Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company History
The Sun Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1916 by the Pew brothers as a subsidiary of the Sun Oil Company. It operated during a time when asbestos use was widespread in the shipbuilding industry.
The shipyard was located in Chester, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River. Its main purpose was to produce tankers that carried crude oil from Galveston, Texas, to the company’s refinery in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. In October 1917, Sun Shipbuilding launched its first ship, the SS Chester Sun.
At the height of World War I (WWI), Sun Shipbuilding employed 16,000 workers who spoke 25 different languages. In January 1923, the company expanded by adding a dry dock and a ship repair service, and it officially changed its name to Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company.
In September 1931, the company launched the SS White Flash, the first ocean-going ship built entirely by welding. This method saved time and money by fully replacing rivets. It also made the ships stronger and allowed shipyards to build more of them faster.
When the United States entered World War II (WWII), Sun Shipbuilding became one of the country’s most important shipyards. A $28 million government investment from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) helped the yard expand from eight to 28 shipways, making it the largest in the nation.
During this period, the company built and repaired vessels for a wide range of companies and government agencies, including:
- American Dredging Company
- American Export Lines Inc.
- Grace Line Inc.
- Gulf Oil Corporation
- Keystone Tankship Corporation
- Millcreek Leasing Corporation
- Netherlands Ministry of Shipping
- Panama Transport Company
- Pennsylvania Railroad Company
- Petroleum Shipping
- Seatrain Lines
- Standard Oil Company
- Sunexport Holdings Corporation
- Texas Company
- Tide Water Associated Oil Company
- Transamerican Trailer Transport Inc.
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
- United States Department of Commerce Maritime Administration
- United States Department of War
- United States Lines Company
- United States Maritime Commission
- Waterman Steamship Corporation
When demand for new ships dropped after WWII, Sun Shipbuilding sold off some land but kept operating for decades. It continued building vessels and took on industrial contracts, including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) projects.
The yard launched its final ship in 1979. In 1982, the shipbuilding arm was sold to Livingston Industries and renamed the Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company, which closed in 1989. The site has since been divided and repurposed.
Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company History at a Glance
- Other Names: Pennsylvania Shipbuilding Company, Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Sunoco
- Location: Chester, Pennsylvania
- Owner(s): Livingston Industries, Metro Machine, Sun Oil Company
- Years of Operation: 1916 – 1989
- Wartime Operations: World War I (WWI), World War II (WWII)
- Size of Shipyards: Four yards, 28 shipways at peak, spanning 1.5 miles along the Delaware River
- Noteworthy Ships: SS Chester Sun, SS Esso Gettysburg, SS Marine Eagle
- Types of Ships Built/Serviced: Barges, cargo ships, escort aircraft carriers, ferries, grain barges, hopper dredges, hospital ships, ice-breaking tankers, minesweepers, mining ships, motorships, oil tankers, supertankers, T-2 tankers
Asbestos was commonly used at shipyards because it was inexpensive and resistant to heat and fire. Workers and veterans from Sun Shipbuilding may develop health problems from asbestos exposure. Inhaling or swallowing asbestos fibers can lead to diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Family members could also face asbestos-related illnesses from secondhand exposure when workers brought dust home on their clothes or in their hair.
Notable Ships Built and Repaired
Sun Shipbuilding built and serviced many notable vessels during its decades of operation. World War II was an especially remarkable period for the shipyard. During WWII alone, Sun Shipbuilding constructed 285 ships, including 281 T-2 tankers that made up 40% of the U.S. oil tanker fleet. It also repaired more than 1,500 vessels to keep them ready for service.
At its peak, the shipyard employed over 35,000 people, including roughly 2,800 women and about 12,000 African American workers. A large share of the Black workforce was assigned to Number 4 Yard, which played a critical role in supporting the war effort. In 1943, Number 4 Yard made history by launching the SS Marine Eagle, the first ocean-going ship ever built entirely by Black laborers.
SS Esso Gettysburg (HAER No. CA-354)
The SS Esso Gettysburg was a T2-SE-A1 turbine tanker built by Sun Shipbuilding for Standard Oil. The vessel was completed in March 1942.
On June 10, 1943, while carrying crude oil from Port Arthur to Philadelphia, it was struck by two torpedoes from a U-boat about 100 miles southeast of Savannah. The blasts set off massive fires, sinking the ship and killing 57 of the 72 on board.
Like other tankers of its time, it likely contained asbestos in engine and boiler areas, exposing workers to long-term health risks.
SS Chester Sun (HAER No. PA-354)
The SS Chester Sun was the first ship built by Sun Shipbuilding. It was launched on October 30, 1917, marking the start of a yard that would later become vital in WWII. This single-screw oil tanker carried crude oil for the Sun Oil Company from Texas to its refinery in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania.
The ship changed owners multiple times and was renamed D.J. Moran in 1929 and Elwood in 1936 before being scrapped in 1949. Like other ships from that era, it likely contained asbestos in its insulation, piping and mechanical systems, endangering both workers and crew members.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
Asbestos at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
For much of the 20th century, shipyards across the United States relied on asbestos, including Sun Shipbuilding. The mineral was cheap, easy to find and valued for resisting heat, fire and corrosion. These traits made it common in many parts of a ship.
Shipbuilders often used asbestos products like cement, gaskets, insulation and spray coatings. For example, workers sprayed asbestos on pipes, boilers and engines to control heat and fire. Over time, tiny fibers could break loose, especially during repairs, putting shipyard workers and crews at risk.
Asbestos Exposure at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
Sun Shipbuilding employed thousands of people to build and repair ships, many of whom faced daily exposure to asbestos products. Those who worked in tight spaces with little airflow or who handled asbestos directly had some of the highest risks of breathing in dangerous fibers.
Some jobs at Sun Shipbuilding were more likely to involve direct contact with asbestos. For example, pipefitters, insulators and welders often installed or repaired parts containing the material.
Trades and other occupations at shipyards with high asbestos exposure risks include:
- Boiler workers
- Carpenters
- Coppersmiths
- Electric and gas welders
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Laborers
- Machinists
- Mechanics
- Molders
- Navy veterans
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Riveters
- Sheet metal fabricators
- Shipfitters
- Steamfitters
People exposed to asbestos at Sun Shipbuilding may later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. They may be able to seek compensation to help cover medical costs and other expenses.
Asbestos Settlements for Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
Workers at Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company who later developed mesothelioma may be eligible to seek compensation through lawsuits or settlements. Legal claims may involve the shipyard together with the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products used on-site.
Sun Shipbuilding has faced asbestos lawsuits over the years and reached settlements with many victims. While most settlement agreements are private, some settlement information is available. For instance, the company was part of a $4.2 million settlement to a 77-year-old Marine Corps veteran and former shipyard worker who developed an asbestos-related illness.
Individuals affected by asbestos exposure at Sun Shipbuilding may be able to pursue compensation through various legal avenues. A mesothelioma lawyer can help determine the best course of action based on the specifics of each case.
Asbestos Trusts Associated With Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
Companies that supplied asbestos products have faced hundreds of thousands of lawsuits. The costs tied to these claims led some to file for bankruptcy. As part of the bankruptcy process, these companies often created asbestos trust funds to pay people who got sick from exposure.
Because Sun Shipbuilding used products from several of these companies, workers who spent time at the shipyard may now qualify to file claims with these trust funds.
Asbestos Trust Funds and Eligible Years of Employment
The following companies provided asbestos products to Sun Shipbuilding. 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 Sun Shipbuilding and developed a disease such as mesothelioma, they may be able to file a claim against these companies’ trusts.
| Asbestos Company Name | Eligibility Start Date | Eligibility End Date |
|---|---|---|
| A.P. Green Industries | 4/4/1961 | 12/31/1982 |
| Babcock & Wilcox | 12/1/1916 | 12/31/1982 |
| Combustion Engineering | 12/31/1982 | |
| Eagle-Picher Industries | ||
| Keene Corporation | 1/1/1936 | 12/31/1982 |
| Owens Corning/Fibreboard | 1/1/1928 | 12/31/1982 |
| Owens-Corning Fiberglas | 7/1/1952 | 12/31/1982 |
| Pittsburgh Corning | 1/1/1969 | |
| U.S. Gypsum Company | 4/4/1961 | 1/2/1968 |
