Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS DES MOINES CA 134 CRUISER

The second ship to bare the name, USS Des Moines, was the lead ship in her class. Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company and sponsored by Mrs. E. T. Meredith, Jr., USS Des Moines was ordered on the 25th of September 1943. Construction on the cruiser started on the 28th of May 1945, being completed the next year on the 27th of September. USS Des Moines entered active duty on the 16th of November 1948 with Captain A. D. Chandler in command. USS Des Moines was the first ship of her class to carry helicopters. She was one of the few ships to never see action, being used mainly for training exercises in the Mediterranean. After active service was completed, USS Des Moines remained in Philadelphia, where an attempt to transform her to a museum ship failed. She was decommissioned on the 6th of July 1961, struck on the 9th of July 1991 and sold for scrap in November of 2006. Here are the ship’s main characteristics:

  • Des Moines class heavy cruiser
  • 17000 tons in displacement
  • 716 feet in length
  • General Electric turbines producing over 120000 horse power provided propulsion
  • 33 knots maximum tested speed
  • 10500 nautical miles maximum range at a cruising speed of 15 knots
  • 1799 people served on board, including officers

Asbestos on the USS Des Moines has serious consequences

Asbestos was a very common material to be used on board ships of the time. USS Des Moines used several types of asbestos containing materials for different purposes and in very large amounts. Crew members damaged these materials by accident, and by doing so, they allowed for the tiny asbestos fibers to become airborne. We know today that airborne asbestos fibers cause several types of asbestos diseases, most of them deadly.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Des Moines? Contact an attorney!

If you are a former crew member of the USS Des Moines and have been exposed to asbestos, we recommend having a complete check-up with your doctor. He will be able to tell if there is any type of disorder that might be caused by asbestos exposure, and if he finds such a thing, he will recommend you to visit a specialized doctor to receive a clear diagnosis. You can now contact an asbestos attorney and get help asking for your legal rights. Do not hesitate in doing so, as it will provide with the financial support needed to treat your disease.

Feel free to contact an asbestos specialist whenever you require asbestos related information. It is also completely free.