Portland Shipyard

Portland Shipyard History

Portland Shipyard operated during a time of widespread asbestos use in the ship industry. Located on Swan Island and owned by the Port of Portland, its first dry dock was installed in 1903.

From 1942 to 1953, a businessman named Henry Kaiser owned the shipyard under the name Oregon Shipbuilding Company (also called Oregonship). During World War II, workers at the site built Liberty-class ships. Each of these cargo ships carried thousands of tons of cargo as part of the war effort.

The Port of Portland repurchased the shipyard in 1953 and leased space to the following contractors:

• Dillingham Ship Repair
• Northwest Marine Iron Works
• Willamette Iron and Steel Corporation

Over the next several decades, the shipyard continued to expand. In 1963, the Port installed what was then the largest floating dry dock in the United States. In 1976, it began to build a dry dock to handle Alaskan oil tankers and liquified natural gas carriers. The project included several support facilities, including outfitting berths and a water treatment plant. By the late 1980s, the yard handled about 40% of all West Coast commercial ship repair.

In 1994, Cascade General, which had bought out Dillingham Ship Repair, was the sole contractor at the yard. In 2000, the company bought the shipyard from the Port of Portland and renamed itself Vigor Industrial.

Portland Shipyard History at a Glance

• Other Names: Kaiser Shipyards, Oregon Shipbuilding Company, Oregonship, Portland Ship Repair Yard
• Location: Portland, Oregon
• Owner(s): Henry Kaiser, Port of Portland, Vigor Industrial
• Years of Operation: 1903 – Present
• Wartime Operations: World War II (WWII)
• Size of Shipyards: 60 acres
• Noteworthy Ships: SS Joseph N. Teal, SS Star of Oregon
• Types of Ships Built/Serviced: Aircraft carriers, cargo ships, liquified natural gas carriers, oil tankers

Workers and veterans at Portland Shipyard may develop health problems from asbestos exposure. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers can lead to diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Family members may also develop asbestos cancers from secondary exposure. This can occur when shipyard personnel bring home asbestos on their clothes or in their hair.

Notable Ships Built and Repaired

Portland Shipyard has built and serviced many notable ships throughout its history. World War II was an especially busy time for the yard. Between 1941 and 1945, the shipyard built 330 Liberty cargo vessels, 99 Victory cargo vessels and 33 attack transports for the United States military. It also built and repaired many commercial ships.

SS Star of Oregon (MC-171)

The SS Star of Oregon was a Liberty-class cargo ship launched in 1942. It was the first of its class to enter into service. Workers at Portland Shipyard, operating under Oregon Shipbuilding Company, finished it 131 days after laying its keel.

The crew was made up of as many as 62 Merchant Mariners and 40 Navy sailors. In June and July of 1942, the ship transported cargo along the East Coast of Africa. In August, while in the Caribbean, a German submarine torpedoed the ship. The ship sank, but the crew managed to get into lifeboats, resulting in no casualties.

SS Joseph N. Teal (MC-581)

The SS Joseph N. Teal made national news in 1942. The Oregon Shipbuilding Company at Portland Shipyard launched this Liberty ship just 10 days after laying its keel. President Roosevelt attended the historic launch.

During World War I, the record for this type of construction was over 200 days. The ship was eventually scrapped in 1963.

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Asbestos at Portland Shipyard

Like many shipyards, Portland Shipyard used asbestos during operations. Military and commercial shipping construction materials, machinery and safety gear contained asbestos. It wasn’t until the 1980s that asbestos use declined sharply.

The military required contractors to use asbestos in hundreds of materials for many years. Military officials worried that other materials might not be as durable or heat-resistant as asbestos. They believed any material could be safe if properly handled. But asbestos, with its microscopic fibers, can be difficult to handle safely.

Asbestos Exposure at Portland Shipyard

Portland Shipyard employed thousands of workers to build and repair ships. Anyone who worked around asbestos products faced potential exposure risks. Those who worked in poorly ventilated areas and who cut, repaired or scrapped asbestos materials may be at a higher risk of developing asbestos diseases.

Trades and other occupations that faced asbestos exposure risks at shipyards include:

• Boiler workers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Engineers
• HVAC workers
• Insulators
• Laborers
• Masons
• Mechanics
• Molders
• Pipefitters
• Plant workers
• Plumbers
• Riveters
• Sheet metal fabricators
• Shipfitters
• Shipwrights
• Steamfitters
• Water treatment plant workers
• Welders

People exposed to asbestos at Portland Shipyard facilities may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. Mesothelioma patients and their families may be able to get compensation to help pay for treatment and other costs.

Asbestos Settlements for Portland Shipyard

Workers who spent time at Portland Shipyard and later developed mesothelioma may file lawsuits against the companies and contractors that operated there. Lawsuits may result in trial verdicts or settlements between the victim and the company.

Portland Shipyard companies have faced asbestos lawsuits and settled with victims. The following are just a few examples of settlement amounts:

• $1,274,229 for an 85-year-old Army veteran
• $749,548 for a 78-year-old laborer
• $615,693 for an 84-year-old shipyard worker

Portland Shipyard workers may also be able to seek compensation from companies that supplied asbestos materials to the shipyards. Mesothelioma patients and their families can reach out to asbestos lawyers to explore their legal options.

Questions About Asbestos Exposure at Portland Shipyard? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Trusts Associated With Portland Shipyard

Companies that exposed people to asbestos have had hundreds of thousands of lawsuits filed against them. The liabilities companies created through asbestos use have caused some to file for bankruptcy. Often, these bankrupt companies set up asbestos trust funds to pay current and future victims.

Victims may be able to file trust fund claims in addition to filing a lawsuit. You can discuss all of your compensation options with a mesothelioma lawyer.

Asbestos Trust Funds and Eligible Years of Employment

The following companies provided asbestos products to Portland Shipyard. After exposing innocent people to asbestos and facing many asbestos lawsuits, these companies filed for bankruptcy and created trust funds to pay victims. If an individual worked at Portland Shipyard and developed a disease such as mesothelioma, they may be able to file a claim against these companies’ trusts.