Asbestos Exposure on Ships:

USS HARRY E. YARNELL CG 17 CRUISER

One of the many ships named for an important Admiral of the United States Navy, the USS Harry E. Yarnell was a Leahy class guided missile cruiser. The ship was built in Bath, Maine, by the Bath Iron Works. Construction started on the 31st of May 1960. USS Harry E. Yarnell was completed on the 9th of December 1961. The cruiser was sponsored by the widow of late Admiral Yarnell, Mrs. Phillip Yarnell. USS Harry E. Yarnell was commissioned to active duty on the 2nd of February 1963 with Captain Charles E. Nelson in command. Because the ship did not fight in the second World War, there are no awards for the USS Harry E. Yarnell. She was mostly used for exercises and testing of new technology, but she also served as a patrol ship of the Black Sea, near the Soviet Union. This is how USS Harry E. Yarnell spent most of her active service, which ended on the 20th of October 1993, and was struck nine days later. She was scrapped on the 17th of April 2002.

These were her main characteristics:

  • Leahy class cruiser
  • 7800 tons in displacement
  • 547 feet in overall length
  • Steam turbines and boilers provided approx. 85000 horse power for propulsion
  • Speed, as tested, passed 30 knots
  • Total complement of almost 400, 395 to be exact

Asbestos on the USS Harry E. Yarnell has serious consequences

By the time the USS Harry E. Yarnell was completed, people did not know that asbestos was a dangerous material to use, which is why it could be found in large quantities on board the ship. We know today that asbestos can prove deadly in some cases, and that most of the times exposure takes place when the asbestos containing materials are damaged, releasing tiny airborne fibers. These attack the soft tissue in the body, and can lead to very serious health problems.

Have you been exposed to asbestos on the USS Harry E. Yarnell? Contact an attorney!

Because in most cases it is not the victims fault e or she got exposed to asbestos, there are some legal aspects that you should consider if you find yourself in such a situation. For this we recommend contacting a specialized asbestos or mesothelioma attorney to explain all the aspects of the legal options available. He will also be able to provide with counseling and legal expertise in the case of lawsuit, so make sure that you know everything there is to know.

Contact an asbestos specialist freely for any kind of questions regarding the subject.