Why Asbestos Exposure in Shipyards Remains a Live Risk Today
British shipyards were built on practical engineering, and for decades that engineering relied heavily on asbestos. It was heat-resistant, fire-resistant and cheap — a material that seemed to solve problems across every part of a vessel and every building on a working dock.
The consequence of that widespread use is that asbestos exposure in shipyards continues to shape decisions made by dutyholders, property managers and contractors right now, long after the last roll of lagging was laid. If you manage an ageing dockside building, oversee marine maintenance, or plan work on an older vessel, you are dealing with a legacy that does not stay neatly in the past.
The risk changes the moment work becomes intrusive — and the law requires you to be ready before that moment arrives.
Why Asbestos Was Used So Extensively in Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding demanded materials that could tolerate extreme heat, constant vibration, friction and the ever-present threat of fire. Asbestos answered every one of those demands, which is why it was specified across vessels and dockside facilities for much of the twentieth century.
From an engineering standpoint, it appeared ideal. From a health perspective, it created an occupational hazard that was made significantly worse by the conditions in which it was used — tight, poorly ventilated spaces where cutting, drilling and stripping sent fibres into the air with nowhere to go.
Common applications included:
- Thermal insulation around boilers, turbines and steam systems
- Pipe lagging and sprayed insulation on service runs
- Fire protection in bulkheads, doors and service spaces
- Gaskets, seals, rope packing and washers around machinery
- Insulating boards in accommodation and work areas
- Floor tiles, adhesives, coatings and textured finishes in shore-based buildings
- Cement sheets, panels and flues in industrial units
The real danger was always disturbance. Once fibres became airborne, workers could inhale them without realising — particularly where dust control and respiratory protection were inadequate or simply absent.
Where Asbestos Is Found in Ships and Dockyard Buildings
If you are responsible for an older marine asset or dockside premises, the safest working assumption is that asbestos may be present until a suitable survey demonstrates otherwise. This is especially relevant for buildings and vessels constructed or altered before asbestos was fully prohibited in UK use.
On Board Ships and Submarines
Asbestos exposure in shipyards frequently began on the vessel itself. Marine environments used asbestos in far more locations than most people expect, particularly around heat-generating systems and fire protection measures.
- Boiler insulation and thermal wraps
- Pipe lagging throughout service runs
- Engine room insulation and sprayed coatings
- Exhaust insulation and flue linings
- Valve packing and rope seals
- Gaskets, washers and flange materials
- Bulkhead panels and ceiling boards
- Floor tiles and bitumen adhesives
- Fire doors and fireproof linings
- Electrical components and arc chutes
- Insulating boards in service areas
Submarines presented a particular problem. Because they were so enclosed, fibres released during maintenance could remain airborne or settle in confined spaces where crews and maintenance teams spent extended periods with no means of ventilation.
In Shipyard and Dockside Premises
Shore-side buildings carry risks that are just as significant as those on the vessel under repair. Workshops, warehouses, stores, offices and plant rooms connected to marine operations may all contain asbestos within the building fabric.
- Asbestos insulating board in partitions, ducts and fire breaks
- Pipe insulation in plant rooms and service risers
- Roof sheets and wall cladding on industrial buildings
- Ceiling tiles and panels
- Vinyl floor tiles and mastics
- Textured coatings and decorative finishes
- Cement gutters, flues and panels
Focusing only on the vessel and ignoring adjacent workshops or support buildings is one of the most common mistakes made during survey planning. The whole site must be considered.
Who Faced the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Shipyards
Not every worker in a yard had the same level of contact, but many roles regularly operated in conditions where asbestos fibres could be released. Those closest to insulation, hot plant and strip-out work were typically the most heavily exposed.
Higher-risk roles included:
- Laggers and insulation installers
- Boilermakers
- Pipefitters and plumbers
- Engineers and engine room crews
- Welders and burners working near insulated systems
- Electricians opening panels and service voids
- Joiners and fit-out contractors
- Demolition and strip-out teams
- Dockyard maintenance staff
- Naval and merchant marine personnel involved in upkeep and repair
Secondary exposure also mattered significantly. Dust carried home on clothing, boots or tools could expose family members who had never set foot in a shipyard — a pattern that has been documented in mesothelioma cases across the UK.
Health Effects Linked to Asbestos Exposure in Shipyards
The illnesses associated with asbestos typically take years, and often decades, to develop. That long latency period is one reason the issue remains so serious long after the original work ended.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs or, less commonly, the abdomen. It is strongly associated with asbestos exposure, and former shipyard workers are among the groups historically linked with heavy occupational contact.
Possible symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is scarring of lung tissue caused by inhaling asbestos fibres over a prolonged period. It can lead to progressive breathlessness and reduced lung function, and the damage is irreversible. There is no treatment that reverses the scarring once it has occurred.
Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Lung cancer risk can increase significantly in people with a history of asbestos exposure. For former dockyard workers, a clear occupational history is often important when symptoms are being investigated and when treatment decisions are being made.
Pleural Thickening and Pleural Plaques
These conditions affect the lining of the lungs. They may not always be immediately life-threatening, but they can indicate past exposure and may cause discomfort or breathing restriction in some cases. They are also markers that should prompt further monitoring.
If someone has a history of asbestos exposure in shipyards and develops respiratory symptoms, they should seek medical advice promptly. Early assessment cannot undo past exposure, but it can support faster investigation and better treatment planning.
Why Shipyard Asbestos Risks Still Exist Today
A ban on the use of asbestos did not remove it from existing ships and buildings. Many older marine environments still contain asbestos-containing materials in place, and the risk changes rapidly the moment maintenance, repair, refit or demolition work begins.
Modern shipyards still encounter asbestos during:
- Refits of older vessels
- Engine room upgrades
- Boiler and pipework repairs
- Replacement of plant and services
- Strip-out before conversion works
- Demolition of marine structures
- Maintenance in older dockside workshops and warehouses
If asbestos-containing materials remain in good condition and are not disturbed, they may be managed in place under a suitable management plan. Once work becomes intrusive, assumptions are no longer sufficient. The Control of Asbestos Regulations require asbestos risks to be properly identified and controlled, and HSE guidance through HSG264 makes clear that survey information must be suitable for the specific work planned.
Legal Duties for Owners, Operators and Property Managers
If you manage a shipyard, dock building, marine workshop or older premises connected to ship operations, you are likely to have duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations. In practical terms, that means identifying whether asbestos is present, assessing the risk and preventing exposure.
Key actions for dutyholders typically include:
- Identify whether asbestos-containing materials are likely to be present
- Arrange a suitable asbestos survey where needed
- Maintain an asbestos register
- Assess the condition of known or presumed materials
- Prepare and implement an asbestos management plan
- Share asbestos information with anyone liable to disturb the material
- Review the plan regularly and after any changes to the premises or scope of works
Survey work should follow the approach set out in HSG264. The survey type must match the activity — a routine occupied building requires a different level of inspection from a vessel compartment being stripped out for major works.
Practical steps that help:
- Do not start intrusive work until the correct survey has been completed
- Check whether existing survey information actually covers the exact work area
- Make sure contractors have seen and understood the asbestos information
- Stop work immediately if suspect materials are uncovered unexpectedly
- Use competent and, where required, licensed contractors for removal work
Choosing the Right Asbestos Survey for Shipyards and Marine Premises
One of the most significant causes of ongoing asbestos exposure in shipyards is using the wrong survey type for the job. If the survey does not match the planned work, hidden asbestos may be missed and workers put at serious risk.
Management Survey
For occupied shipyard buildings and marine premises in normal use, a management survey is typically the starting point. Its purpose is to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, asbestos-containing materials that could be disturbed during everyday occupation or routine maintenance.
This is often suitable for offices, stores, workshops and operational buildings where no major intrusive work is planned. It supports your asbestos register and management plan, but it is not sufficient for refurbishment or demolition work.
Refurbishment Survey
If a vessel area, plant room or dockside building is about to undergo intrusive work, a refurbishment survey is usually required. This survey is designed to locate asbestos in the specific area affected by planned works, including materials hidden behind walls, ceilings, boxing and fixed plant.
In shipyard settings, this typically applies before:
- Engine room upgrades
- Pipe replacement projects
- Cabin refits
- Plant room alterations
- Structural changes to workshops
Demolition Survey
Where a structure is due to be taken down, or a vessel or building is being stripped to the point of demolition, a demolition survey is required. This survey is fully intrusive and aims to identify asbestos-containing materials throughout the area to be demolished, so they can be removed safely before demolition proceeds.
That is essential for redundant industrial buildings, dockside structures and end-of-life marine assets.
Managing Asbestos Risk Before Maintenance, Refit or Demolition
Good control starts before tools come out. The safest projects are those where asbestos is considered early, survey information is current and everyone on site understands what they are dealing with.
Use this checklist before work begins:
- Review the age and history of the vessel or building
- Check existing asbestos records and question whether they remain valid for the current scope
- Define the exact scope of works, including hidden service routes and voids
- Arrange the correct survey type for the affected areas
- Assess whether asbestos removal is needed before other trades start
- Provide survey findings to contractors, supervisors and permit issuers
- Set out emergency procedures for accidental disturbance
- Control access to affected areas until risks are managed
On live sites, access control matters as much as paperwork. If a suspect material is damaged, isolate the area immediately, prevent further entry and seek advice from a competent asbestos specialist before work resumes.
Asbestos in Shipyards Across the UK — A Nationwide Legacy
The shipbuilding industry was not confined to one region. Major yards operated across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which means the legacy of asbestos exposure in shipyards is spread across the entire country. Dockside buildings, converted marine facilities and former yard premises can be found in almost every major port city.
If you are managing property in a former industrial or port area, the history of the site matters. Buildings that served or supported marine operations — even indirectly — may contain asbestos-containing materials that have never been formally surveyed.
Supernova Asbestos Surveys operates nationally, with experienced surveyors covering all major locations. If you need an asbestos survey in London, our teams work across the capital’s docklands and former industrial zones. For sites further north, we provide an asbestos survey in Manchester covering Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas. Clients in the Midlands can arrange an asbestos survey in Birmingham with the same level of expertise and turnaround.
Wherever your premises are located, the approach should be the same: survey first, work second.
What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos Has Been Disturbed
Accidental disturbance happens — particularly in older buildings where survey records are incomplete or out of date. Knowing how to respond quickly can limit exposure and protect everyone on site.
If you suspect asbestos has been disturbed:
- Stop all work in the affected area immediately
- Evacuate people from the zone and prevent re-entry
- Do not attempt to clean up dust or debris without specialist advice
- Contact a competent asbestos specialist to assess the situation
- Report the incident in line with your site’s emergency procedures
- Inform your health and safety manager and, where required, notify the relevant enforcing authority
- Arrange air monitoring and any necessary decontamination before the area is re-entered
Acting quickly and correctly limits the risk. Acting slowly, or attempting to manage the situation without specialist input, can make it significantly worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asbestos exposure in shipyards still a concern for workers today?
Yes. While the use of asbestos in new construction has been prohibited in the UK, many older vessels and dockside buildings still contain asbestos-containing materials. Workers carrying out maintenance, refits or demolition on these structures can be exposed if the correct surveys and controls are not in place. The Control of Asbestos Regulations place a legal duty on employers and dutyholders to manage this risk.
Which shipyard workers were most at risk of asbestos exposure?
Laggers, boilermakers, pipefitters, engine room engineers, electricians and demolition workers typically had the highest levels of exposure. Workers in poorly ventilated spaces — such as engine rooms and submarine compartments — were particularly at risk because fibres had nowhere to disperse. Secondary exposure also affected family members through contaminated clothing and equipment brought home from the yard.
What diseases are associated with asbestos exposure in shipyards?
The main conditions linked to shipyard asbestos exposure are mesothelioma, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer, pleural thickening and pleural plaques. These conditions often have a long latency period, meaning symptoms may not appear until many years or decades after the original exposure. Anyone with a history of shipyard work who develops respiratory symptoms should seek medical advice promptly.
What type of asbestos survey is needed for a dockside building?
The correct survey type depends on the planned activity. A management survey is appropriate for occupied buildings in normal use. A refurbishment survey is required before any intrusive maintenance or alteration work. A demolition survey is needed when a structure is being fully stripped or demolished. Using the wrong survey type is one of the most common causes of workers being unknowingly exposed to asbestos on marine and industrial sites.
Do I need an asbestos survey before starting repair work on an older vessel?
If the vessel was built or significantly altered before the prohibition of asbestos use in the UK, then yes — a suitable survey should be completed before intrusive work begins. The survey must cover the specific areas affected by the planned work. Existing records may not be sufficient if the scope of work has changed or if the survey predates significant alterations to the vessel. Always check that your survey information is current and relevant to the exact work being undertaken.
Speak to Supernova Asbestos Surveys
Supernova Asbestos Surveys has completed over 50,000 surveys nationwide, working with property managers, contractors, housing associations and commercial operators across every sector — including marine, industrial and dockside premises.
If you manage a shipyard building, former dock facility or any older premises where asbestos exposure in shipyards could be a factor, our surveyors can advise on the right approach, arrange the correct survey type and provide clear, actionable reports that meet your legal obligations under the Control of Asbestos Regulations.
Call us on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to arrange a survey or speak to one of our specialists.