Asbestos Used on U.S. Navy Ships

Asbestos Products on Navy Ships

Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were in every United States Navy ship built from the 1930s to the 1970s. There were no exceptions. Fire was a significant concern in ships loaded with fuel that were highly heated and vulnerable to attack. Asbestos materials wouldn’t burn under any conditions.

Asbestos was thermally inert and made perfect insulation for steam pipes and fuel lines. ACM was non-conductive, so it coated miles of electrical cables throughout the ships. It didn’t corrode, was lightweight and added strength to other products. Asbestos was also economical, readily available and stable to work with.

ACM products used in building Navy ships included:

• Boilers, fireboxes, and liners
• Pumps, valves, and hydraulics
• Gaskets, packings, sealants, and adhesives
• Spray-on, block, batt, and loose-fill insulation
• Pipe and duct wrappings
• Electrical wire coatings
• Deck and floor tiles
• Paint and wallboard
• Soundproofing materials
• Capacitors, meters, dielectric paper, and relays
• Instruments and instrument paneling
• Cement powder and mortar mix

High Asbestos-Risk Occupations on Navy Ships

No one was safe from exposure on a Navy ship built during the time of widespread asbestos use. However, certain occupations were at greater exposure risk than others.

Below-deck sailors and engineers had more prolonged asbestos fiber exposure than open-air personnel. That’s because confined and poorly ventilated spaces like engine and boiler room trapped friable asbestos particles in dust clouds.

Some of the highest-risk Navy ship occupations for asbestos exposure were:

• Engine room technicians
• Boilermakers and steamfitters
• Plumbers and pipefitters
• Electricians
• Firefighters
• Gunnery technicians and weapons specialists
• Mechanics and machinists
• Welders and steel fabricators
• Insulators, painters, and panel installers
• Tile setters
• Hull maintenance specialists

Types of Navy Ships Containing Asbestos Products

Not one Navy ship built in the 5 decades before and after World War II was without asbestos products.

Despite health warnings circulating through the Navy Department, almost all Navy personnel and support workers were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. That included shore workers in shipyards as well as at-sea sailors.

By the 1980s, the United States Navy stopped using asbestos products in shipbuilding except for slight exceptions where airborne fiber release could be controlled.

The U.S. Navy began an abatement program to remove or contain ACM in all Navy vessels. Many had such extensive networks of asbestos-containing components that it was more practical to sink the ships as target practice rather than strip and refit these aging vessels.

Aircraft Carriers

Every United States Navy aircraft carrier built from the 1930s until the 1980s contained tons of asbestos-containing materials. Some of the big carriers contained nearly 1,000 tons of asbestos.

Battleships

At one time, battleships were the United States Navy’s backbone. These huge armored vessels formed the core of naval battle fleets and rained devastating firepower on enemy ships and shore batteries.

But battleships were also targets for opposing naval forces and subject to direct shell strikes. To protect the ships and sailors from fire, the U.S. Navy demanded that most interior parts of a battleship be coated in asbestos.

Cruisers

Cruisers are one of the most versatile warships ever used by the United States Navy. The Navy employed different cruiser sizes and forms over the past two hundred years.

Destroyers

United States Navy destroyers play a critical role in the military’s offensive and defensive tactics. The powerful ships protect the nation’s coastlines and provide a significant advantage during wartime.

While destroyers ensure the safety of America, their widespread use of asbestos before the 1980s has since endangered the lives of many veterans who have served the nation.

Frigates

Navy frigates were built with many asbestos-containing components during a time when the extent of asbestos’ dangers was not known. Asbestos was used widely in insulation and machinery on these ships until the discovery of its health risks.

After the knowledge of asbestos’ danger became widespread, there were efforts to remove it from the United States Navy frigates, but the damage had already been done — hosts of Navy workers had been exposed to asbestos-containing products.

Minesweepers

From World War II onwards, Navy minesweepers played an essential role in destroying sea mines and creating safe paths through the ocean. However, due to how these ships were constructed, many sailors and workers may be at risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

Submarines

Submarines built before the 1980s contain asbestos throughout the vessel. Navy veterans who served onboard submarines or worked during their construction may have been exposed to asbestos, causing mesothelioma or other illnesses.

Other Ships That Used Asbestos Products

Many other ships widely used asbestos-containing products.

Asbestos products were extensively used on these ship types:

• Ammunition and Explosive Freighters
• Amphibious Assault Craft
• Auxiliary Ships
• Corvettes
• Cutters
• Destroyer Escorts
• Escort Carriers
• Hospital Vessels
• Landing Craft
• Liberty Ships
• Merchant Marine Ships
• Oilers and Tankers
• Patrol Boats
• Troop Carriers

When the Navy finally began to remove asbestos products from the ships in the early 1980s, it was too late for thousands of Navy veterans who were already exposed.

Help for Navy Veterans With Mesothelioma

United States Navy veterans form America’s largest group of mesothelioma sufferers. These veterans unknowingly breathed in asbestos fibers during their naval service, especially those aboard ships.

Now, long after their retirements and discharges, many have been struck by a duty-related, disabling disease. They deserve to be compensated.

Veterans who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on Navy ships can receive compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Benefits may include:

• Treatment from VA-affiliated mesothelioma specialists
• Financial compensation
• Survivor benefits, funeral benefits, benefits for caregivers, and more

While filing a claim with the VA can provide valuable aid for Navy veterans and their families, the sometimes complicated and time-consuming process may make some veterans hesitate. Our team is here to help you through every step of the VA claims process so that you can receive the compensation you deserve.

To learn more about receiving compensation, start your free case review today.