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Orange Shipbuilding

In 1974 the Orange Shipbuilding Company joined the many existing shipyards that were found throughout the Lone Star State. This new facility was constructed in Orange, Texas along the Sabine River.

The 12 acre ship building site is less than 40 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest and most often sailed bodies of water in the world. Such a close proximity made the location very successful right away. Six construction bays filled out the yard allowing for multiple ships to be worked on concurrently. This also brought about the need for a large number of employees to be hired.

Despite being built long after most of the other shipyards in Texas, the Orange Shipbuilding Company ran into the same problem that many of the other sites were forced to deal with. Earlier facilities were well stocked with insulation and other items that contained asbestos, a mineral that is strong, durable and resistant to both heat and fire. These and other idyllic qualities made the mineral very sought after by manufacturers who used it to create everything from bricks to clothing. It was especially beneficial as a base for insulating goods that were needed to regulate the internal temperature of hot running machinery, such as those found in every shipyard.

By the 1970's, most people were beginning to be aware of the fact that asbestos is poisonous. The mineral can be taken internally when microscopic dust bits break off from goods that were made with the mineral. As the dust is separated from these products, it floats in the air where people can breathe it in. That's where the trouble begins, the toxins spread inside the body and start to scar the healthy tissue it touches. Over time the asbestos can lead to the development of respiratory disorders, and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a common result of exposure to the hazardous material, and it can be deadly.

Unfortunately, the Orange Shipbuilding Company had many products on site that were made out of asbestos. Everyone who worked at the site while these items were in place may have been affected and had their health put at risk. It can take years and even decades for symptoms of asbestos related diseases to develop, so anyone who spent time at the Texas based plant while these goods were in use should contact their doctor about it right away.

Last modified: December 09 2009.