Higgins Shipyard designed and manufactured a unique collection of amphibious vessels capable of safely and effectively transporting large groups of people and equipment from ship to land in a secure and efficient manner, obviating the requirement for established ports. Higgins' industrial plants produced a range of equipment for the Navy during World War II, including landing craft, torpedo tubes, gun turrets, funnel smoke, and smoke generators. Asbestos was routinely employed on the warships built at this shipyard. Numerous components in the boiler and engine rooms were insulated with asbestos, including boilers, turbines, valves, and pumps. Veterans and shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos during the installation and maintenance of this equipment.