Asbestos Exposure in Maritime Workers

Asbestos Concerns in Maritime: Safeguarding Workers at Sea

Asbestos exposure poses a longstanding concern for maritime industry workers, who often find themselves in potentially contaminated environments. Crew members on various types of vessels, including but not limited to supply boats, tankers, freighters, and oil rigs, are particularly vulnerable due to working and living in confined spaces known to contain asbestos products.

The use of asbestos in ships, prevalent until the 1980s, stems from its incorporation into construction materials, a practice endorsed by the US Navy as early as the 1920s. Maritime workers were at risk due to factors such as poor ventilation and constant vessel movement, leading to the airborne dispersion of asbestos fibers.

Asbestos-containing materials were used for insulation aboard the ship and in machine parts such as gaskets, tape, packing, and insulation. It was also used in sleeping quarters as pipe insulation and between partition walls. The maritime industry’s reliance on asbestos is deeply rooted, with shipbuilders, parts manufacturers, and the U.S. Navy using asbestos for fire safety for decades. Shipbuilders, maintenance crews, dockworkers, and other crew members endured potential contact with asbestos-containing materials.

Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure in Maritime Workers

Maritime workers exposed to asbestos aboard ships often don’t develop symptoms until decades later. Confined ship environments with poor ventilation made airborne asbestos fibers especially dangerous.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent coughing or chest pain
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Unexplained fatigue and weight loss
• Trouble swallowing or hoarseness
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Swelling in the face or neck
• Coughing up blood in advanced stages

These symptoms may indicate mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer — illnesses directly linked to asbestos exposure in maritime workers.

Jobs Most at Risk in the Maritime Industry

Many maritime occupations faced high levels of asbestos exposure due to the extensive use of heat-resistant and fireproof materials in ships.

High-risk maritime roles include:

• Shipbuilders and repair crew
• Boiler tenders and engineers
• Machinists and engine room operators
• Electricians and pipefitters
• Insulators and hull maintenance staff
• Navy veterans and merchant mariners
• Dockworkers and rig operators

Workers were routinely exposed to asbestos in insulation, gaskets, valves, engine parts, and even living quarters aboard the ship.

Can Maritime Workers Still File a Claim?

Yes. If you worked in the maritime industry and were later diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may still be eligible to file a claim — even if your exposure happened decades ago.

You may qualify for compensation through:

• Personal injury lawsuits against negligent manufacturers or employers
• Asbestos trust funds for bankrupt shipbuilders or supply companies
• VA benefits for Navy veterans with asbestos-related diagnoses
• Wrongful death claims if a loved one passed due to occupational asbestos exposure

Your time to act may be limited — legal deadlines (statutes of limitations) begin at diagnosis, not exposure. Contact us today for a free case review.

Due to their high risk of asbestos exposure, maritime workers have an increased chance of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Products used by steel plant workers that may contain asbestos include, but are not limited to: