Washington State Ferry System Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
For decades, the Washington State Ferry system, or WSF, used asbestos for insulation, engine-room gaskets, and fireproofing throughout its fleet. Thus, crews historically faced a high risk of exposure because they often worked in confined, poorly ventilated spaces where asbestos fibers could be disturbed and inhaled.
Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund, Partner, Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: June 8, 2026
Oslund Udo Little handles Washington State Ferry asbestos exposure litigation and has successfully obtained justice for ferry and dock workers diagnosed with asbestos disease. We understand the specific vessels and historical maintenance schedules involved and are dedicated to holding the state and responsible manufacturers accountable for the health of Pacific Northwest workers.
If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma and worked for the Washington State Ferry, call 206-957-9510 or contact us online for a free consultation today.
What Oslund Udo Little Found: Documents Showing the Ferry System Failed Its Workers
Through decades of litigation, Oslund Udo Little has uncovered evidence showing that the Washington State ferries used asbestos materials in almost every area of the ferry vessels. This asbestos was often poorly maintained and in dangerous friable condition.
We had a case that involved a career WSF employee who was exposed to asbestos when working as a deck hand for the ferry system, and later in his role as ferry captain. We had documents showing asbestos on every ferry operating in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. In another case, a worker was exposed to asbestos on the ferry docks and storage areas. Unfortunately, asbestos installed on the ferries and docks was often kept in poor condition, posing a danger to crew and passengers.
Erica Bergmann, Partner at Oslund Udo Little
We are committed to holding corporations responsible for putting profits over people and ensuring that those who suffered due to this concealment receive the justice they deserve.
Why Oslund Udo Little Is the Right Firm for Washington State Ferry Cases
With over 30 years of experience and more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, Oslund Udo Little has built the Pacific Northwest’s strongest record in asbestos litigation. While every case is unique, our team will fight for the best possible outcome no matter the circumstances. Notable case results we’ve secured for our clients include the following:
- $8.3 million settlement for a 79-year-old Navy electrician exposed to asbestos at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA
- $5.6 million settlement for a 58-year-old painter's helper exposed to asbestos onboard the U.S.S. Ranger at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard between 1975 and 1976
- $4.6 million settlement for a 63-year-old electrician exposed to asbestos at St. Regis Paper Mill in Tacoma and Lockheed shipyard in Seattle
Our team is proud to serve communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Our local offices mean we’re here when you need us, even meeting at your home, hospital, or wherever is most convenient for you and your family.
While national law firms may have many offices and attorneys, many do not maintain an office in Washington. They may try to send attorneys to meet with you who are not licensed to practice here.
Brendan Little, Partner at Oslund Udo Little
No Fee Unless We Win
When you choose to work with our team, you won’t pay us anything unless we secure compensation for you. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no financial obligation unless we win your case, and our fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the total amount we recover. Thus, you pay nothing out of pocket for our services.
Get Help with Your Mesothelioma Compensation Options
Legal Options for Washington State Ferry Workers and Families
Washington ferry workers and family members diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or related conditions have several potential legal pathways:
- Mesothelioma lawsuits: Against the Washington State Ferry system or negligent asbestos product manufacturers
- Wrongful death lawsuits: For the families of workers who have passed away
- Asbestos trust fund claims: Accessing funds set aside by bankrupt companies responsible for asbestos exposure
- VA Benefits: For workers with prior military service, especially Navy veterans
While suing a state agency involves certain additional procedural steps, Washington law does not immunize the ferry system from accountability for knowingly failing to comply with federal asbestos safety regulations. Some ferry workers may be able to sue the state under the Jones Act, a federal statute that allows seaman to sue their employers for a negligently-caused injury.
Claims must typically be filed within three years of diagnosis or death. Only an experienced mesothelioma attorney can evaluate how the statute of limitations applies to your specific situation.
There are a few different sources of potential compensation for mesothelioma victims. One of those is compensation from trust funds that have been set up by bankrupt asbestos companies, but the lion’s share of compensation, in most cases, is going to come from litigation through a lawsuit. You really need to consult with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer about which type of compensation is best for you because there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund, Partner at Oslund Udo Little
How the Washington State Ferry System Used Asbestos
From the 1940s through the early 1980s, the Washington State Ferry system utilized asbestos extensively across its fleet and dock facilities. Asbestos-containing materials, including pipe and boiler insulation, deck tiles, gaskets, and engine room fireproofing, were standard components throughout the vessels.
As the largest publicly operated ferry system in the United States, the scale of exposure was massive. Beyond the mariners and maintenance crews, the danger extended to dock employees and even passengers traveling aboard older vessels.
While OSHA established federal standards in 1971 and strengthened them throughout the 1980s, documents show that the WSF system failed to safeguard its employees and passengers from the known risk of asbestos. This failure resulted not from a lack of knowledge but a failure to act. Corporations and agencies often ignored existing safety regulations, prioritizing operational convenience and their bottom lines over public health.
Individuals are exposed to asbestos when asbestos materials are friable, and that material is disturbed in a way that releases the asbestos fibers into the air, which happens in many different settings, like shipyards and industrial sites…the individual, without their knowledge, breathes them in and they become lodged in the lungs and can cause asbestos-related diseases.
Brendan Little, Partner at Oslund Udo Little
Asbestos-Containing Materials Found on WSF Vessels and at WSF Docks
Asbestos was used extensively throughout the Washington State Ferry system, particularly on vessels built at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, a site known for its heavy reliance on asbestos. Common materials with asbestos include:
- Engine rooms: Asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines, and high-pressure steam pipes
- Mechanical systems: Gaskets, valves, and packing used in pumps and engines
- Structural components: Spray-on fireproofing applied to bulkheads and structural beams
- Passenger spaces: Deck tiles, flooring compounds, ceiling tiles, and wall panels in cabins and lounges
- Land-based facilities: Dock buildings, maintenance shops, and repair yards where vessels were serviced
According to the Washington State Department of Health, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even brief contact aboard a vessel or at a shipyard, such as the Todd Shipyards in Seattle, can lead to disease decades later.
Who Was Most at Risk for Asbestos Exposure on Washington State Ferries
Workers across a range of roles were exposed to asbestos aboard WSF vessels and at ferry terminals throughout Washington. Occupations most at risk of asbestos exposure include:
- Engine room workers and marine engineers: Handled asbestos-insulated boilers and machinery in confined spaces
- Maintenance and repair crews: Possibly disturbed materials during repairs, releasing high concentrations of fibers
- Ferry captains and officers: Spent extended time aboard vessels and at docks containing asbestos
- Deckhands: Faced regular exposure during daily operations and cleaning
- Dock workers: Exposed at terminal buildings
- Frequent passengers: Spent significant time on older vessels, possibly facing incidental exposure
Additionally, when workers carried asbestos fibers home on clothing, hair, and equipment, families were put at risk for secondary exposure. Many ferry workers also had prior Navy service at facilities like Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, making the total cumulative asbestos exposure for veterans much higher.
Diseases Linked to Asbestos Exposure on Washington State Ferries
Workers and others exposed to asbestos aboard WSF vessels or at ferry terminals are at elevated risk for several serious conditions. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and even incidental contact can lead to a diagnosis decades later.
Asbestos-related diseases generally have long latency periods—the time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms—typically ranging from 15 to 40 or more years. Conditions linked to exposure include the following:
- Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, caused almost exclusively by asbestos
- Asbestos lung cancer: Malignant tumors in the lungs of those exposed to asbestos
- Asbestosis: A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease characterized by lung tissue scarring
Because symptoms often take decades to appear, many former ferry workers are only now being diagnosed decades after their exposure. If you’re facing a new diagnosis related to asbestos exposure, contact our team for guidance on how to move forward with legal action.
Often, asbestos-related diseases take many decades to develop. In mesothelioma, the amount of time that the disease takes to develop is often 20 years or more from when the exposure occurred. For that reason, many of our clients were exposed to asbestos in the ’60s or ’70s or even earlier and did not develop mesothelioma until 20, 30, 40, or sometimes 50 years after that exposure occurred.
Brendan Little, Partner at Oslund Udo Little
Don’t Miss Your Deadline to File—Talk to a Washington Asbestos Exposure Lawyer Today
Time is a vital factor in your legal claim. Because Washington’s strict three-year statute of limitations begins when you are diagnosed, delaying your consultation can impact your family’s right to compensation. Whether you worked in the engine rooms, maintained the fleet, or are a family member seeking justice, Oslund Udo Little is ready to help you hold the ferry system and negligent manufacturers accountable.
Our attorneys offer free case reviews throughout Washington and the Pacific Northwest. Call 206-957-9510 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation and discuss a possible Washington State Ferry mesothelioma lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos on Washington State Ferries
I Worked on Washington State Ferries in the 1970s and Was Recently Diagnosed With Mesothelioma. Can I Still File a Lawsuit?
Yes, you can still file a lawsuit because Washington’s three-year statute of limitations typically begins on the date of your diagnosis, regardless of how many decades ago your asbestos exposure occurred on the ferries.
Can I Sue a State Agency Like Washington State Ferries?
Yes, you can sue a state agency like Washington State Ferries under certain circumstances, including as a current or former employee of the ferry system because the Jones Act, a federal law, allows “seamen” to pursue claims against employers.
What if My Family Member Passed Away From Mesothelioma Linked to the Ferry System? Can We Still Pursue a Claim?
Your asbestos exposure case could be worth a few thousand to millions, depending on what asbestos-related disease you developed, the types of claims you can file, the severity of your disease, your age at diagnosis, the skill of your attorney, and other case-specific factors.
I Only Worked at the Ferry Docks, Not Aboard the Boats. Does That Count?
Dock and terminal workers are eligible to file claims because asbestos was used in dock facilities and maintenance shops, and these employees may have been exposed to airborne fibers while vessels were being serviced.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire Oslund Udo Little?
It costs you nothing up front to hire us. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you only pay if we successfully recover compensation for your family.
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