Asbestos on Navy Ships

The heaviest concentrations were usually in engine rooms, boiler rooms and the pipe runs that carried steam through the ship. Insulation covered hot surfaces to protect crew and equipment. Gaskets and packing sealed joints and valves. Some ships also used asbestos in fire-resistant materials, deck coverings and insulation in berthing and working compartments. Pumps, valves and turbines often contained asbestos parts. Because steam and hot water systems reached so many areas, sailors outside engineering could still spend time near these materials during a normal day at sea or in port.

Asbestos is most dangerous when it is disturbed. Aboard ship, that happened constantly through ordinary maintenance: replacing gaskets, repairing leaking valves, patching insulation or tearing out old lagging. Ventilation below deck was limited, so dust could linger in the air and settle on bunks, clothing, food areas and equipment. Shipyard overhauls often involved large-scale removal and replacement of insulation, sometimes while crew members remained aboard and slept nearby. Sailors might be told to sweep up debris without knowing what it was. These everyday conditions help explain why exposure could affect people who never handled insulation themselves.

Records that show which ships you served on, and when, can support a VA claim and trust claims. Deck logs and muster rolls can confirm your presence aboard, while ship histories can show when a vessel was in a shipyard for overhaul. Some asbestos trusts list specific shipyards or vessels among their approved sites. Combining these records with your own description of your duties gives reviewers a clear picture. If you served on several ships, list each one, even brief assignments, since each may add useful evidence.

1. 1

   List every ship you served on, with dates, hull numbers if you know them and your duties aboard.

2. 2

   Request deck logs or muster rolls for periods when you were aboard each ship.

3. 3

   Look for records of shipyard overhauls that happened while you were assigned to the ship.

4. 4

   Share your ship list with both your VA representative and any attorney handling trust claims.