Defoe Shipbuilding Company was a small ship manufacturer founded in 1905 in Bay City, Michigan. It ceased operating in 1976 after failing to renew its contract with the U.S. Navy. Between 1920 and 1939, Defoe Shipbuilding Company built various types of government and commercial vessels and private yachts, including 3 165-ft patrol boats, 13 100-ft patrol boats, 15 75-foot patrol boats, and 2 harbor tugs for the U.S. Coast Guard. Everyone who was employed at this shipyard during the last century was heavily exposed to asbestos, as the mineral was fundamental for shipbuilding. It would mostly be present as multiple types of insulation on the ships, from pipe and duct insulation to loose-fill and block insulation. We advise former workers to get screened regularly for lung disease.
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