Asbestos on Navy Ships
Every Navy ship built between the 1930s and 1970s contained large amounts of the natural mineral asbestos. More than 300 asbestos-containing products and materials were used during construction. In some cases, thousands of pounds of asbestos were installed on Navy vessels.
Why the Navy Built Ships With Asbestos
Thermal management
Effectively insulating high-temperature components within the ship’s system
Friction reduction
Enhancing the durability of components subject to friction
Fire prevention
Mitigating the spread of fire, a significant concern on naval vessels
The manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing materials were aware of the associated health risks. Despite this knowledge, they failed to provide adequate safety warnings to their customers. Consequently, individuals working with asbestos, including Navy personnel, were often unprotected and at an elevated risk of military asbestos exposure.
Health Risks Associated with Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused only by asbestos exposure. Although the military used asbestos for its durability, insulation qualities and fire resistance, it can easily break apart when disturbed, contaminating the air with microscopic asbestos fibers. Airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested, potentially causing mesothelioma to form decades later.
Where Was Asbestos on Navy Ships?
Asbestos use in the Navy wasn’t limited to specific vessels. It had applications in virtually every ship, including structural components, paint, mattresses and more.
Asbestos was used in ship:
- Engine and boiler rooms
- Insulation
- Deck tiles
- Firewalls and doors
- Pipe lagging and pipe fittings
- Gaskets, valves and pumps
- Wardrooms and berthing spaces
- Pump rooms
- Galleys and mess decks
- Rudders, propellers, cranes and turrets
- Officer quarters
- Captain’s and admiral’s cabins
- Sick bay
Asbestos was often used for fire-proofing different materials, such as:
- Adhesives
- Mixtures
- Compounds
- Boiler insulation
- Pipe insulation (lagging)
- Electrical wiring and cables
- Deck covering
- Gaskets
- Panels
- Paint
- Pumps
- Spray-on insulation
- Valves
The U.S. built asbestos-containing ships during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Due to the widespread use of asbestos in Navy ships during these war periods, most Navy veterans experienced some level of asbestos exposure, especially if they served prior to 1980.
In the late 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began implementing and enforcing safety standards for asbestos. As a result, the Navy began phasing out asbestos and replacing it with non-asbestos-containing insulation and fire protection materials.
Types of Navy Ships With Asbestos
The types of Navy ships made with asbestos are listed below.
