Panama City Shipbuilding and Naval Warfare Asbestos Exposure Documentation

Panama City's evolution from WWII Liberty ship production to modern Coast Guard cutter construction represents one of Florida's most significant maritime manufacturing centers. Research database documenting shipbuilding asbestos exposure spanning eight decades of operations.

108
WWII Liberty Ships Built
15,000
Peak WWII Workers
24
Coast Guard Cutters
$10.5B
Coast Guard Contract

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Operations

Eastern Shipbuilding Group stands as one of the largest private shipbuilders in the United States, employing more than 1,500 workers across Bay County facilities. The company's historic $10.5 billion Coast Guard contract represents the largest contract in the Coast Guard's 226-year history.

Historic Coast Guard Contract (2016)

  • Contract Value: $10.5 billion over multi-year timeline
  • Vessels: 24 Offshore Patrol Cutters at $484 million each
  • Mission: Border protection and national security operations
  • Employment Impact: 2,000 projected jobs for Bay County
  • Florida Ranking: #3 largest defense contractor (2021)
  • Facilities: 370+ acres with 6,000+ ton lifting capacity

Infrastructure and Capabilities

  • Founded: 1976 by Brian D'Isernia
  • Locations: Panama City, Allanton, and Port St. Joe facilities
  • Bulkhead Extension: 1,000 linear feet for enhanced capacity
  • Launch Facility: Extended 120 feet for 500+ foot ships
  • Current Employment: More than 1,500 workers in Bay County
  • Safety Protocols: Modern asbestos handling procedures

Naval Support Activity Panama City

Established July 20, 1945 as the U.S. Navy Mine Countermeasures Station, Naval Support Activity Panama City provides strategic deep-water access on beautiful St. Andrew Bay with direct Gulf of Mexico access and no overhead obstructions.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD)

  • Personnel: 1,100 scientists and engineers (largest tenant command)
  • Research Focus: Littoral warfare and mine warfare systems
  • Specializations: Optics, acoustics, and robotics research
  • Mission: Advanced naval warfare technology development
  • Strategic Value: Deep-water testing capabilities
  • Integration: Coordinates with Coast Guard operations

Specialized Training Commands

  • Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Diving (CENEODDIVE)
  • Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU)
  • Navy Diving Salvage Training Center
  • Training Scope: Navy divers, Reconnaissance Marines
  • Additional Training: Army engineer divers, Coast Guard divers
  • Mission Specializations: Wreckage recovery, mine defusing, reconnaissance

Coast Guard Station Panama City

  • Location: Located on NSA premises with shared facilities
  • Home Port: USCG Cutter Coho operations
  • Area of Responsibility: 50 miles offshore, 168 miles coastline, 40 bayous, 18 rivers

Historical Wainwright Shipyard (1943-1945)

Selected as one of 19 American shipyards by the U.S. Maritime Commission for WWII Liberty ship production, Wainwright Shipyard employed approximately 15,000 workers and constructed 108 ships from 1943 to war's end.

WWII Production Scale

  • Construction Capacity: Five slipways for simultaneous construction
  • Total Production: 108 ships constructed during war period
  • Peak Employment: Approximately 15,000 workers
  • Average Cost: $2,020,000 per ship (1940s dollars)
  • Vessel Types: Liberty ships, aircraft transport, tank transport
  • Current Status: Site under Panama City Port Authority operation

Asbestos Exposure Documentation

Extensive insulation requirements for engine compartments and boiler systems

Ship hull fireproofing with asbestos-containing materials throughout vessels

Poor ventilation conditions during intensive wartime production schedules

Inadequate worker respiratory protection protocols during 1940s operations

USS PC-1264 Historical Significance

The USS PC-1264, a PC-461-class submarine chaser, holds unique distinction as one of only two U.S. Navy ships with predominantly African-American enlisted complement during WWII.

  • Construction: Consolidated Shipbuilding Company, Morris Heights, Bronx
  • Commission Date: April 25, 1944
  • Crew Composition: 53 African-American crew members
  • Operations: Multiple convoys from New York to Cuba and Key West
  • Training: Miami Submarine Chaser Training Center
  • Historical Impact: Faced racial discrimination while serving with distinction

Panama City-Specific Legal Considerations

Maritime Legal Protections

Federal facility exposure documentation through Naval Support Activity operations

Coast Guard contractor legal protections for Eastern Shipbuilding workers

Historical WWII shipyard documentation from Wainwright Shipyard operations

Access to specialized maritime legal representation in Northwest Florida

Local Panama City Medical Resources

Bay Medical Sacred Heart Cancer Center

Comprehensive cancer treatment in Panama City

US District Court - Northern District of Florida

Federal court serving Northwest Florida

VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

Veterans healthcare services in the region

Important Legal Information

If you worked at Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Naval Support Activity Panama City, the historical Wainwright Shipyard, or any Panama City maritime facilities and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact qualified legal professionals immediately to discuss your rights and potential compensation claims. Time limitations may apply to filing claims.