and lawsuits against surviving corporate entities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did New York Shipbuilding workers develop mesothelioma?▼

Yes. New York Shipbuilding Corporation is one of the most frequently documented asbestos exposure sites in New Jersey litigation. The Camden yard built ships continuously from 1899 through 1967, and asbestos insulation was used on every vessel. Workers in insulation, pipefitting, and boiler trades had the highest direct exposure, but all workers in the shipyard environment breathed asbestos-laden air. New Jersey’s Middlesex County Superior Court handles the majority of asbestos cases in the state, and many Camden shipyard cases have been filed and resolved there.

What is New Jersey’s statute of limitations for Camden shipyard mesothelioma claims?▼

New Jersey provides 2 years from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2. Wrongful death claims have a separate 2-year deadline under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3. Contact an attorney immediately after receiving a diagnosis — 2 years passes quickly, and attorneys need time to gather documents, identify all exposure sites, and research which asbestos product manufacturers supplied the Camden yards.