Mesothelioma and Asbestos on Navy Ships

Get A Free Veterans Packet

Asbestos Exposure on Navy Ships

The risk of becoming exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma from U.S. Navy ships was very high. The U.S. Navy used more asbestos-based products than any other military branch.

Starting in the 1930s, the Navy began using asbestos in its ships as it was cheap, water-resistant, and a good fireproofing agent. The government mandated that all Navy vessels use asbestos until the early 1980s.

Navy service members didn’t know that asbestos exposure can cause deadly cancers like mesothelioma. Makers of asbestos-based products hid the health risks from the military and the public to keep profits high.

Thankfully, Navy veterans and their loved ones can pursue medical care, financial compensation, and other benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Learn more in our Free Veterans Packet.

U.S. Navy Equipment With Asbestos

Asbestos-based products used on Navy ships included:

• Adhesives
• Cables
• Caulk
• Electrical wiring
• Floor tiles
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Packing
• Paneling
• Piping
• Roofing and flooring tiles
• Thermal materials
• Tubing
• Valves

Asbestos-based products could be found in engine rooms, boiler rooms, navigation rooms, and many other parts of U.S. Navy ships. In places with poor ventilation like engines or boiler rooms, stray asbestos fibers could linger in the air for hours.

The use of asbestos-based products on Navy ships ramped up during World War II and continued through the 1970s.

Microscopic asbestos fibers were released into the air whenever these products were installed, damaged, repaired, removed, or worn down. Anyone who inhaled the asbestos fibers is at risk of developing mesothelioma 10-50 years later.

High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs on Navy Ships

Some U.S. Navy personnel were more likely to be exposed to asbestos aboard a ship. In certain Navy jobs, sailors had to work around asbestos every day for hours in close quarters.

“It is clear that the health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time.”

– National Cancer Institute (NCI)

According to the VA, all of the Navy jobs listed below had a “probable” or “highly probable” risk of asbestos exposure. Veterans who worked in these roles are more likely to develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

• Boiler technicians
• Hull maintenance technicians
• Machinist’s mates and enginemen
• Pipefitters
• Shipyard workers

Learn more about high-risk asbestos exposure jobs with a Free Veterans Packet.

Boiler Technicians

Boiler technicians worked on steam boilers that propel Navy ships. Before the 1980s, most boilers were either made of asbestos or relied on asbestos-containing insulation and gaskets. U.S. Navy boilermakers also often wore gloves laced with asbestos to tend the boiler.

Hull Maintenance Technicians

Hull maintenance technicians (HTs) were responsible for installing and repairing valves and plumbing systems on ships. They often worked around asbestos-containing insulation and pipe gaskets.

Many U.S. Navy HTs served as welders, often removing asbestos insulation before welding.

Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen

Machinist’s mates and enginemen serviced the equipment that powered ships. They repaired turbines, valves, pumps, heating and air conditioning systems, engines, and generator parts.

Working in engine rooms for long periods exposed these veterans to asbestos from piping, insulation, adhesives, and gaskets.

Pipefitters

Navy pipefitters often removed damaged asbestos pipes and installed new ones. Their work could send asbestos dust flying into the air. Pipefitters were also at risk of exposure to the thermal insulation used in the pipes.

Shipyard Workers

Those who worked in Navy shipyards were also in danger of asbestos exposure. Shipbuilders and shipyard workers built, renovated, and destroyed ships, which released asbestos fibers into the air.

High-Risk Asbestos Jobs on Coast Guard Ships

Asbestos materials were also used to build Coast Guard vessels between the 1930s and 1980s. Because of this, Coast Guard veterans who served aboard these ships are at risk of mesothelioma as well.

According to the VA, Coast Guard members who served in the jobs listed above likely had a higher rate of asbestos exposure.

Types of Ships Where Asbestos Could Be Found

Asbestos was used aboard almost all U.S. Navy vessels between the 1930s and early 1980s due to a government mandate.

Asbestos-based products could be found on:

• Aircraft carriers
• Amphibious ships
• Auxiliary ships
• Battleships
• Cruisers
• Cutters
• Destroyers
• Destroyer escorts
• Escort carriers
• Frigates
• Merchant marine ships
• Minesweepers
• Patrol boats
• Submarines

Learn how many of these vessels used asbestos-containing products below.

Aircraft Carriers

The U.S. Navy notes that aircraft carriers are the heart of its fleet, some of which are the world's biggest warships. Aircraft carriers support U.S. military planes and helicopters protecting America while at sea.

About 60 U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are known to have contained asbestos. This included the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

Auxiliary Ships

U.S. Navy auxiliary ships gave other military vessels supplies and resources, ensuring they would be well-equipped to accomplish their missions.

Unfortunately, it was likely that these ships were built with asbestos, so those who served aboard them were at risk of exposure and mesothelioma.

Cruisers

Cruisers have been used by the U.S. Navy for over 100 years to protect other vessels from enemy ships or planes. Yet cruisers may have put U.S. Navy sailors in grave danger since many relied on asbestos-containing materials.

U.S. Navy cruisers that used asbestos included the USS Alaska (CB-1), the USS Biloxi (CL-80), and the USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), among many others.

Destroyers

Destroyers allowed the U.S. Navy to combat enemy ships and planes. U.S. Navy destroyers come in many sizes and may be equipped with various weapons, including ballistic missiles and torpedoes.

Many U.S. Navy destroyers — including the USS Morris (DD-417), the USS O’Bannon (DD-450), and the USS Nicholas (DD-449) — were built with asbestos before the early 1980s. Those who served aboard destroyers containing asbestos-based products could be at risk of mesothelioma today.

Frigates

U.S. Navy frigates are often used as escort ships or as part of an auxiliary fleet but can fill many different roles depending on the mission at hand.

The USS Badger (FF-1071), the USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074), and the USS McCandless (FF-1084) were just a few of the U.S. Navy frigates built with asbestos.

Minesweepers

Minesweepers kept the seas clear of mines so that other vessels could sail safely. Hundreds of U.S. Navy minesweepers relied on asbestos-based products, which put those aboard in danger of mesothelioma.

U.S. Navy minesweepers built with asbestos include the USS Crag (AM-214), the USS Graylag (AM-364), and the USS Rampart (AM-282).

Submarines

Like many other vessels, U.S. Navy submarines relied on asbestos-based products for decades. Submarines were often small and cramped, making it easy for sailors to inhale or swallow stray asbestos fibers that may have lingered in the air.

The USS Gato (SS-212), the USS Balao (SS-285), and the USS Tench (SS-417) were just a few of the submarines used in World War II that contained asbestos. Many others that served in World War II and beyond also used this deadly material.

Other Navy Ships That Used Asbestos

Hundreds of U.S. Navy ships not mentioned above were constructed with asbestos-based products before the 1980s. Anyone who worked, served, or lived on U.S. Naval vessels built with asbestos could be at risk of asbestos-related illnesses today.

U.S. Navy Asbestos Abatement Programs

After the dangers of asbestos became public knowledge in the 1970s, major abatement projects were started to remove asbestos-based products from U.S. Naval ships and other military assets.

Asbestos abatement involves:

1. Assessment: The Navy determined how much asbestos needed to be removed from its ships. Abatement efforts took time.
2. Action: To prevent exposure, the Navy removed or encapsulated (safely sealed) damaged asbestos products on ships. Asbestos-based products only pose a threat when damaged or disturbed, so some materials were left behind if they were very sturdy.
3. Disposal: Asbestos-based products removed by the U.S. Navy were properly disposed of at hazardous waste sites.

Benefits for U.S. Veterans With Mesothelioma from Navy Ships

If you developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma from Navy ships, you may qualify for mesothelioma VA benefits, including financial compensation and free treatment.

Filing a VA claim can help you:

• Access caregiver compensation and survivor pensions
• Get health care from experienced mesothelioma doctors
• Receive monthly payments to cover lost wages or medical costs
• Save money for your family’s future

If you’re a U.S. veteran with mesothelioma, you’ll likely qualify for a 100% VA disability rating. This means you may get more compensation and become first priority for VA medical care. You may also qualify for more compensation from asbestos trust funds or legal claims.

Get help with filing a VA benefits claim from Eric Hall, our on-staff VA attorney who is also a U.S. veteran.