As a major shipyard, Bath Iron Works was founded in 1884 and is still active today. It is located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine. Over the decades, the shipyard has built private, commercial, and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the U.S. Navy. Bath Iron Works has constructed and sometimes designed battleships, frigates, cruisers, and destroyers. Since 1995, Bath Iron Works has been a subsidiary of General Dynamics. Unfortunately, every worker employed at this shipyard was exposed to asbestos between the 1920s and the 1980s. The mineral was essential to building ships, and aboard every military ship, there were up to 300 different asbestos products. Former workers are advised to keep a close eye on the health of their lungs.