Patients at the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts who have a confirmed diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma routinely undergo a series of tests to determine the type of surgery they need.  One of these tests is called a “cervical mediastinoscopy,” which is used to biopsy the patient’s lymph nodes.  This test helps assess how far the cancer has spread.  This information, in conjunction with other test results, is used to help determine if the patient is a candidate for either a pleurectomy or an extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Cervical Mediastinoscopy Used to Biopsy Lymph Nodes

The International Mesothelioma Program  is one of the leading treatment centers for malignant pleural mesothelioma.  According to Dr. David Sugarbaker, who is Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the founder and Director of the International Mesothelioma Program, the IMP consulted with over 300 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients last year and performed over 160 surgeries.  As part of the screening process for surgical candidates, a cervical mediastinoscopy is performed at the hospital to determine if the cancer has spread to the mediastinal lymph nodes.

A cervical mediastinoscopy is a hospital procedure performed under general anesthesia used to biopsy lymph nodes in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.  The surgeon makes an incision in the patient’s neck at the top of the sternum.  The mediastinoscope, which is a thin tube with a light and surgical instruments, is then placed through the incision where tissue samples are taken from the mediastinal lymph nodes.  The patient’s biopsied tissue is analyzed by a pathologist to determine if the malignant mesothelioma has spread to the mediastinal lymph nodes.  The IMP’s surgical team, led by Dr. Sugarbaker, uses this information to determine whether the patient is a surgical candidate and if so, the type of surgery that will be performed.

Published Research on Importance of Cervical Mediastinoscopy

In 1999, Dr. Sugarbaker and his colleagues published an article entitled, “Resection Margins, Extrapleural Nodal Status, and Cell Type Determine Postoperative Long-Term Survival In Trimodality Therapy of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma:  Results in 183 Patients” in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Sugarbaker described the importance of mediastinoscopy as a staging tool for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.  A similar conclusion concerning the importance of cervical mediastinoscopy was reached by British physicians in a published article entitled, “The Case for Routine Cervical Mediastinoscopy Prior to Radical Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma” in the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery in 2004.

By Gary Galiher, Attorney

“You look fantastic” were the words from Dr. David Sugarbaker as he spoke to one of his patients only ten days post-op from having his right lung removed at the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) in Boston.  That patient, who is one of our clients, could not have been happier as he shared this news with his friends.

Survivability and Hope

Mesothelioma is a devastating disease.  The prognosis for malignant mesothelioma is generally very grim.  When first diagnosed with this disease, many patients are told there is no cure and little hope.  But each year more and more recently diagnosed patients are finding their way to the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston where for the first time they hear the word “survivability.”

That was the case with our client who was recently operated on by Dr. Sugarbaker.  The doctors who had been treating him locally told him that they did not have the depth of experience with mesothelioma that could be found in Boston at the International Mesothelioma Program.  With that knowledge, our client traveled to Boston to meet with Dr. Sugarbaker and his team.  Our client said, “This was the first time I heard the word ’survivability’ and began to feel hopeful.”

Cutting-Edge Treatment

When they arrive in Boston, patients at the International Mesothelioma Program are given a battery of tests to confirm they are candidates for this cutting-edge surgical and chemotherapy treatment.  Once this initial stage is completed, the patients are scheduled for their uniquely tailored surgical and chemotherapy protocol that depends on each individual’s tumor’s stage and location, as well as other complex individual factors.  This was the case with our client who underwent a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis and to determine if surgery was the appropriate treatment.  Because timing is critical, our client underwent surgery only days after his testing was completed.

Last year over 300 patients came to Boston to be treated by Dr. Sugarbaker and his team, over 160 of whom underwent surgery.  The purpose of the surgery is to remove all of the tumor that the doctors can see and to follow this with chemotherapy treatment.  The team of doctors at the International Mesothelioma Program have developed a unique way to improve the effectiveness of the surgery and their treatment.  They administer a heated bath of chemotherapy drugs directly into the chest cavity after the operation is completed.  This method of treatment enhances the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drugs to increase tumor cell death.  Patients stay in Boston for weeks after their surgery as they travel the road to recovery.

Undeniable Message of Hope

The undeniable message and proof are both clear and powerful.  Dr. David Sugarbaker has a very significant number of patients who are alive, living productive lives five and ten years post surgery.  The numbers of mesothelioma survivors are growing every week, every month and every year.  This medical decision is not without risks, as is any major surgery, but the upside is incredibly hopeful and the list of successful surgical survivors continues to grow.

I am very happy this treatment option is available to our clients in 2010.  For the past 32 years, my law firm, Galiher DeRobertis Ono, has represented over 300 mesothelioma families who have dealt with this devastating disease.  Unfortunately, this option was not available to the vast majority of them.  But thanks to Dr. Sugarbaker and his team at the International Mesothelioma Program, “hope” and “survivability” are powerful new terms some of our clients can now embrace and use.

Mesothelioma Researcher in the U.S. and in Italy

Dr. Michele Carbone

Dr. Giovanni Gaudino began his collaboration with Dr. Michele Carbone at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii (CRCH) in early 2008.  Since then, he has been to Hawaii three times, each time taking what he calls “short sabbaticals” from his teaching and research duties in Italy.  While in Hawaii, he has had the opportunity to appreciate the good work of the scientists and the wonderful progress that has been made at the Center.  He and Dr. Carbone are working on finding ways in which they can collaborate even more.  Today Dr. Gaudino is now on the faculty of the Cancer Center as a Professor of Research.

In Dr. Gaudino’s view, it is not easy to run a top-level cancer center in the United States.  It is much more competitive in the United States than in Europe.  Here the universities and the cancer centers are very open to foreigners, and they hire the best scientists from all over the world.  For this reason, the best work and publications and clinical trial results are coming from this country.

Dr. Gaudino also enjoys Hawaii.  It is a beautiful place, of course, but the most important part of his experience here has been what he calls “the human environment,” the friendliness of the people, the Aloha spirit, which he says reminds him of the Mediterranean area.

Mesothelioma Research Requires Collaboration

“I have to say that for any kind of cancer, this collaboration, which is going [on] here, …is, … the only way to proceed, and so I’m very, very glad that it’s here.  The Cancer Center is doing so well.” – Giovanni Gaudino

In Dr. Gaudino’s experience, there is very good collaboration between the scientists at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii and the clinicians and hospitals in Honolulu.  He feels that the Cancer Center has the potential to develop a network even better than that which they have developed in Italy.  His colleagues, the basic scientists, are working hard to develop new therapies, and their communication with physicians is very good.  The work is very promising and offers much hope to mesothelioma patients.  Dr. Gaudino believes that this collaborative approach is the only way to proceed, whether it concerns research for mesothelioma or for any type of cancer.

The Winning Mesothelioma Research Team

“… every scientist is convinced that his own work is the most important…And this is understandable.  But it’s not true…So,…the winning team is the team made of many different persons sitting around the table and trying to argue, and trying to demonstrate that his own point is the best.  But this is the way things can be done.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Dr. Michele Carbone, the director of the Cancer Center and a well-funded mesothelioma researcher, believes that the multidisciplinary approach to cancer research is the only way to win the battle, and Dr. Gaudino agrees with him 100%.  Only by scientists from multiple disciplines – molecular scientists, immunologists, epidemiologists, and physicians – coming together to share their views will the goal be reached in a fast, efficient way.  This is the only way to get things done.  These scientists, from their varied disciplines, make up the winning team to improve treatment of mesothelioma patients with the goal of prolonging lives.

Working Toward A Cure for Mesothelioma

We hope you have enjoyed your visit with Dr. Giovanni Gaudino, our Visiting Scholar at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, as much as we enjoyed the time we spent with him.  We hope this presentation has informed, inspired and encouraged you, and that you have been reassured that you are not alone in this battle.  Scientists and researchers from around the world and from multiple disciplines are collaborating with each other and with clinicians and other physicians to develop new therapies for mesothelioma patients, and in “working towards a cure,” to improve the quality of life for those who suffer from this disease as a result of exposure to asbestos in their work or other environments.

USS Laffey DD-724

The historic U.S. Navy destroyer USS Laffey DD-724 is one step closer to returning to her berth at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in South Carolina after major repairs to her hull were completed in February 2010.  The Laffey is the last floating Sumner Class destroyer, one of a large class of ships that utilized hundreds of tons of asbestos insulation on board.

Recently, she faced her greatest threat of sinking since enduring ferocious kamikaze attacks during the invasion of Okinawa near the end of the War in the Pacific in 1945.  A 2008 inspection report by the staff at the Patriots Point Museum discovered several significant leaks that caused thousands of gallons of seawater to enter the lower sections of the ship.  Emergency repairs to these hull breaches were made, the water was pumped out and steps for longer term solutions were developed.

A Call to Action

Just as they did before, many Navy veterans and other supporters rallied to save the Laffey.  They donated time and money, lobbied local, state and federal agencies for funds, and volunteered to work on the ship.  Since the museum relies on donations, memberships and visitor revenue to maintain and operate its collection of historic ships, government loans were needed to pay the multi-million dollar cost to repair the hull.  The USS Laffey Association, Tin Can Sailors and other groups organized and publicized this most recent Laffey rescue.

Months of Hard Work Ensures a Solid Future

On August 19, 2009, the USS Laffey was transported to Deyten’s Shipyard in North Charleston, South Carolina and placed in drydock for a comprehensive repair of her hull and damaged compartments.  The restoration effort took nearly five months with crews working around the clock to remove and replace rusted or corroded steel plates and frame members.  She was refloated recently and the museum hopes that the Laffey can return to Patriots Point sometime next year.

USS Laffey Not Alone

Other vessels at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum including the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown CV-10, Balao Class submarine USS Clamagore SS-343, and Coast Guard cutter USCGC Ingham WHEC-35 have substantial maintenance and repair costs.  Ship museums across the country have similar issues.  The USS Missouri Memorial Association recently completed 18 million dollars worth of restoration to the USS Missouri BB-63 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Preserving a Legacy of Sacrifice

The Navy veterans who served aboard the USS Laffey and other ships as well as the shipyard workers who kept these vessels operating and ready for action deserve to have their contributions and sacrifices honored.  Unfortunately, their legacy includes exposure to asbestos as well as combat duty.  Attorney Gary Galiher, who has represented many Navy veterans and shipyard workers with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and asbestosis, has visited the Laffey and other museum ships and submarines to support his clients’ cases.  Gary Galiher says, “These museums are important resources which help bring the realities of being and working aboard ships to life.  People can appreciate better the living and working conditions that may be lacking in a ship plan or blueprint.”

USS Arizona Memorial

On February 16, 2010, an opening ceremony was held at Pearl Harbor for the first phase of the new USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, which opened to the public on February 17, 2010.  The project has been divided into two phases.  Phase two is set to open on December 7, 2010 on the 69^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Background of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center

The original visitor center opened to the public in 1980.  The center was built on soil that had been dredged to expand the Halawa Basin.  Since its opening, the center has sunk nearly 30 inches and the concrete structures have eroded as a result.

The original center was designed and built to accommodate approximately 2,000 visitors; however, since its opening, the center has grown to become one of Hawaii’s largest tourist attractions with over 4,000 visitors a day.

What You Can Look Forward to at the New Visitor Center

The new visitor center has a bookstore that is twice the size of the old one.  It also contains administrative offices, a snack bar, an education and research center, and a central ticketing operation that will allow visitors to easily view other attractions such as the USS Bowfin Museum, the USS Arizona Memorial (renamed the Word War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument), the Pacific Aviation Museum, and the USS Missouri Memorial.

Herb Weatherwax, a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor who attended the opening ceremony on February 16, 2010, stated that the new visitor center was “outstanding.”  Mr. Weatherwax was glad to see that larger bathroom facilities were available, as visitors of the older center were often forced to wait in long lines to use the bathroom facilities.  In addition, the center now has lots of shaded and seating areas for guests.

Phase Two – The Final Stage

Construction on phase two of the visitor center will begin immediately on the grounds of the old center and is estimated to cost a total of $58 million.  The second phase will include exhibits that will go beyond the actual Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.  Some exhibits will focus on the events leading up to the war and the results and aftermath of the attacks.

When phase two is complete, the visitor center will have grown nearly twice in size and will sit on an additional six acres, increasing to a total area of 17.4 acres.  The center is expected to open in time for the annual anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  The annual ceremony has been held at Kilo Pier; however, this year, the ceremony will return to the back lawn of the visitor center that will be three times larger than the original lawn.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Support Navy Veterans

For over 30 years, Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented U.S. Navy veterans and civilian workers who worked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

Many of our clients were exposed to deadly asbestos while working on ships during overhauls or routine maintenance.  As a result, our clients developed asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Through our work, we have had the pleasure of meeting many U.S. veterans who have bravely served our country.  We have listened to their stories and have been moved by their dedication and sacrifice.  We are so delighted to see the renewed energy and efforts being poured into this historic center that will surely continue to keep the memory of our brave veterans alive.

The Canadian asbestos industry has stirred up serious controversy in the province of Quebec in recent weeks, as Canadian health experts and opposition party members call for a re-examination of Canada’s export of asbestos to the developing world.  So far, the Quebec government has rejected these calls.  Indeed, the majority Liberal party recently refused to even create a parliamentary committee to study the health effects of exporting the nearly 175,000 tons of asbestos that are mined in Quebec and shipped all over the world.

The controversy began with Premier Jean Charest’s trade mission to India in early February.  Before this visit, Charest received a letter from a coalition of over 100 scientists from 28 countries, calling upon the premier to speak out about the hazards of India’s growing asbestos industry.  The scientists asked Charest to recognize the international consensus that all forms of asbestos cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, and present a serious threat to human health.  Accordingly, the letter asked Charest to stop promoting the use of asbestos in India and other developing countries.

Chrysotile Asbestos

Unfortunately, rather than speaking out about the hazards of asbestos on his trade mission, Premier Charest insisted that: “Chrysotile can be used in a safe manner; this is what WHO reports say.  It is not a banned substance.  It is up to the government of India to put the necessary laws in place.”

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) says no such thing about the safety of chrysotile asbestos.  According to Maria Neria, the director of public health at WHO, the organization’s “position is very, very clear” that “all types of asbestos are carcinogenic.”  As noted in a recent article in The Lancet magazine, WHO guidelines state that “increased cancer risks have been observed in populations exposed to very low levels.”  The WHO has further stated that “the most effective way to eliminate asbestos-related disease is to stop using all types of asbestos.”

Despite the strong international consensus that all forms of asbestos cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, the Quebec government has so far refused to stop exporting deadly and carcinogenic asbestos to India and other poor countries.  On the contrary, the  government continues to support the Chrysotile Institute, which lobbies internationally to minimize the health hazards of asbestos and prevent international organizations from banning the material.

So far, the voice of Canada’s $100 million a year asbestos industry has outweighed the voices of scientists and worker advocates.  However, public health experts are extremely concerned about the high rates of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer that are likely to emerge in the developing world as a result of Canada’s ongoing exports of this toxic substance.

According The Lancet, asbestos disease already claims the lives of 90,000 people a year worldwide.  Asbestos which is mined in Canada today will continue this deadly legacy for another generation.

The law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has represented clients with asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, for over 30 years.  We have seen first hand how this toxic and carcinogenic substance has harmed workers and their families.   Our firm urges the Quebec government to halt the export of Canadian asbestos, so that the dire public health consequences can be avoided.  It is time to stop this deadly industry.

Treatment of malignant mesothelioma has been extremely difficult.  Not only is malignant mesothelioma resistant to most forms of chemotherapy drugs, but even when the mesothelioma tumor responds to the standard protocol of treatment with Alimta (Pemetrexed) and Cisplatin, the malignant mesothelioma eventually becomes resistant to these drugs as well.  It is not known whether the malignant mesothelioma cells mutate to become resistant or whether there are portions of the mesothelioma tumor that were resistant to begin with, which then proliferate once the non-resistant tumor cells are killed by the Pemetrexed and Cisplatin combination.

Oxaliplatin

In the search for a cure for malignant mesothelioma, researchers are looking at various other chemotherapy drugs that might be used as a secondary treatment protocol to follow the first-line treatment with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin.  One such drug that is being considered is Oxaliplatin, which goes by the trade name Eloxatin.  Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) was first developed by Dr. Yoshinori Kidani at Nagoya City University in 1976.  Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is an alkylating agent that works by causing damage to the DNA of cancer cells.  Other alkylating agents that are used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma are Carboplatin and Cisplatin.

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and Gemcitabine Tested as a Second-Line Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a Clinical Trial

On December 18, 2008,  the Journal of Occupational Medicine & Toxicology, published the article entitled Gemcitabine Combined with Oxaliplatin in Pretreated Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: An Observational Study.  This paper was based on a clinical trial of 29 patients who were diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and had been previously treated with Cisplatin and Pemetrexed.  These patients were given a combination of Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin as a second-line treatment for their malignant pleural mesothelioma.  It was found that when at least three cycles of Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin were given to these patients in this clinical trial, 6.9% obtained partial remission and another 37.9% achieved stable disease.  This amounted to a malignant pleural mesothelioma control rate of 44.8%.  Just as important, the patients tolerated the treatment well with no significant toxicities or side effects reported in any of the patients.  This drug combination provides great hope and promise in mesothelioma treatment.

New Clinical Trial Using Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and Bortezomib (Velcade) in Patients with Malignant Pleural Or Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Columbia University opened a new clinical trial that began recruiting patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma in October 2009 that will use Bortezomib (Velcade) and Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) for treatment.  To be included in this clinical trial, patients must have received only one prior form of chemotherapy.  Patients who received a combination of Pemetrexed plus Cisplatin or Pemetrexed plus Carboplatin will qualify for this clinical trial.

Being diagnosed with cancer is always a devastating experience, and a mesothelioma diagnosis may be particularly overwhelming for both the patient as well as his family.  Often after hearing the diagnosis from the physician, the mesothelioma patient and his family understandably do not really hear much else.

Mesothelioma is aggressive and a multimodality approach (meaning surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) is often recommended as the course of treatment.  As a result, a patient necessarily has appointments with an oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a surgeon, a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, at imaging, at nuclear medicine and with other specialists and departments.

In order to find one’s way through this seemingly complex medical maze, forward thinking medical centers today have on staff patient navigators to assist mesothelioma patients and others facing a cancer diagnosis.  A patient navigator is a professional with medical training, sometimes as a nurse or a medical assistant.

First and foremost, the patient navigator will meet with the patient and be there to help.  She will help schedule appointments.  She will try to set appointments as conveniently as possible, perhaps limiting the number of days that a mesothelioma patient has to go to the medical center or the hospital.  The navigator also meets with the patient’s team to discuss the plan for care and treatment, as well as progress and difficulties that may develop along the way.

If there seems to be a conflict between prescriptions or if instructions are unclear, the navigator will help to straighten out the situation and provide clarity for the patient.  The patient navigator’s job is to alleviate much of the stress and concern that a patient and his family may feel when trying to navigate the system themselves. The navigator helps to ensure that the patient does not feel alone in this process.

A mesothelioma patient’s needs go beyond medical tests and treatment.  An effective patient navigator will assist with issues involving medical insurance, financial assistance, nutrition and with psychosocial problems.  When the need arises, palliative care suggestions can be provided.  Sometimes the navigator will suggest an appropriate support group.

One example of a state of the art patient navigation system is available at Queen’s Cancer Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.  An award winning and innovative program, the Queen’s Patient Navigation Program helps patients wind their way through their medical treatment, and transition from inpatient to outpatient care when necessary.  The result for the patient is improved medical care, more focus on quality of life and an overall better experience for the patient at an incredibly difficult time.

The Researcher and the Clinician – “Translational Research”

“We are used to work[ing] with molecules, with cells,…with experimental animals, while…physicians are used to work[ing] with real live patients, and of course we use different…[terminology] sometimes…[In] some cases, collaboration is very useful and successful, and we can say, especially for us [who are] used to working in…the labs, [it is exciting] to meet the patients that are surviving or doing better.  Even small improvements are very important to us.  It’s…a very interesting and emotional experience.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Researchers and clinicians inhabit two very different worlds.  The researchers work with cells and molecules in their laboratories, and usually do not see the patients that they are trying to help through their research.  The physicians, on the other hand, care for their patients in clinic and hospital settings, and often get to know their patients intimately.   But communication between these worlds – the world of the researcher in the laboratory and the world of the physician who is caring for their patient – is becoming more and more important.

As researchers become increasingly aware of their role in communicating the results of their research to physicians, the physicians, in turn, can “translate” the results of this research into new and effective therapies.  Thus it becomes “translational research.”  The clinicians’ feedback is also very important to the researchers, who learn how the patients are doing and how they are responding to the new therapies.  This makes it possible for the laboratory researchers to adjust and revise their work.

This communication between researchers and physicians or “bench to bedside” approach is not always easy.  This can be difficult because they sometimes seem to use different languages as they talk in technical terms specific to their field of expertise.  However, the patient is at the very center of this collaboration and is the most important reason that this strong effort toward enhanced communication is being made.  On the occasions when the researcher has the opportunity to meet patients and to know how they are doing, this too can be very inspirational and motivational.

The Researcher and the Mesothelioma Patient

“I saw patients with incredible increasing quality of life…And to see that what we are doing could help individuals to feel…better is something very, very special that I’ve never experienced before.” – Giovanni Gaudino

Most of us do not think of research scientists having any contact with patients.  Ordinarily, research scientists do not have a chance to meet mesothelioma patients during clinical trials.  When clinical trials begin, the researchers “step back.”   However, in some instances, basic scientists do meet these patients.  Dr. Giovanni Gaudino has had this wonderful opportunity.  He describes this as an emotional experience because he saw the improvement in the mesothelioma patients’ quality of life, regardless of whether the therapy was successful in getting rid of the cancer or just stabilizing the disease.  These patients were happy, they were active, and they also recognized the importance of the work going on in the laboratory.  Dr. Gaudino explained that this was a very powerful emotional experience to see that as research scientists, they were helping these patients.

For over 100 years, Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, has played a pivotal role in supporting and maintaining the country’s fleet of submarines.  This company has shipyards  in both Groton,  Connecticut, and Rhode Island, which together employ about 10,700 workers.  At least for the foreseeable future, however, Electric Boat will be carrying out its work with a smaller work force on the waterfront.  Because of a reduction in modernization and maintenance of submarines, there will be  hundreds of layoffs among the trades such as carpenters and other construction trade workers.  Fortunately, this reduction will be offset by needs in other areas.

The Company executives estimate between 400 to 600 layoffs and 100 to 200 furloughs are possible in the year 2010, but these layoffs will be offset by the need to hire 300 to 400 new engineers and designers.  In addition to working on a surface ship program in conjunction with Northrop Grumman, these new employees will be carrying forward Electric Boat’s tradition of working at the cutting edge of submarine design as they develop the next generation of ballistic missiles.

A Series of “Firsts”

The Electric Boat Company, founded by Isaac Rice in 1899, has been at the forefront of submarine construction since its inception.  The first submarine to be purchased and commissioned into the United States Naval Service was the USS Holland SS-1 built at this shipyard.  The Holland was originally named the Holland VI after its inventor John Philip Holland.  Interestingly, this submarine had many of the design features that appeared in subsequent submarines  in more advanced forms, including an internal combustion engine for surface operation and an electric motor for submerged operation.

The company continued its outstanding service during both world wars.  During World War I, Electric Boat received orders to build 85 submarines for the US Navy and built 74 submarines during World War II.  More than half of the Gato class and many Balao class Submarines were built by Electric Boat Company, including the USS Gato SS-212, USS Darter SS-227, USS Scorpion SS-278, USS Perch SS-313, USS Sealion SS-315, USS Bugara SS-331 and USS Capitaine SS-336.

In 1951 the company received the contract to build the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus SSN-571.  This submarine was christened by then First Lady Mrs. Eisenhower and launched in 1954.  Among her many firsts, the USS Nautilus was the first submarine to reach the geographic North Pole on August 3, 1958 and to go on to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole.

Electric Boat also achieved another first when the first ballistic-missile submarine, the USS George Washington SSBN-589, was built there in 1959.  In July, 1960, this submarine conducted the first Polaris missile launch from a submerged submarine which added significantly to our country’s deterrent forces.

Asbestos Use at Electric Boat Company

The submarines built at Electric Boat from the 1940s through the mid 1970s contained many pounds of asbestos insulating products.  The shipyard workers who constructed these submarines were exposed to the hazards of asbestos on a daily basis.  Submariners who later served on these subs were exposed to asbestos dust generated through the routine operation and maintenance of asbestos-covered equipment, piping and machinery.  These submariners and shipyard workers are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases because of their exposure to asbestos.