Weitz & Luxenberg Provides Information on how asbestos was used on auxiliary vessels

What were auxiliary vessels and did they contain asbestos?

An auxiliary vessel is “a dinghy, tender or other small craft that formed part of the equipment of the parent vessel.” (MAST) Auxiliary vessels were essential in many of the nation’s most historic wars such as World War I, World War II and Vietnam and without them, other navy vessels would have experience great difficult performing their missions. Auxiliary vessels played a wide range of roles including: 

• Transporting Passengers (MAST)
• Fishing or harvesting operation (MAST)
• Rescue (MAST)
• Marine Facility maintenance or associated work (MAST)

Weitz & Luxenberg has over two decades of experience assisting clients suffering from mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis as a result of being exposed to asbestos. We are available to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information. 

The US Navy, which frequently built and employed auxiliary vessels, was not oblivious to the health dangers posed by asbestos. The Navy Surgeon General issued a warning about it in 1939, but it was not headed. During wartime, the paramount concern of the Navy was efficient production and performance, which came at the expense of countless military personnel.

A list of some of the auxiliary vessels that contained asbestos:

USNS Asterion (T-AF-63): The Asterion was able to carry refrigerated items and was constructed by the California Shipbuilding Company located in Los Angeles, California. It was officially decommissioned by the Navy in 1973 after serving a series of missions over the course of over two decades.

USS Charleston (LKA-113):  This vessel was constructed by the Newport Shipbuilding Company in Viginia and was employed by the Navy on December 14^th, 1968. For its efforts during the later years of the Vietnam War, it was a awarded one Navy battle star.

USS Fort Fisher: One of the amphibious assault support ships which was commissioned from approximately 1972 to 1998.

USS Jefferson (LST-845): The Jefferson was constructed by the American BridgeCompany in Pennsylvania and was commissioned on New Years Day, 1945. In addition to World War II, the Jefferson played a role in the Korean War in the 1950s, but suffered a series of malfunctions which lead to its removal from the Naval Register in 1960.

USS New Orleans: The New Orleans was a maritime airbase for helicopters that was built in the 1960s in Pennsylvania. One of its most memorable roles was serving as the recovery ship for the Apollo 14, which returned to Earth in February 1971.

USS Regulus (AF-57):  The Regulus was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in June 1944 and participated in World War II and the Korean War.

Did you help to build or operate an auxiliary vessel while serving in the armed forces? Weitz & Luxenberg can help.

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Acknowledgements:

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST): www.mast.tas.gov.au/domino/mast/mastweb.nsf/v-lu-all/Commercial+Boating~Discussion+Paper+-+Auxiliary+Vessels?OpenDocument