Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS SHANGRI-LA CV 38 AIRCRAFT

USS Shangri-La was a part of twenty four Essex-class aircraft carriers completed during or shortly after World War II for the U.S. Navy. The carrier was commissioned on 15th September 1944, with Captain James D. Barner in command, and participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operation in World War II, earning two battle stars. In the fall of 1965 Shangri-La was accidentally rammed by the destroyer Newman K. Perry during war exercises. She took part in Vietnam operations and received three battle stars for her service, and on 30 June 1969, she was redesigned as an antisubmarine warfare carrier. The carrier was decommissioned in 1971, but remained in reserve for eleven years, and was stricken form Naval Vessel Register on 15th July 1982. She was retained by MARAD for several years to provide spare parts for the training carrier Lexington and in 1988 was towed to Taiwan for demolition. She was nicknamed the “Tokyo Express”. The main characteristics of the carrier were:

  • Essex-class aircraft carrier
  • Displacement – 27 100 tons standard
  • Length 888 feet overall
  • Propulsion was 8 boilers (565 psi), 4 Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 4 shafts with a total of 150 000 horsepower
  • Speed 33 knots
  • Complement – 3448 officers and enlisted
  • Aircraft carried – 90 to 100

Asbestos on board the USS Shangri-La has serious consequences

The carrier is part of the so called “asbestos ships”, in which asbestos is linked to various diseases like mesothelioma. Crew members and officers on board could have been exposed to asbestos particles and asbestos fibers. Some of the materials in the airplane hangars were asbestos related. These materials can be easily damaged and then inhaled by anyone. The long term exposure to asbestos can lead to severe health issues and cancer.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on board the USS Jacinto? Contact an attorney!

We know that treating and recovering from an asbestos related disease can be very expensive, which is why we recommend following the legal path and filing a claim. Do this only when advised by a professional lawyer that is used to handling asbestos cases and you will have a ninety percent chance of being awarded a certain amount as compensation. You can also ask your doctor to provide with a testimony for you in court, helping you receive what is rightfully yours.

Please feel free to contact an asbestos professional at any point and receive valuable information regarding legal aspects. This service is completely free.