If you spent years working in a shipyard and are now experiencing breathing difficulties, a persistent cough, or chest tightness, there may be more to it than age or a winter cold. Thousands of former shipyard workers across the UK are living with conditions caused by asbestos exposure that happened decades ago, and many do not yet realise the connection.

Asbestos was used extensively in British shipbuilding from the 1930s right through to the 1980s. If you worked in or around ships during that period, you may have been exposed without knowing it. Understanding what that means for your health, and your rights, starts here.

Why Was Asbestos So Common in Shipyards?

Asbestos was valued for its heat resistance and durability, making it a standard material in boiler rooms, engine rooms, pipe lagging, bulkheads, and sleeping quarters on ships. Workers who built, maintained, or decommissioned vessels were regularly exposed to asbestos fibres in the air around them.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that around 50% of the workforce in major UK dockyards experienced intermittent asbestos exposure between 1950 and 1963, with shipbuilding workers recording the highest mesothelioma rates of any UK workforce (HSE, Asbestos-Related Disease Statistics, 2023). Major yards in the North East of England, including Swan Hunter in Wallsend and several Sunderland shipyards, were among the worst affected.

The exposure was not limited to those handling asbestos directly. Electricians, welders, plumbers, joiners, and general labourers working alongside laggers and insulators were all breathing in fibres released during cutting, fitting, and removal work.

What Are the Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Disease?

Asbestos-related diseases develop slowly. The latency period between first exposure and the appearance of symptoms is typically 15 to 50 years, which is why many former shipyard workers are only now receiving diagnoses for exposure that occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s.

The main conditions caused by asbestos exposure are:

• Asbestosis: scarring of the lung tissue that makes breathing progressively more difficult. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, chest tightness, and in some cases, clubbing of the fingertips.
• Mesothelioma: a cancer of the lining of the lungs (or, less commonly, the abdomen). Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fluid build-up around the lungs, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
• Pleural thickening: scarring and thickening of the membrane surrounding the lungs, which restricts breathing capacity.
• Asbestos-related lung cancer: lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure, particularly in individuals who also smoked, where the combined risk is significantly higher.

If you worked in a shipyard and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is worth speaking to your GP and mentioning your occupational history. Many GPs will not automatically connect breathing problems to asbestos exposure unless you raise it.

How Serious Is the Problem in the UK?

The scale of asbestos disease in the UK is significant. In 2023, there were 2,218 mesothelioma deaths recorded in Great Britain (1,802 males and 416 females), according to HSE statistics. The total number of asbestos-related deaths, including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer, is estimated at around 5,000 per year (HSE, 2023).

The UK has the highest rate of mesothelioma in the world, and projections suggest that deaths will remain at elevated levels until at least 2050 due to the long latency period and the scale of historic exposure (HSE, Mesothelioma Statistics, 2023).

Can I Still Make an Asbestos Disease Claim If the Shipyard Has Closed?

Yes. Many of the shipyards where asbestos exposure occurred closed decades ago, but that does not prevent a claim from being made. Asbestos disease claims are pursued against the employer’s liability insurer, not the employer directly. Even if the company has been dissolved, the insurance policy that was in place at the time of your employment can still be traced.

WE Solicitors specialises in tracing former employers and their insurers through the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) and other investigative methods. The fact that a shipyard no longer exists does not mean you have no options.

WE Solicitors recently settled a mesothelioma claim on behalf of a former worker against a North East shipbuilding company. It is an area where the team has deep experience, and these cases are something they handle regularly.

Is It Too Late to Claim?

Many people assume that because their exposure happened 30 or 40 years ago, it is too late to do anything. That is not necessarily the case. Under the Limitation Act 1980 (Section 11), the three-year time limit for making a personal injury claim runs from your “date of knowledge,” meaning the point at which you became aware (or should reasonably have become aware) that your condition was linked to asbestos exposure at work.

For most people, this is the date of diagnosis or the date a medical professional first connected their symptoms to their occupational history. If you have only recently been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you may well be within time, regardless of when the exposure occurred. You can read more about how time limits work for asbestos claims on the WE Solicitors website.

What Compensation Could I Receive?

Compensation for asbestos-related diseases varies depending on the type and severity of the condition. According to the Judicial College Guidelines (17th Edition, 2024), typical ranges for general damages are:

• Mesothelioma: £60,000 to £250,000+
• Asbestosis: £30,000 to £100,000+
• Pleural thickening: £4,500 to £110,000
• Asbestos-related lung cancer: £50,000 to £220,000

Additional compensation may be awarded for lost earnings, care costs, medical expenses, and the impact on your quality of life. Each case is assessed individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

I worked in a shipyard in the 1970s. Is it too late to claim?
Not necessarily. The three-year limitation period runs from your date of knowledge, which is usually the date you were diagnosed or first told your condition was linked to asbestos. Many successful claims involve exposure from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

The shipyard I worked at closed down years ago. Can I still claim?
Yes. WE Solicitors can trace the employer’s liability insurer even if the company no longer exists. Claims are made against the insurer, not the employer directly.

I have been diagnosed with pleural thickening. Is that serious enough to claim for?
Yes. Pleural thickening caused by asbestos exposure is a recognised condition that can significantly affect your breathing and quality of life. Compensation ranges from £4,500 to over £110,000 depending on severity.

Do I need to pay anything upfront?
No. WE Solicitors operates on a No Win, No Fee basis. The initial consultation is free, there is no financial risk, and if your claim is unsuccessful, you owe nothing.

I was not a lagger or insulator. Could I still have been exposed?
Yes. Asbestos fibres were released during many different activities in shipyards. Electricians, welders, plumbers, joiners, painters, and general labourers all faced exposure from working in the same environments where asbestos was being handled.

Speak to Someone Who Understands Asbestos Claims

If you worked in a shipyard and are now experiencing breathing problems, or if you have received a diagnosis of asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural thickening, or asbestos-related lung cancer, WE Solicitors can help you understand your options. The initial consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.

Call free on 0800 294 3065 or use our online contact form to arrange a callback at a time that suits you.

Sources: HSE Asbestos-Related Disease Statistics (2023) · HSE Mesothelioma Statistics (2023) · Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/632) · Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1999 · Limitation Act 1980, Section 11 · Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition (2024)